ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / FACULTY EMPLOYMENT & COMPENSATION

Central Michigan University; Mount Pleasant (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Michigan University is seeking an Assistant Director to oversee faculty and graduate assistant employment, compensation, and HRIS activities within SAP HR. The role focuses on ensuring accurate processing, policy interpretation, and data-driven decision support.

The position manages the tuition waiver program, collaborates with payroll and benefits teams, and provides training to staff while maintaining compliance with university policies and collective agreements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business administration, higher education administration, or related field.
• Three years of professional HR, payroll, benefits, or higher education experience.
• Ability to interpret policies, procedures, and employment agreements.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills, including Excel.
• Ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee faculty and graduate assistant employment transactions in SAP HR, including onboarding, off-boarding, and compensation.
• Guide staff handling employment transactions and audit for accuracy and compliance.
• Direct supervision of a Coordinator of Faculty Personnel Services.
• Manage the full life cycle of the graduate assistant tuition waiver program.
• Develop HRIS reports and analyze data to support decisions.
• Collaborate with campus partners on payroll, benefits, tuition, and related processes.
• Provide training on employment policies and HR systems.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Data analysis

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR / Business / Higher Education Admin

Tools

SAP HR

HRIS

Job description

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / FACULTY EMPLOYMENT & COMPENSATION

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards. You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position. Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

Position Information

Position Information

Posting Number

Posting Number S-4012

Position Number

Position Number 48850

Type of Recruitment

Type of Recruitment External

Position Title

Position Title ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / FACULTY EMPLOYMENT & COMPENSATION

Position Summary

This position is responsible for the administration, oversight, and continuous improvement of faculty and graduate assistant employment processes, including employment transactions, compensation administration, HRIS activity, position control, and graduate assistant tuition waiver administration. Duties include, but are not limited to: administering complex faculty and graduate assistant employment processes; interpreting and applying collective bargaining agreements, university policies, procedures, and employment practices; overseeing the accurate processing and auditing of employment and compensation actions; providing guidance, training, and support to staff responsible for employment transactions; managing the full life cycle of the graduate assistant tuition waiver program; developing and analyzing reports and data to support operational decision-making; and collaborating with campus partners regarding faculty and graduate assistant employment, payroll, benefits, tuition, and related processes.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience. Three years of professional experience in human resources, payroll, benefits, compensation, higher education administration, or a related field. Demonstrated knowledge and experience interpreting and applying policies, procedures, and employment agreements. Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including the ability to analyze data, identify issues, and recommend solutions. Demonstrated ability to manage complex administrative processes, maintain data integrity, and ensure accurate and timely completion of employment-related activities. Demonstrated proficiency with computerized information systems, reporting tools, and standard business software applications, including Microsoft Excel. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with individuals at all levels of an organization and establish effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize competing responsibilities, and manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in a higher education environment. Experience interpreting and applying collective bargaining agreements. Experience working with HRIS /payroll systems, preferably SAP HR. Experience administering faculty or graduate assistant employment processes. Experience supervising or providing functional leadership to staff. SHRM -CP, SHRM - SCP , PHR , SPHR , or other relevant professional certification.

Duties & Responsibilities

Provides primary professional oversight and support for faculty and graduate assistant employment transactions in SAP , including onboarding, off-boarding, compensation, cost center, FTE , and other employment- related changes.

Provides guidance, training, and support to staff responsible for processing employment transactions; reviews and audits transactions for accuracy and compliance; interprets established policies, procedures, and applicable agreements; identifies and resolves complex transaction issues; and ensures employment actions are processed accurately and in accordance with university requirements.

Directly supervises a Coordinator of Faculty Personnel Services, including assigning and prioritizing work, providing direction and support, training and developing staff, evaluating performance, and ensuring cross-training and operational coverage for key faculty and graduate assistant employment processes.

Manages and administers the full life cycle of the graduate assistant tuition waiver program for all graduate assistants, including establishing and maintaining processes, reviewing eligibility, resolving exceptions, communicating requirements to departments and graduate assistants, and ensuring the program is administered consistently and in accordance with university policies and applicable agreements.

Monitors graduate enrollment and academic eligibility requirements and independently evaluates tuition waiver requests to determine compliance with established eligibility criteria.

Resolves discrepancies and exceptions and communicates decisions and required actions to graduate assistants and academic departments.

Interprets and applies faculty and graduate assistant collective bargaining agreements, university policies, and established employment practices as they relate to appointments, compensation, payroll, and other employment matters. Provides guidance to academic personnel and resolves complex employment-related questions and issues.

Oversees the administration and implementation of approved faculty and graduate assistant compensation changes, including annual salary adjustments, contractual compensation increases, and promotional increases. Evaluates and applies the appropriate processing method for compensation changes within payroll and HR systems, including system uploads and manual processing as required.

Reviews salary and appointment data for accuracy, identifies and resolves discrepancies, and ensures changes are implemented in accordance with applicable agreements, policies, and established procedures.

Develops, maintains, and utilizes HRIS reporting and data analysis tools to create, modify, and support reports and queries addressing ongoing operational and customer needs.

Analyzes employment and compensation data, audits information for accuracy and consistency, identifies data integrity issues, and recommends corrective action and process improvements.

Evaluates, tests, and supports implementation of HRIS enhancements, system changes, and upgrades affecting faculty and graduate assistant employment. Identifies business and operational requirements, evaluates system functionality, documents and communicates system deficiencies, and works with SAP HR and other stakeholders to resolve issues and improve system processes.

Consults with the faculty FMLA administrator regarding compensation and employment matters associated with faculty medical leaves, including reviewing employment and payroll implications, validating compensation calculations, interpreting applicable compensation policies and agreements, and ensuring accurate implementation within HRIS and payroll systems.

Applies specialized knowledge of faculty employment structures, including non-standard academic appointment calendars, complex work assignments, and deferred compensation arrangements, to review calculations, identify discrepancies, and resolve compensation processing issues related to faculty medical leaves.

Manages faculty and graduate assistant position control data in SAP , including creation, modification, and elimination of positions. Reviews position data for accuracy and consistency, ensures positions align with approved employment structures and funding requirements, maintains accurate reporting structures, and manages position transitions associated with changes in chairperson assignments and other organizational changes.

Resolves discrepancies affecting employment, payroll processing, and system reporting.

Provides individual consultation to graduate assistants regarding appointment, tuition waiver, payroll, and billing concerns.

Reviews individual circumstances, explains applicable policies and procedures, identifies appropriate resolutions, and coordinates with relevant university offices when issues require additional action.

Serves as a professional resource to faculty, graduate assistants, academic departments, and university personnel regarding payroll, employment, compensation, and appointment matters.

Provides guidance on complex issues, interprets applicable policies and agreements, and determines when matters require consultation with other university offices or senior personnel.

Develops and delivers individual and group training and informational sessions for academic personnel regarding faculty and graduate assistant employment policies, procedures, systems, and processes.

Develops training materials and resources and adapts training to address identified needs and changes in university requirements.

Serves as a key liaison with Benefits & Wellness, Global Campus, Human Resources, SAP HR, Payroll, the Office of Research and Graduate Studies ( ORGS ), the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid ( OSFA ), and Student Account Services and University Billing ( SASUB ) on matters involving faculty and graduate assistant employment, compensation, payroll, benefits, tuition, and related processes.

Analyzes cross-functional processes and systems, identifies operational issues and opportunities for improvement, develops recommendations, and collaborates with stakeholders to implement solutions.

Provides cross-functional leadership and support within Faculty Personnel Services to promote continuity of departmental operations, including providing backup coverage, knowledge transfer, and assistance with processes across functional areas as needed.

Supervision Exercised

Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others on our team. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve our leadership abilities and our demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU , we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMU’s culture of excellence.

Message to Applicants

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards. You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position. Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

Employee Group

Employee Group Professional & Administrative -Salary

Pay Range

Pay Range $60,000 - $71,000 per year

Division

Division Academic Affairs

Department

Department Faculty Personnel Services

Position Status

Position Status Regular

Position End Date

Employment Status

Employment Status Full-Time

FTE

FTE 1.00

Position Type

Position Type 12 month

Weekly Work Schedule

Weekly Work Schedule Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed

Location

Location Mount Pleasant, MI

About the Department

Faculty Personnel Services is the academic human resources office of Central Michigan University, supporting the needs of faculty, students, and the administration in matters relating to or arising from academic employment. More information can be found on the department website.

About CMU

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives. We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence. CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more. Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17. CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant. Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference. We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart of our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following leadership standards and develop them within their teams.

CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.

CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU’s Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, or both.

CMU’s Title IX Coordinator can be reached at: Phone: [phone] Office: 103 E. Preston St. Bovee University Center, suite 306 Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 Email: [e-mail]