Senior HR Generalist - Carl R. Woese Institute Genomic Biology

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is seeking experienced human resources professionals to join the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB) as Senior Human Resources Generalists. This position is responsible for managing a broad range of human resources activities, providing strategic HR guidance and consultation, and addressing complex employee and organizational matters. The Senior HR Generalists will partner with leadership, supervisors, and employees to provide effective solutions and support the Institute’s human resources needs.

Preference will be given to candidates with progressive human resources experience in a university or higher education environment and demonstrated expertise in recruitment, employee relations, and HR consulting.

The Senior HR Generalist manages a variety of human resource activities, provides strategic guidance on a variety of human resource activities, and manages complex human resource related issues.

• Recruitment & Talent Acquisition
  • Responsible for independently coordinating search, hiring, and onboarding processes for roles at all levels in all employment categories applicable to the unit, including recruitment efforts.
  • Communicate with applicants and new hires, facilitating interview, hiring, and onboarding processes including work authorization.
  • Communicate and implement search procedures aligned with best practices and compliance needs, advising search committees and hiring managers.
  • Contribute to overall hiring plans, providing guidance on search strategies aligned with talent needs (e.g., multi-level searches, search timing).
  • Responsible for aligning recruitment and advertising efforts with unit and university branding efforts.
• Visa Management
  • Assist IGB HR staff with the visa processing for current and future employees, serve as a point of contact for International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). Assist with follow-up with faculty, IGB scholar, and the UIUC ISSS office on pending visas during reasonable intervals to ensure timely processing. Coordinate monthly review meetings to ensure timely processing of visa applications and to address any issues that might arise.
  • Interpret and apply policies and procedures related to visas (J-1, H-1, O-1, F-1 OPT, etc.), green card processing and paperwork, and work closely with all stakeholders: IGB HR staff, ISSS office, sponsoring faculty and foreign nationals. Communicate about visa processing policies and proper procedures to faculty and staff within the IGB. Work with ISSS to facilitate foreign national arrival to ensure Visa documentation is received and facilitate an onboarding meeting to discuss the appointment.
• Appointments Management
  • Responsible for managing employee appointments and records, and the interaction between multiple types of appointments to result in appropriate pay and employee status information.
  • Enters routine and non-routine data, pulls routine and non-routine reports, developing new reports as needed. Ensures accuracy of input data, resolves any discrepancies, considers long-term data retention and data integrity.
  • Participate in appropriate systems testing and provides feedback.
• Leave Management
  • Responsible for overall unit management of FMLA, PLFA, or other managed leave categories. Develop and implement related guidelines and process improvements.
  • Counsel and resolve complex or sensitive issues related to leave. Informs and advises staff on complex regulations/policies regarding leave usage.
• Labor & Employee Relations
  • Provides guidance to supervisors on performance management practices and issues.
  • Recommends interpretation of collective bargaining agreement language and corrective actions to performance issues under administrative supervision.
  • May infrequently participate in contract negotiations.
  • May serve as a resource to lower-level staff.
  • Facilitates accommodations and conflict resolution efforts. Resolves supervisor/employee conflicts requiring intervention or consultation with either party.
• HR Compliance & Policy
  • Ensures adherence to HR policies and legal requirements through tracking, training, and internal reviews. May develop and implement internal compliance strategies.
  • Provides expertise on HR policies and legal requirements.
• Management
  • Supervise related lower-level staff as assigned. Delegate and assign operational work; contribute to performance management, leave approval, and professional…