HR Business Partner, Office of Human Resources

The University of Texas at Austin; Utah; Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Texas at Austin’s Office of Human Resources is seeking an HR Business Partner to advise managers on employee relations, performance management, and corrective action. The role emphasizes strategic consultation, policy guidance, and collaboration across units.

You will work to align compensation, classification, and recruitment practices with institutional guidelines while coaching managers on HR best practices. This is a hybrid role with on-site and remote work options.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field and a minimum of three years of relevant experience.
• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations, as well as HR best practices.
• Progressive professional HR experience advising managers on employee relations, performance concerns, documentation, and corrective action.
• Ability to evaluate complex or incomplete information, interpret policies, exercise sound judgment, and recommend practical next steps.
• Resourcefulness and curiosity demonstrated through thoughtful questions, independent research, and effective use of colleagues and other resources.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to explain sensitive issues clearly and guide difficult conversations.

Responsibilities

• Advise managers and HR colleagues on employee relations concerns, performance management, and corrective action. Help clients clarify expectations, prepare for difficult conversations, document concerns, and identify appropriate next steps.
• Build trusted working relationships with HR colleagues and leaders across an assigned portfolio of university units. Provide responsive, practical guidance that supports consistent application of university policies.
• Advise on compensation, classification, and recruitment strategies, ensuring alignment with institutional guidelines, market practices, and internal equity. Support effective hiring processes.
• Provide coaching and resources to strengthen manager capability in applying HR practices and support training initiatives.

Skills

Employee relations

Performance management

Policy interpretation

Compliance knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR

Tools

Workday

Job description

HR Business Partner, Office of Human Resources

Hiring Department: Office of Human Resources; Position Open To: All Applicants; Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40; FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA; Earliest Start Date: Immediately; Position Duration: Expected to Continue; Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS.

Must be eligible to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.

Job Details

Join UT Austin’s central Human Resources team and help managers and HR colleagues work through challenging employee situations with clarity, care, and sound judgment. This position offers the opportunity to build relationships across the university, deepen your employee relations expertise, and develop practical solutions in a complex organization.

The HR Business Partner provides consultation to an assigned portfolio of colleges, schools, and units, with a primary focus on employee relations, performance management, and corrective action. This role helps managers and HR colleagues assess concerns, navigate university policies, and identify practical next steps.

Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Performance Management

Advise managers and HR colleagues on employee relations concerns, performance management, and corrective action. Help clients clarify expectations, prepare for difficult conversations, document concerns, and identify appropriate next steps consistent with university policy and applicable law. Assess situations by asking thoughtful questions, gathering relevant information, and considering context, prior actions, and potential risks. Develop practical recommendations and partner with HR leadership on complex or sensitive matters. Support clients through the resolution of concerns, adapting guidance as new information emerges and maintaining clear communication and timely follow-through.

Strategic Consultation & Partnership

Build trusted working relationships with HR colleagues and leaders across an assigned portfolio of university units. Learn each unit’s operational needs and provide responsive, practical guidance that supports consistent application of university policies. Research unfamiliar issues, connect clients with appropriate resources, and collaborate across HR to resolve questions. Use initiative and creative problem solving to identify workable options within university requirements. Identify recurring concerns and opportunities to improve guidance, resources, and processes. Support organizational changes and departmental projects as assigned.

Compensation, Classification, and Recruitment

Advise on compensation, classification, and recruitment strategies, ensuring alignment with institutional guidelines, market practices, and internal equity. Partner with Central HR subject matter experts to support effective and compliant hiring processes and provide guidance on position design and candidate selection.

Training & Development

Provide coaching, guidance, and resources to strengthen manager capability in applying HR practices. Reinforce HR training initiatives by supporting understanding and application of performance management, compensation, classification, and recruitment practices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field and a minimum of three years of relevant experience.
• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations, as well as HR best practices.
• Progressive professional HR experience that includes directly advising managers on employee relations, performance concerns, documentation, and corrective action.
• Ability to evaluate complex or incomplete information, interpret policies, exercise sound judgment, and recommend practical next steps.
• Resourcefulness and curiosity demonstrated through thoughtful questions, independent research, and effective use of colleagues and other resources.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to explain sensitive issues clearly and guide difficult conversations.
• Commitment to client service, demonstrated through responsiveness, clear expectations, and reliable follow-through.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and new information while remaining composed, managing competing needs, and moving issues toward resolution.
• Demonstrated discretion and ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, public service, or another complex organization with multiple stakeholders and established policies and procedures.
• Relevant experience may include providing HR support within a UT Austin college, school, or unit.
• Experience working in a centralized or shared services HR model, providing consultative support across multiple units.
• Experience partnering with leadership on workforce planning, organizational design, or change management initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience using HR data, metrics, or reporting to inform decision-making and identify trends.
• Experience collaborating with HR Centers of Excellence (e.g., compensation, talent acquisition, learning and development).
• Experience facilitating training, workshops, or presentations for managers or HR professionals (as a secondary function).
• Bilingual (Spanish/English).
• Experience using Workday.

Salary Range

$75,000 - $80,000, depending on qualifications.

Work Conditions

• Work-life balance within a typical 40-hour work week.
• Work performed in the Austin, TX office location three days per week, with an option work remotely two days per week from an approved remote location.
• May change due to business need.
• Work around standard office conditions.
• Repetitive use of keyboard at workstation.

Employment Eligibility

• Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers.
• Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following: E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.