Senior Human Resources Generalist

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is a multi‑mission science operations center for NASA’s flagship observatories. Our world‑class astronomical research center is based on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland ( to learn more about our missions ).
This position could support working from home. Candidates must be in our local market to be able to report on‑site when needed.

The Senior Human Resources Generalist plays a critical role in delivering strategic and operational HR support across the Institute. Reporting to HR leadership, this position serves as a trusted advisor to managers and employees while leading key initiatives in benefits administration, employee relations, wellness programming, policy implementation, compliance, and HR operations.

The ideal candidate brings significant experience administering self‑funded employee health plans within a nonprofit or similarly complex organization and has demonstrated success developing and managing employee wellness initiatives that improve engagement and support workforce well‑being.

This role supports an organization of approximately 850 employees and collaborates closely with internal stakeholders and external vendors to ensure exceptional employee experiences and operational excellence.

• Administer and support the organization’s self‑funded medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement benefit programs.
• Serve as the primary HR contact for employee benefit inquiries and complex escalations.
• Partner with third‑party administrators, brokers, and insurance vendors to ensure efficient plan administration and regulatory compliance.
• Assist with annual open enrollment planning, employee education, and communications.
• Analyze utilization trends and recommend improvements that enhance employee experience while supporting cost containment.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive employee wellness initiatives aligned with organizational goals.
• Coordinate open enrollment, wellness challenges, preventive care campaigns, and vendor‑sponsored activities.
• Monitor participation metrics and recommend strategies to increase employee engagement and program effectiveness.
• Promote a culture that supports physical, psychological, emotional, and financial well‑being.

• Provide guidance to managers and employees regarding HR policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Support employee relations matters, investigations, performance management, and conflict resolution.
• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding activities as needed.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of employee data within the Human Resources Information System (HRIS). Ultipro experience a plus.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including FMLA, ADA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, and ACA requirements.
• Participate in HR projects focused on process improvement, automation, and continuous enhancement of HR services.

• Partner with leadership to identify workforce trends and recommend HR solutions.
• Assist in policy development and organizational initiatives that strengthen employee engagement and retention.
• Support audits, reporting requirements, and compliance activities.
• Contribute to a collaborative and service‑oriented HR team.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive Human Resources experience
  , including substantial responsibility for employee benefits administration.
• Demonstrated experience administering self‑funded medical plans for an employer‑sponsored health program.
• Experience designing or managing employee wellness initiatives and engagement programs.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws and employee benefits regulations.
• Experience working with HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.