Manager, Human Resources Operations

Job Summary

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks a Manager, Human Resources Operations to join Human Resources. The Manager, Human Resources Operations leverages comprehensive HR knowledge and industry best practices to manage and ensure institutional compliance across a range of HR operations. This role oversees compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations including those related to employee immigration status, I-9 documentation, and work authorization verification systems.

The Manager leads the visa sponsorship process for faculty and staff, manages compliance requirements across multiple states, and contributes to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of HR operational policies and procedures to ensure alignment with evolving compliance standards and organizational needs. The successful candidate will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

• Oversee the visa sponsorship program for employees, including H-1B, TN, O-1, and other work‑related visas.
• Ensure timely and accurate filing of visa petitions and related documents, working with external immigration counsel as needed.
• Provide support to employees regarding visa applications, renewals, and status changes.
• Leveraging the HRIS system, maintain a tracking system for visa expiration dates and ensure timely follow‑up on renewals and extensions.
• Advise management, employees, and HR staff on compliance with immigration laws and regulations.
• Recommend best practices to streamline operations and compliance with visa and immigration support through policy, procedure or other methods.

• Provide strategic oversight of employment authorization processes to ensure institutional compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, including but not limited to Form I-9 requirements.
• Serve as a key resource for HR and Student Employment staff on employment eligibility protocols, offering training and guidance to ensure alignment with USCIS regulations and RISD policies.
• Conduct periodic audits and maintain appropriate documentation to support compliance with employment authorization requirements, including proper completion, retention, re‑verification, and purging of I-9 forms in accordance with federal guidelines.
• Oversee background check administration and the full onboarding experience, ensuring that all pre-employment requirements are completed accurately and efficiently, while fostering a compliant, timely, and welcoming entry for new hires across the institution.

• Monitor and manage compliance with state-specific labor laws. Collaborate with HR colleagues, Controller and General Counsel to identify and address multi-state tax and legal issues.
• Coordinate with the Controller’s area for tax regulations, and HR colleagues for employee benefits requirements as new states/locations are considered.
• Stay informed of changes to state laws regarding wages, paid leave, unemployment, and other employment-related regulations. Notify employees in accordance with local, state and federal law.
• Ensure RISD’s HR practices are compliant in all states where employees are located.
• Manage RISD’s hybrid and remote work requests, ensure up-to-date agreements are in place for employees working with approved agreements on the established cycle. Effectively communicate requirements for updating agreements and identify/resolve arrangements with outstanding agreements.

• Collaborate with HR leadership to develop and update operational policies and procedures to support compliance, efficiency, and consistency.
• Partner with other HR functional areas (e.g., talent acquisition, benefits, employee relations) to ensure integrated and compliant HR practices.
• Document HR processes for employee onboarding, I-9 management, visa applications, and compliance-related functions.
• Work with internal stakeholders to implement consistent and compliant HR…