Responsibilities of the Position
The Unit HR Coordinator, under the direction of the Unit Administrator, performs a variety of HR-related tasks and processes for the Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering within the College of Natural Science and the College of Engineering. This position will also provide HR support for The Drew Scholars Program. Duties associated with this position will include, but are not limited to:
HR Operations, Transactions, & Employment Lifecycle Management (50%)
- Administers and completes the hiring process for faculty, academic staff, support staff, temps/on-calls, and students, including staffing requests, hiring recommendations, cost distributions, I-9 forms, criminal background checks, mandatory compliance training, and payroll processing.
- Coordinates visa documentation and work authorization in partnership with OISS and central HR
- Manages the hiring, onboarding, and offboarding processes for faculty, academic staff, postdocs, graduate assistants, undergraduate employees, and student workers.
- Supports faculty and academic staff search committees, including postings, candidate communication, interview coordination, and offer letters.
- Coordinates with relevant offices (NatSci HR, Engineering HR, Payroll, OISS, and central HR) to ensure timely and accurate processing.
HR Compliance, Records, and Reporting (20%)
- Ensures accuracy and compliance with MSU policies, procedures, and applicable federal/state regulations.
- Creates and maintains human resource files ensuring record storage is compliant with laws, policies, and retention schedules.
- Compiles and analyzes HR data to produce reports that support departmental decision-making.
- Reviews and audits HR and personnel file documentation for completeness and accuracy.
- Contributes to HR-related projects and process improvement initiatives as assigned, ensuring effective implementation and communication.
HR Advising, Policy Interpretation, and Liaison Duties (20%)
- Serves as the department’s HR subject matter expert, providing guidance on interpretation and application of MSU policies, procedures, federal/state laws, and collective bargaining agreements.
- Acts as a liaison between CMSE and college/central HR offices to resolve issues, clarify policy, and ensure consistent application of HR standards.
Other Administrative and Operational Support (10%)
- Assists with the design, coordination, and delivery of departmental training, professional development, and engagement initiatives.
- Completes other duties as assigned within the scope of the role.
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in human resources, a related social science field, or a field related to the operations of the department; six months to one year of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in a human resources function; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of employment laws and practices, human resources and compliance topics, MSU and unit policies and procedures, and contractual bargaining agreements (CBAs).
- Knowledge of I-9 requirements and immigration processes related to specific visa types (e.g., J-1, H-1B, F-1 OPT).
- Ability to accurately create and maintain HR records and appointment documentation, preserving confidentiality and compliance.
- Ability to produce quality deliverables using Microsoft Office, SharePoint, process mapping tools, HRIS (EBS), and other university systems.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment when responding to inquiries, interpreting policies, or reviewing CBAs with oversight from the line manager.
- Skill in critical thinking, fact-finding, problem analysis, and development of actionable solutions in collaboration with supervisors.
- Ability to gather, analyze, and present facts; communicate effectively (both orally and in writing) with tact and professionalism; and plan, organize, and meet multiple deadlines.
- Ability to identify, optimize, and utilize resources effectively to support department goals.
- Commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive workplace culture and ethical decision-making.
- Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships across a diverse academic community.
Desired Qualifications
Adept at working collaboratively and building rapport with a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students; familiarity with MSU policies and procedures; effective leadership and organizational skills; demonstrates leadership in changing environments; knowledge of contract and grant administration; demonstrated commitment to MSU's core institution al values; commitment to teamwork; problem solving; excellent judgment; ability to work on several projects simultaneously; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; experience with Microsoft Teams and Office 365 and other software tools used at MSU.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Names and contact information for three professional references
This position has the flexibility for remote work one day per week as mutually agreed upon and is subject to change based on the needs of the department.
STANDARD 8-5
HTTPS://CMSE.MSU.EDU/
MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.
