Human Resources Specialist

Description

The University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) is a public liberal arts and sciences university on the Island of Hawaii, known for its unique blend of cultural immersion and research opportunities, leveraging the island's extraordinary geological, biological, and cultural diversity. It is a comprehensive, regional university within the ten-campus University of Hawaii System, focusing primarily on high-quality baccalaureate and select postgraduate education, including distinctive programs in areas like marine science, geology, astronomy, and Hawaiian language revitalization.

The UH Hilo Division of Administrative Affairs serves as the central administrative and operational backbone of the campus, providing executive leadership and non-academic affairs program management. This division is responsible for critical functions including budget formulation, fiscal management, human resources, facilities planning and construction, physical plant operations, information technology, campus security, and environmental safety and health.

The UH Hilo Human Resources Office plays an integral role in fulfilling the mission of the University of Hawaii (UH) through productive collaborations with stakeholders in our campus community and the University of Hawaii System Office of Human Resources to recruit, develop, and retain a highly skilled, diverse, and sustainable workforce, in alignment with overall strategic priorities to ensure student success for the campus and UH System.

This Human Resources Specialist position complements a team of human resources professionals with shared responsibilities in all functional areas of human resources including, but not limited to, position classification, recruitment, pay and benefits administration, personnel and organizational development, employee engagement, and employee and labor relations. The incumbent will be primarily responsible for position management, including all related classification and compensation actions, coordination of the full recruitment cycle, and supporting organizational development goals.

Other Conditions: Appointment to begin approximately February 2026, pending position clearance and availability of funding. This is a multi-level recruitment - preference is to hire at the Pay Band B level. If there are no qualified applicants at the Band B level, Band A applications may be considered.

Duties and Responsibilities (**Denotes Essential Functions)

• **Provides excellent customer service in the administration of all assigned human resources (HR) functions as a key team member of the Human Resources Office for the UH Hilo campus and its satellite locations.
  
• **Independently performs complex assignments encompassing a wide range of professional HR management responsibilities to ensure compliance, consistency, and best practices, while reinforcing a positive and productive employee relations environment.
  
• **Keeps abreast of State and Federal regulations, UH policies and administrative procedures, and collective bargaining agreements. Assists HR Director with research, interpretation, and ensuring consistent implementation.
  
• **Participates in training and professional development to maintain currency in regulatory requirements, emerging trends, best practices, and professional standards related to HR management in higher education.
  
• **Serves as point-of-contact for assigned areas of responsibility. Provides guidance, resources, and training for HR-related matters to supervisors and employees.
  
• **Maintains and audits official position and personnel files, and all related employment records, in compliance with State and Federal regulations, UH policies and administrative procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and the State of Hawaii General Records Schedule for the retention and disposition of personnel records.
  
• **Independently reviews, researches, and manages position and personnel action requests involving multiple employee categories, classifications, intramural and extramural funding sources, and appointment types, including drafting and preparing position descriptions to ensure alignment with the proper job functions, classifications, and organizational and operational goals, the assignment of appropriate compensation, and the coordination of other related actions affecting the employment cycle.
  
• **Responsible for all aspects of position management, including monitoring position vacancies, researching and compiling data for vacancy and other statistical reports, coordinating with UH Hilo leadership to develop, maintain, and update organizational charts and functional statements, and assessing recruitment needs to ensure positions are filled in alignment with organizational development and strategic priorities.
  
• **Coordinates the full cycle search and hiring process, including the preparation and posting of position advertisements, screening of application materials, and organization and evaluation of selection, salary placement, and hiring actions.
  
• **Advises the search committees and hiring departments, and coordinates with the Office of Equal Opportunity to ensure compliance and consistency with established recruitment, selection, and hiring procedures, standards, and requirements.
  
• **Operates a computerized human resources management system (e.g. PeopleSoft) and other personnel, payroll, and financial database systems to monitor, facilitate, and execute various position and personnel transactions, in accordance with State and Federal regulations, UH policies and administrative procedures, and collective bargaining agreements.
  
• **Researches, responds to, and proactively resolves employee inquiries and concerns regarding benefits, compensation, terms of employment, and other employment matters. Advises HR Director or designee of difficult and unusual issues, and provides recommendations.
  
• **Researches and responds to requests for regular and special employment-related reports and surveys. May be assigned to assist with conducting salary surveys, equity reviews, and other special projects, including compiling and analyzing internal pay and classification data, and recommending and/or implementing appropriate actions.
  
• Assists HR Director with assessing employee and labor relations issues, and problem-solving to encourage resolutions at the lowest possible level. May be assigned to conduct or assist with fact-finding investigations.
  
• Assists HR Director in monitoring and ensuring campus-wide compliance with regulatory training requirements (e.g. Conflict of Interest, State Ethics, Title IX, etc.). Advises supervisors and employees on requirements for timely follow-up and completion.
  
• Other duties as assigned.

• 
  Band A: Possession of a baccalaureate degree in any field and one (1) year of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities in one or more functional areas of human resources such as position classification; pay administration; recruitment and examination; personnel and organizational development; employee and labor relations; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
• Band B: Possession of a baccalaureate degree in any field and three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities in one or more functional areas of human resources such as position classification; pay administration; recruitment and examination; personnel and organizational development; employee and labor relations; or equivalent education/training or experience.
• Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in human resources administration as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles, and methodology.
• Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations, theories and systems associated with human resources administration.
  
• Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately identify possible causes and resolve the full range problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner.
  
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials.
  
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team members and individuals.
  
• Demonstrated ability to competently operate a personal computer, apply word processing software (e.g. Microsoft Word, Google Docs) and other related software (e.g. Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Adobe Acrobat) to effectively perform work.
  
• If applicable, for supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
  
• Strong organizational skills while managing and prioritizing multiple projects.
  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; accountability to high standards of professional excellence.
  
• Demonstrated ability to exercise tact, diplomacy, maintain confidentiality, and apply sound judgment and discretion in a variety of situations
  
• Demonstrated ability to embrace, learn, and apply new and existing technology to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
  
• Any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.

• Professional work experience in position management including classification, recruitment, and pay administration.
• Professional work experience performing HR responsibilities in a public employer jurisdiction within the State of Hawaii and/or post-secondary education setting.
• Working knowledge of collective bargaining agreements governing public employment in the State of Hawaii (e.g. HGEA, UHPA, UPW).
• Working knowledge of UH policies, procedures, and organizational structure.
• Working knowledge of UH personnel, payroll, and financial database systems such as PeopleSoft, NeoGov, Timesheet and Payment System (TAPS), Kuali Build (KB), Kuali Financial System (KFS), etc.
• Detail oriented and able to prioritize multiple duties with demanding deadlines.

EEO, Clery Act, ADA