Department HR Specialist

North Carolina State University; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 34,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Retirement Programs

Paid Time Off

12 Holidays Each Year

Tuition and Academic Assistance

Job summary

NC State University in Raleigh, NC is seeking a Department HR Specialist to support College of Engineering HR operations within an integrated hub. The role involves end-to-end HR actions, recruitment, onboarding, and complex policy interpretation to serve faculty, staff, post-docs, and students.

You will coordinate visa sponsorships (J-1, H-1B), manage leave in WolfTime, and ensure compliance while collaborating with department leaders to optimize workflows and service delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Ability to independently research and solve complex HR challenges with sound judgment.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication with policy interpretation.
• Manage competing priorities and high-volume deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Direct HR experience at NC State University with personnel policies and enterprise systems.
• Experience coordinating J-1 and H-1B visa sponsorships and compliance.
• Experience in higher education, research, or HR Shared Services.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive HR support to the College of Engineering within an HR Operating Hub.
• Coordinate end-to-end HR actions across employee classifications.
• Recruitment, onboarding, performance management, time and leave administration.
• Visa sponsorship management and employee records across faculty processes.
• Interpret and apply HR policies clearly while balancing priorities.
• Oversee WolfTime leave management and payroll-related processes.

Skills

Research skills

Communication skills

Prioritization

HR policy knowledge

Visa sponsorship experience

PeopleSoft/WolfTime/PeopleAdmin

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PeopleSoft

WolfTime

PeopleAdmin

Job description

Department HR Specialist

Job Location: Raleigh, NC

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Position Details

• Position Number: 00109687
• Position Type: SHRA
• Position Classification Band Title: Human Resources Specialist
• Position Classification Band Level: Advanced
• Position Classification Salary Range: $ 34,320 - $ 70,983
• Salary Grade Equivalency: NC09
• Alternate Option: If no applicants apply who meet the required competency level and training & experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants. Salary would be determined based on competencies, equity, budget, and market considerations.
• Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week): 1.0
• Appointment: 12 Month Recurring
• Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather: Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
• Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events: Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
• Time Limited Position: No
• Department Id: 140101 - College Of Engineering - Dean's Office/Administration

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of training and experience from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated ability to independently research, fact-find, and creatively solve complex HR challenges with sound judgment and discretion.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with experience interpreting complex policies for diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and high-volume deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Direct HR experience within NC State University, including working knowledge of NC State personnel policies and enterprise systems (PeopleSoft, WolfTime, PeopleAdmin).
• Hands‑on experience coordinating J-1 and H-1B visa sponsorships and federal compliance.
• Prior experience in a higher education, research, or HR Shared Services/Hub environment.

Required License or Certification: N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required: No

Commercial Driver's License Required?: No

Essential Job Duties

Reporting to the HR Strategy Partner, the HR Specialist provides comprehensive human resources support to the College of Engineering within an HR Operating Hub service-delivery model. The position coordinates and administers a broad range of HR activities across multiple academic departments, including employee classification and personnel actions, recruitment and onboarding, performance management, time and leave administration, visa sponsorship, employee records, and faculty-related processes. The role requires careful handling of confidential and sensitive information while maintaining accurate, timely, and consistent HR services.

In this role, you will independently manage HR processes from initiation through completion, balancing competing priorities and deadlines across multiple departments. You will serve as a key resource to faculty, staff, students and department leadership by interpreting and applying HR policies and procedures across different employee classifications, coordinating with College and University partners, and communicating complex information clearly. Your attention to detail, sound judgment, professionalism, and commitment to responsive service will help ensure employees and departments receive consistent and effective HR support.

• Full-Lifecycle Personnel Administration: Manage end-to-end HR actions across all employee classifications (Tenured/Tenure Track and Professional Faculty, Staff, Post-docs, Unpaid Affiliations, temporary and Students).
• High-Stakes Academic Actions: Facilitate complex faculty processes, including Phased Retirement, Scholarly Leave assignments, Emeritus requests, and Tenure Clock extensions.
• Advanced Consultation & Problem Solving: Serve as a departmental authority on HR compliance; independently research and resolve non-standard personnel, payroll, and leave issues.
• Strategic Partnering: Working with the HR Strategy Partner, collaborate with Department Heads and Directors to translate complex University policies into clear, actionable advice while anticipating workflow bottlenecks.
• International Employment: Serve as the primary contact for non-immigrant international visa sponsorships (J-1, H-1B), managing submissions and monitoring end-dates to prevent gaps in work authorization.
• Payroll, Compensation & Leave: Oversee complex WolfTime leave management (biweekly and monthly), serve as the primary initiator for Additional Pay and Summer Salary, review the overpayment process and ensure payroll lockout compliance.
• Team Guidance & Process Optimization: Provide on-the-job training and advanced troubleshooting for Journey-level specialists, evaluating Hub workflows to improve service delivery.
• Records Governance & Approvals: Serve as the final HR approval authority for graduate student appointments and maintain official department records in accordance with retention policies.

Other Responsibilities

Other duties as assigned across the hub

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Recruitment Dates

• Job Open Date: 09/21/2026
• Earliest Close Date: 09/28/2026

EEO Statement

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.