Generalist, HR/FA

Columbia University Irving Medical Center; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University Irving Medical Center seeks a Temporary HR Generalist for a six‑month appointment to support faculty and staff across HR operations, recruitment, onboarding and leave administration.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the HR Generalist will manage personnel transactions, maintain confidential records, ensure compliance with policies, and coordinate with Mailman Faculty and Human Resources as well as CU HR partners to ensure timely, accurate processing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education and experience.
• Minimum of four years of relevant human resources experience.
• Direct experience managing and processing personnel transactions across the employee lifecycle.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, customer service, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel, and ability to learn HR information systems.

Responsibilities

• HR Operations and Transactions: manage faculty and staff transactions, appointments, renewals, separations, and ensure timely processing.
• Recruitment & Onboarding: support candidate sourcing, screenings, onboarding, and documentation.
• Employee Relations & Leave Administration: respond to inquiries and coordinate leave requests.
• HR Reporting & Administrative Support: prepare HR reports and support payroll-related tasks.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

HR transactions management

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education and experience

Tools

PAC

TalentLink

Job description

Grade 105

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Temporary
• End Date if Temporary: 6/30/2027
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $80,000 - $90,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

ICAP at Columbia University, within the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, seeks a Temporary Human Resources and Faculty Affairs Generalist for a six-month temporary appointment. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer the HR Generalist provides comprehensive human resources support for faculty and staff, with primary responsibility for managing a high volume of personnel transactions, including faculty and other academic appointments, employment changes, and separations.

The HR & FA Generalist supports recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, and leave administration while ensuring the accurate and timely processing of personnel actions, resolution of payroll-related issues, and maintenance of confidential employee records. The position collaborates closely with Mailman’s Office of Faculty and Human Resources and Columbia University HR partners to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant HR processes and operations.

Responsibilities

60% – HR Operations and Transactions

• Manage and process personnel transactions for faculty and staff, including appointments, renewals, promotions, transfers, compensation adjustments, additional compensation, and employment separations, ensuring accurate documentation, timely processing, and compliance with institutional policies and procedures.
• Prepare and issue approved letters of nonrenewal and other employment-related notices. Monitor appointment end dates, notification deadlines, and associated separation processes, escalating sensitive or complex matters to HR leadership as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate employee records, rosters, organizational charts, transaction logs, and supporting documentation; track outstanding approvals and resolve data discrepancies to support timely processing.
• Coordinate with HR, payroll, and other administrative offices to address transaction-related inquiries, resolve processing issues, and facilitate necessary corrections.

15% – Recruitment & Onboarding

• Support recruitment activities, including candidate sourcing, application and resume reviews, initial candidate screenings, applicant tracking, interview coordination, reference and background checks, and hiring documentation.
• Assist with the preparation, submission, and tracking of job requisitions and recruitment-related documentation, ensuring timely processing and compliance with institutional policies and procedures.
• Coordinate onboarding activities for faculty and staff, including faculty appointment documentation, employment clearances, new hire paperwork, employee access, and orientation, working closely with HR and other administrative teams to ensure a smooth onboarding process.
• Support employee offboarding activities, including exit documentation, exit surveys, and equipment return, coordinating with appropriate departments to ensure timely completion of required processes.

10% – Employee Relations & Leave Administration

• Respond to routine employee and manager inquiries and provide administrative support for employee relations matters, including confidential documentation, meeting coordination, correspondence, and follow-up tracking; promptly elevate sensitive matters to HR leadership.
• Coordinate leave-related requests and approved leave transactions with Columbia University Leave Management and Mailman Faculty and Human Resources; track leave-related documentation, maintain accurate records, and follow up on outstanding actions as needed.

10% – HR Reporting & Administrative Support

• Prepare transaction status reports, personnel lists, salary rosters, time-off trackers, and other HR administrative reports; assist with payment processing, data reconciliation, and special projects as assigned.

5% – Other Duties as Assigned

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education and experience required. Minimum of four years of relevant human resources experience.
• Direct experience managing and processing personnel transactions across the employee lifecycle, required.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing deadlines, maintain accurate records, handle confidential information with discretion, and follow established procedures.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, customer service, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel, and ability to learn HR information systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, healthcare, nonprofit, or another complex organization.
• Familiarity with Columbia University HR systems (such as PAC, TalentLink, or comparable systems).
• Experience managing high-volume HR transactions in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to prioritize time-sensitive personnel actions.
• Experience preparing nonrenewal or separation correspondence and supporting employee relations documentation.
• Experience coordinating payroll, leave, and personnel actions.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.