About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Senior Human Resources Business Partner for the College of Natural Sciences (CNS), the Human Resources Business Partner II supports all human resources functions for the largest academic unit on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus. This position guides CNS support staff on all aspects of human resources management, including, but not limited to, faculty and staff search processes, training programs, and professional development.

Essential Functions

• Recruitment and Hiring:
  • Facilitates faculty and staff recruitment processes for the college. Executes recruitment strategies and utilization goals and identifies ways to strengthen applicant pools.
  • In consultation with the Dean, Associate Dean for Administration, Finance, and Operations, various Assistant/Associate Deans, Department Heads/Chairs, and the Office of the Provost, manages faculty-hiring protocols, including tenure track offers.
• Organizational Effectiveness:
  • Provides guidance to staff performing HR-related duties throughout the college.
  • Advises senior personnel on ways to identify, address, and facilitate solutions for routine employee issues.
  • Ensures that training opportunities are maximized by faculty and staff. Monitors enrollment in training programs and serves as a bridge to other Campus offices, such as Workplace Learning and Development. Collaborates with the CNS Director of Faculty Development Programs on the provision of faculty workshops.
  • Ensures uniform compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and campus policies, practices, and procedures. Educates supervisors and senior managers as needed on emerging and changing policies and regulations.
• Compensation and Classification:
  • Educates personnel throughout CNS regarding all aspects of compensation policies, guidelines, and procedures.
  • Advises supervisors on the writing of clear, accurate, and results-oriented job descriptions.
• Annual Faculty and Staff Review Processes:
  • Ensures compliance with annual faculty and staff review requirements and coordinates processes relative to performance and/or compensation, including, but not limited to, merit, anomalies, faculty reappointment, and tenure reviews.
  • Establishes academic year schedule for the College Personnel Committee (CPC) and serves as an on-going resource for its members.
• Labor Relations:
  • Assists the Senior HR Business Partner with conducting meetings to resolve grievances or employee complaints.  Ensures appropriate procedures are followed in disciplinary matters.

Other Functions

• Works collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s degree and four (4) years of relevant experience in human resources.
• Diverse experience in human resources including knowledge of best practices in recruitment, compensation, performance management, employee training, and state/federal employment law compliance.
• Strong service orientation that demonstrates proactive relationship building and customer-focused problem solving.
• Commitment to inclusion and awareness and understating of diverse thought, cultures, race, gender, and other differences.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation skills.
• Proven competence with spreadsheets, word processing, electronic calendars, and central data systems.
• Ability to exercise extreme discretion and judgment in matters of a sensitive or confidential nature.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business/Public Administration, or related discipline.
• Experience working in a unionized, public sector, and/or higher education environment.
• Certification from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP or SHRM- SCP) or the HR Certification Institute (PHR or SPHR).

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm.
• Required to work occasional nights and weekends.

Salary Information

Level 28

Exempt Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.