HR Generalist I

University of the Cumberlands; Williamsburg (KY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

University of the Cumberlands seeks an HR Generalist I to provide HR support to faculty and staff, partner with managers on performance management, recruitment, policy interpretation and compliance, and serve as the primary point of contact for day-to-day HR matters.

Located in Williamsburg, KY, UC is an institution focused on growth and service, employing a diverse workforce including full-time staff, adjunct faculty and student workers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in HR/related field.
• 0-2 years HR experience; higher education experience preferred.
• Proficiency in HRIS and Excel; knowledge of employment law a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the initial HR contact for supervisors and employees.
• Advise managers on performance management and documentation.
• Coordinate full-cycle recruitment for staff positions and onboarding.
• Ensure compliance with FLSA, EEO, ADA and other employment regulations.
• Maintain accurate personnel records and assist in policy development and updates.

Skills

Employee relations

Recruitment

Policy interpretation

Performance management

Compliance

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business Administration or related field

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Get Set for Cumberlands! Join our team of student-focused individuals working together in order to encourage intellectual and spiritual growth, leadership and service.

The Human Resources Generalist I provides HR support to faculty and staff across the University. This role partners with managers on employee relations, recruitment, performance management, policy interpretation, and compliance. The Generalist I serves as the primary point of contact for day-to-day HR matters and supports a workforce of full-time employees, adjunct faculty, and student workers. This position plays a key role in strengthening HR service delivery and ensuring consistent, legally compliant employment practices.

Cumberlands is different by design. Our employees exemplify our motto in the pursuit of a "life-more-abundant". Located in the heart of Appalachia, University of the Cumberlands (UC) is an institution of regional distinction that offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 major fields of study, along with several pre-professional, graduate and doctoral programs. With a total enrollment of more than 20,000 students, UC is one of the largest and fastest growing private universities in Kentucky and is devoted to preparing students for the future through hands-on, experiential learning and research.

Employee Relations & Manager Support

• Serve as the initial HR contact for supervisors and employees.
• Advise managers on performance management and documentation.
• Help with workplace investigations.
• Support conflict resolution.
• Ensure consistent application of policies and procedures.

Recruitment & Hiring

• Coordinate full-cycle recruitment for staff positions.
• Partner with hiring managers to develop job postings.
• Oversee applicant tracking and candidate communications.
• Help to coordinate onboarding for new hires, including adjunct faculty and staff.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and institutional hiring standards.

Performance & Employment Administration

• Support the annual performance review process.
• Aid with organizational changes and workforce planning.
• Perform exit processes, including documentation and offboarding.

Compliance & Policy

• Ensure compliance with FLSA, EEO, ADA, and other employment regulations.
• Maintain accurate personnel records.
• Assist in policy development and updates.
• Monitor trends and recommend process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required.
• 0-2 years of HR experience required; higher education experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and experience managing employee relations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-volume environment.
• Proficiency in HRIS and Microsoft Excel; HR certification a plus.

The University of the Cumberlands does not illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, religion, genetic information, veteran status, because a person is a smoker or nonsmoker, or any other basis on which the University is prohibited from discrimination under local, state, or federal law, in its employment or in the provision of its services, including but not limited to its programs and activities, admissions, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other University-administered programs. In order to fulfill its purpose, the University may legally discriminate on the basis of religion in employment, and the University has sought and been granted exemption from certain regulations promulgated under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 which conflict with the University's religious tenets.