Generalist, Employee Experience and Engagement (HR)

ArtCenter College of Design is searching for an experienced Generalist, Employee Experience and Engagement (HR) to join our team.

The salary range for this position: $30.00 - 33.00 per hour. Based on a 7 hour work day.

Final salary is based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

About ArtCenter
Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education and has had an international reputation for its rigorous, transdisciplinary curriculum, faculty of professionals, strong ties to industry, and commitment to socially responsible design. ArtCenter is a private nonprofit fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Every position at ArtCenter plays an important part in carrying out the cultural values, goals, strategic vision, and mission of the College. This includes upholding and cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Employee Experience and Engagement (AVP), the generalist supports the daily operations of the EEE department. This role provides high‑quality, customer‑focused support across multiple disciplines, including employee experience/engagement, talent acquisition, performance management, total rewards, and learning and professional development.

This is a full-time position with a schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. (7- hour workday). The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and can be performed, remotely, hybrid or combination, with at least three days in the office or required as a condition of employment. The college reserves the right to modify schedules as needed to meet the business needs with appropriate notice.

Essential Functions

Employee Experience and Engagement Operations — 20%

• Provide employee-centered support with a broad and comprehensive range of human resources activities including talent acquisition, performance management, total rewards, policy compliance, and other related functional areas
• Monitor, respond or redirect as needed the EEE email account for timely responses and service delivery
• Answer questions and provide guidance to supervisors and employees regarding policies and procedures
• Maintain documents and personnel files (paper and electronic), including filing and appropriate disposition of all confidential and sensitive documents
• Process new and existing employee data changes in Colleague; ensure accurate entry of position details, status changes, and total rewards information; work with Payroll to ensure accurate processing of employee information
• Provide administrative support for employee‑related transactions and documentation
• Calendar management for EEE leadership and EEE events, i.e., schedule and coordinate one-on-ones, department meetings, candidate interviews, travel logistics, meeting rooms, event spaces, and special events
• Prepare Purchase Orders (POs), invoices and other administrative documentation for the EEE office
• Send out and monitor Annual COI Statements for the VPEEE
• Provide guidance to student worker(s)
• Process unemployment claims; research and respond to unemployment claims; notify third-party administrator with employer’s responses

Talent Acquisition/Management — 30%

• In compliance with the College’s employee recruitment guidelines, support departments with the complete hiring cycle, including writing job descriptions, posting positions, reviewing and evaluating applicants’ qualifications or eligibility for positions according to job requirements; interview or assist with interviewing job applicants to obtain information on work history, training, job skills, etc., as needed; conduct reference checks, and make job offers
• Ensure faculty hiring is in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
• Prepare and process guest lecturers with academic departments
• Coordinate all new‑hire onboarding activities, including processing paperwork, verifying authorization documents, submitting background checks, completing I‑9s, and facilitating benefits enrollment.
• Manage and maintain staff and faculty recruitment; configure and maintain Cornerstone ATS
• Prepare and process guest lecturers with academic departments
• Assist with student hiring

Learning and Professional Development — 20%

• Set up employee new hires with mandatory and supplementary educational programs, track and report on progress for compliance; follow up with employees and provide reports to department heads
• Maintain LMS learning and development systems (i.e. Vector, Cornerstone)
• Coordinate entry interviews and new hire onboarding evaluations; track completion

Total Rewards — 25%

• Assist employees with benefit documentation to ensure accuracy for processing
• Provide administrative support for the Retirement and Compensation committees, including scheduling and minutes
• Support Employee Engagement and EHS programs such as staff recognition, open enrollment, and wellness events
• Review and process monthly updates in Colleague for personal days for eligible employees
• Work with the sr. generalist with benefit administration to include open enrollment, new hire enrollments, terminations, claims; ensure benefits rates and deductions are inputted properly in Colleague for payroll processing

Non -Essential Job Functions — 5%

• Serve on educational or college-wide committees, work groups, task forces and/or councils
• Maintain memberships and active involvement in applicable professional organizations
• Attend conferences and seminars
• Other tasks as assigned

• 5 years of experience as a HR generalist or an equivalent role
• High school diploma, HR certification, associate’s degree or equivalent experience and education
• Customer service-focused individual with excellent written and oral communication skills, detail-oriented, highly organized, able to balance priorities, takes initiative, reliable and resourceful
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Working knowledge of labor and employment laws that guide the work of HR policies and compliance
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in MS Office Suite and the ability to learn new software
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment into workplace practices within ArtCenter’s diverse communities of faculty, staff, students and visitors
• Ability to handle all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of ArtCenter HR business

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field from an accredited college or institution
• Prior work experience in higher education
• Experience with Ellucian or other HRIS databases

Physical Demands and Working Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with frequent interruptions and distractions; extended periods of time viewing computer monitor; interactions with other individuals. Due to the nature of the work environment, there is regular exposure to fumes, dust and noise.

Physical: The position is generally performed in an office setting. Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting or attend/work events; to sit or stand for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight (up to 20 pounds); to operate modern office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Regular and consistent attendance are required for most positions. Must be able to travel between campuses.

Vision: Must be able to have the visual capacity to perform activities such as preparing and reading reports, viewing a computer terminal and other normal office work with or without correction.

Hearing: Must be able to communicate effectively in the course of normal office communication or exchange ideas with or without correction.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this job; they do not purport to describe all functions. Employees may be assigned other duties, and the essential functions may be changed from time to time as necessary.

Diversity Statement
ArtCenter is fully committed to fostering a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging not only in vision but in practice. Our path forward is predicated on our belief that multiple points of view, life experiences, ethnicities, cultures and belief systems are essential to academic and creative excellence. We strive to learn more about difference while respecting the rich diversity in our world, attending to important questions about racial injustice and decolonizing our curriculum. Our campus environment must be vigilant in supporting the full participation of students, faculty, and staff of every race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, socioeconomic status and political viewpoint.

Equal Opportunity Employer
ArtCenter is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants on the basis of race (including hair texture and protective hairstyle), color, religion (includes religious dress and grooming practices), sex/gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and/or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (genetic characteristics, cancer, or a record or history of cancer), military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental and physical, including HIV/AIDS, cancer, and genetic characteristics), genetic information, request for family care or medical leave, age (over 40), criminal background (Fair Chance Act), reproductive health decision-making, off-duty and off-premises cannabis use, or any other actual or perceived characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity is extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including without limitation, recruitment, hiring, upgrading, learning and professional development, promotion, compensation, benefits, leave of absence, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall and termination. This commitment applies to all persons involved in the operations of ArtCenter and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of ArtCenter. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation for a disability may contact the Office of Employee Experience and Engagement at (626) 396-2470.

Applicant Rights (Prior Cannabis Use)
ArtCenter will not request information from an applicant relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis. ArtCenter will not use information obtained from a criminal history about an applicant or employee’s prior cannabis use, unless ArtCenter is permitted to consider that information under applicable law.

Employment At-Will
All employment with ArtCenter is for an unspecified term and is “at-will.” Employees are free to resign at any time, with or without reason, and with or without prior notice. Similarly, ArtCenter has the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice. This “at-will” employment, which includes the College’s right to transfer, discipline, demote, or change the conditions of employment with or without cause and with or without prior notice, cannot be modified, amended or waived by any oral or implied agreement, and may be modified or altered only by an express individualized written employment agreement signed by both the employee and the College president

ArtCenter Employees have a Mandatory Duty to Report
All employees who know or have reason to know of allegations or acts that violate ArtCenter’s Title IX Policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking shall promptly inform the , Title IX Coordinator or designee, or the Associate Dean of Students or designee. Faculty, who have a mandatory duty to report, are required to disclose all information including the names of the parties, even where the person has requested their name remain confidential.

Pursuant to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), all employees who know of or have reason to suspect child abuse or neglect involving alleged victims under age 18 shall promptly inform local law enforcement or the county welfare department.