Human Resources Specialist
A Comprehensive Human Resources Program
Working in close collaboration with employees, managers, and executives, the Human Resources team has a reputation for delivering programs and services that contribute to the overall effectiveness of the organization. Supporting more than 350 employees, who represent all stages of career development from entry-level interns to senior executives, and a diverse range of technical expertise, the Human Resources team designs, implements, and facilitates programs and practices that allow the agency to leverage the very best from its talented staff. The team is progressive, proactive, and provides outstanding customer service; they have contributed to the agency’s ability to deliver on its regional responsibilities by attracting, retaining, and developing a highly productive, engaged, and knowledgeable workforce. Current initiatives of the team are directly tied to agency strategic goals and include workforce planning, performance management, career development, recognition, and organizational development.
Human Resources Specialist Role
As a member of a seven-person team, the Specialist will perform administrative duties to support various functions and projects for the agency’s Human Resources program in areas such as staffing and recruitment, benefits administration, employee training and development, performance management, and compensation.
This is a Limited-Term position and is expected to be funded through June 30, 2020. Limited-Term employees are considered to be “at-will” and receive many of the benefits of Regular employees. This is a new position and subject to Board approval of the FY 2019 program budget.
Job Responsibilities
This position is best suited for an experienced administrative professional who has an interest in furthering their expertise in supporting a comprehensive human resources program. We anticipate significant career development will occur while working on the types of duties and responsibilities described below and through mentoring and close collaboration with senior staff. Examples of primary responsibilities include:
- Support the SANDAG recruitment program; coordinate advertising and outreach activities; provide job information to interested applicants; receive, process, and file submitted applications; maintain applicant information; schedule interviews; and prepare routine correspondence.
- Coordinate various onboarding and orientation activities for new employees; liaise with Information Systems, Facilities, and other teams to prepare for a new employee’s first day; update records and files with new employee information; and participate in the review and implementation of orientation program enhancement initiatives.
- Support the day-to-day administration of the agency’s employee benefits program; maintain records and provide notification to Payroll regarding benefit deductions; assist with processing employee benefit election changes; and process and prepare monthly invoices from carriers for timely payment.
- Assist with the compilation and review of employee benefit information used for marketing benefit plans, developing program recommendations, and preparing reports.
- Support various activities related to the annual Open Enrollment program and Wellness Fair; assist with the preparation of Open Enrollment resource materials; review and update plan data and employee data in the HRIS; verify elections made by employees, send notifications to Payroll for benefit deductions, and transmit information to carriers.
- Assist with coordinating in-house and offsite training events and workshops; process class registration requests and coordinate payment of fees; maintain employee training records.
- Support the preparation and implementation of the performance management program; maintain data and records.
- Assist with compiling employee position and salary data used by Executives for preparing and approving annual merit increases, promotions, and bonus awards; participate in the preparation of Excel data files used by Human Resources and Payroll for processing compensation changes.
- Communicate with employees, job applicants, and public and private organizations; provide information and assistance regarding Human Resources programs and services.
- Provide professional and courteous customer service; assist employees with general Human Resources-related inquiries; provide information or copies of personnel documents when appropriate.
- Research, collect, and compile information from various sources on a variety of human resources topics.
- Perform a variety of general administrative support work; maintain records and files; verify accuracy of information; record information; perform routine document processing and filing; assist with special projects and tasks as assigned.
Experience and Qualifications
Numerous factors contribute to an individual’s ability to be successful in any given role. For this position, we are searching for a candidate who is responsive, organized, and detail-oriented, and committed to providing professional, prompt, and accurate services while meeting numerous time-sensitive deadlines. Strong verbal and written communication skills, outstanding administrative skills, and the ability to exercise diplomacy, tact, and sensitivity when working with employees are key characteristics.
The minimum education, training, and experience qualifications include a high school diploma, or equivalent supplemented by specialized training or college level course work in human resources, business, or a related field, and five years of recent experience providing administrative support for a comprehensive program area.
The following information describes the specific types of career experiences that are most relevant to this position:
- Demonstrated experience providing day-to-day administrative support, preferably for a comprehensive human resources program; familiarity with the public-sector environment is desirable.
- Demonstrated experience with a broad range of administrative functions including preparing correspondence and other documents, record keeping, filing, data entry, and report compilation; basic knowledge of the principles and practices of the human resources profession is desirable.
- Experience researching, gathering, and organizing sources of information related to a broad range of administrative programs and services; demonstrated ability to maintain tracking and reporting systems using spreadsheets and database systems.
- Ability to coordinate numerous time-sensitive recruitment and onboarding activities for candidates and new employees; ability to respond to a high-volume of employment candidates and employee inquiries via phone and email.
- Familiarity with reviewing and verifying invoice information, and preparing invoices for payment.
- Experience coordinating registration and payment for training classes, seminars, and workshops and maintaining training budget records.
- Excellent customer service skills including strong verbal and written communication skills; demonstrated ability to listen and ascertain the needs of employees and respond quickly, tactfully, and courteously.
- Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with employees, managers, executives, and others and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those met in the course of work.
- Demonstrated understanding of the need to maintain confidentiality and act with diplomacy when working with personnel records, candidate applications, compensation data, demographic data, and other confidential materials.
- Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure and perform multiple tasks simultaneously with frequent interruptions from telephone calls, visitors, and employees; effective time management skills, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to establish and maintain priorities and work independently.
- Demonstrated computer software proficiency using the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word and Excel; experience using advanced features in Microsoft Outlook; experience using databases or systems to enter information and run reports.
- The selected candidate can anticipate a driving record check upon hire, and approximately annually thereafter. The results of the check may determine whether the selected candidate will be permitted to drive for SANDAG business.