Human Resources Generalist

Position Summary

The HR Generalist is responsible for supporting full-cycle recruitment and employee benefits administration which includes leaves of absence, workers' compensation, ADA/reasonable accommodations, and unemployment claims. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws while delivering exceptional service to employees, managers, and candidates throughout the employee lifecycle. The HR Generalist partners closely with HR team members, hiring managers, benefit providers, legal counsel, and other stakeholders to foster a positive workplace culture and support the University's mission of health equity and academic excellence.

This position requires on-site work 5 days per week at the Kenmore location.

Essential Responsibilities

Essential Job Duties

Talent Acquisition & Recruitment

• Administer the full life cycle recruitment process in accordance with applicable employment laws, regulations, equal opportunity requirements, and best practices to support the University's initiatives.
• Build and maintain relationships with hiring managers to understand their recruitment needs; create job postings, provide guidance on best practices, and proactively identify talent needs.
• Create and maintain all recruitment-related documents, including job descriptions, job advertisements, interview questions/scorecards, offer letters, and offer extensions.
• Plan and implement recruitment marketing campaigns and employer branding strategies to attract high-quality candidates.
• Review and screen resumes and applications; conduct phone screens and interviews; assess candidate qualifications and fit for the role and University culture.
• Coordinate and schedule interviews with candidates and hiring managers/teams; facilitates the selection process, including reference checks and background checks.
• Provide a positive and professional candidate experience throughout the recruitment process, including timely communication, feedback, and updates.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date recruitment records and data; complete required compliance reporting, including EEO-1 filings, in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations.
• Track and analyze recruitment metrics such as application volumes, conversion rates, and demographic trends to assess the effectiveness of recruitment strategies and inform future initiatives.
• Prepare regular reports and presentations summarizing recruitment activities, outcomes, and recommendations for university leadership and stakeholders.
• Stay updated on industry trends and best practices related to recruitment and onboarding; recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Benefits, Leave, & Compliance Administration

• Coordinate and administer all employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, retirement plans, and voluntary benefits.
• Manage the full benefit enrolment lifecycle - new hire, open enrolment, life status changes, and terminations - including employee communications, carrier submissions, and eligibility reporting.
• Lead open enrolment planning and execution, including communications strategy and employee education.
• Administer HRIS and benefits platforms; conducts periodic audits to ensure data accuracy and compliance; manages vendor relationships, billing reconciliation, and required compliance filings (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA).
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource for employees and managers on plan options, and claims processes, resolves benefits-related inquiries in coordination with providers.
• Administer leave of absence, workers' compensation, ADA/reasonable accommodations, and unemployment claims in compliance with federal, state, and local laws (FMLA, ADA, FEHA); maintain accurate records and coordinates with employees, managers, vendors, and legal counsel as needed.
• Manage 403(b) retirement plan program and coordinates with relevant vendors.
• Coordinate with Payroll on benefit-related pay matters and processes the employee tuition reimbursement program.

Other Responsibilities

• Assist the HR team with revisions to existing benefits, employment policies, and programs.
• Assist the HR team with streamlining processes, employee self-service, and automation.
• Coordinate with Payroll on benefit-related pay matters, including leave pay, benefit deduction changes, and periodic benefit look-back reviews to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• May serve on select University committees.
• Perform other duties as assigned.