HR Associate

About San Francisco Bay University (SFBU):

San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) is a nonprofit, WASC-accredited university located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Fremont, California. SFBU’s mission is to offer inclusive, innovative, and inspirational education for lifelong careers, and our vision is to set the standard as a national model of higher education in service of the common good.

At SFBU, students come first. We foster personal engagement among students, faculty, and staff and are deeply committed to affordability, diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the HR Associate plays a key role in supporting SFBU’s human resources operations across talent acquisition, employee lifecycle administration, HR compliance, HRIS reporting, and workplace culture initiatives.

This role is designed for an HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment and is eager to build broad HR capability while exercising independent judgment and discretion. The HR Associate collaborates closely with the HR Director, Talent Acquisition Specialist, and HR Generalist, providing cross-functional support while progressively taking ownership of defined projects and initiatives.

This is an exempt, hybrid position, requiring a regular onsite presence three days per week at SFBU’s Fremont campus.

Talent Acquisition & Recruitment Support

• Coordinate and schedule candidate interviews; manage communication with applicants, hiring managers, and HR team members.
• Support full-cycle recruitment efforts, including job postings, application review, and maintaining ATS data accuracy.
• Assist with recruiting initiatives and process improvements to enhance candidate experience and hiring efficiency.

Employee Lifecycle, Onboarding & Records Management

• Prepare and maintain onboarding materials and assist in facilitating new employee orientation.
• Support the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee changes, and offboarding processes.
• Maintain accurate and confidential personnel records (electronic and physical), including I-9s, background checks, and employment documentation, in compliance with federal, state, and institutional requirements.

Payroll, Benefits & Compliance Support

• Coordinate employee data changes, timekeeping updates, and payroll-related information with Tri Net, in partnership with the HR Director and HR Generalist.
• Support benefits administration, including enrollments, changes, and responding to employee inquiries.
• Track and maintain HR compliance documentation to support audits, training, accreditation requirements, and institutional filings.

HR Operations, HRIS & Reporting

• Extract, analyze, and prepare HRIS data and reports to support compliance, workforce metrics, and decision-making.
• Assist in drafting, updating, and maintaining HR forms, SOPs, and policy documentation. Support HR communications, policy updates, and intranet/portal content.

Workplace Culture & Program Support

• Support workplace culture, engagement, and development initiatives, including recognition programs, surveys, wellness activities, and training logistics.
• Assist with coordinating HR-sponsored trainings, campus-wide meetings, and events. Provide onboarding guidance and task coordination for student assistants as needed (no formal supervisory responsibility).
• Provide operational and project support to the HR Director, HR Generalist, and Talent Acquisition Specialist.
• Collaborate with campus departments to support HR initiatives, promote policy adherence, and enhance employee experience.
• Participate actively in HR team meetings, projects, and compliance activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned, with opportunities to expand responsibility and scope over time.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and HR experience.
• 2–4 years of progressive experience in HR operations, recruiting, onboarding, or employee lifecycle support.
• Experience maintaining personnel records and supporting HR compliance.
• Familiarity with HR best practices, employment laws,…