HR Generalist - Total Rewards

University of Wisconsin; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Madison Recreation & Wellbeing is seeking a service- and detail-oriented HR Generalist. Reporting to the Associate Director of HR, the role coordinates payroll-related activities, manages leave transactions, and supports benefits while ensuring compliance with university policies.

The position may supervise student hourly HR staff and contributes to process improvements. The role emphasizes accurate records, timely payroll, and exceptional service to employees and

Qualifications

• Two years of HR experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Ability to interpret and apply HR policies and procedures.
• Strong attention to detail and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with students, staff and supervisors.
• Ability to prioritize, organize multiple tasks and workload.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality with tact and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to development, interpretation and revision of HR policies and procedures.
• Provides consultation, analytics and maintains personnel files and communications.
• Prepares and audits payrolls and payroll transactions per policies.
• Executes and audits HR transactions to meet deadlines.
• Responds to employee questions and problems.
• Represents unit at trainings, workshops and informational meetings.

Skills

HR policies interpretation

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Workday HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

HR Generalist

Job Summary:

Recreation & Wellbeing (Rec Well) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking a service and detail-oriented professional to serve as a Human Resources Generalist. Under the general direction of the Associate Director of Human Resources, the HR Generalist serves as a key resource in the area of total rewards. This position is responsible for coordinating and processing payroll-related activities, managing employee leave transactions, providing general benefits support and ensuring compliance with university policies, procedures, and applicable regulations. The HR Generalist oversees a variety of human resources transactions, including lump sum payments, compensation adjustments, employment and position changes, and other personnel actions. The position plays a critical role in maintaining accurate employee records, supporting efficient payroll and HR processes, and providing exceptional service to employees and supervisors. Additionally, this role will have the opportunity to supervise and mentor student hourly HR staff in a variety of core HR responsibilities and processes including I-9 compliance and student hourly hiring workflows.

The HR Generalist is expected to communicate and interpret human resources policies and practices, provide guidance to managers and employees, and identify opportunities to streamline and improve HR processes. The HR Generalist will have the opportunity to contribute to strategic HR initiatives, support divisional priorities and organizational goals, and participate in ongoing professional development opportunities to enhance expertise and career growth. Success in this role requires a high level of accuracy, discretion, and customer service, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities, build collaborative relationships, and proactively identify solutions that support both employees and organizational needs.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Contributes to the development, implementation, interpretation, and revision of work unit Human Resources policies and procedures according to institutional and legal rules and regulations

• Provides consultation, performs analytics, and/or maintains personnel files, communications, and materials for work unit through various mediums

• Prepares and audits standard work unit payrolls, and completes payroll transactions and changes adhering to established policies and procedures to meet anticipated deadlines

• Executes and audits work transactions and changes adhering to established policies and procedures to meet anticipated deadlines

• Receives, responds to, and resolves employee questions and problems

• Represents unit/program at institutional workshops, informational meetings, and training sessions

Department:

Recreation & Wellbeing - Human Resources

At University Recreation & Wellbeing (Rec Well), we move Badgers to play hard, get fit, and live well. We create opportunities for students and the campus community to be active, build connections, develop healthy habits, and support their overall wellbeing through our facilities, programs, services, and people. We believe recreation is a gateway to wellbeing and that our work is about more than recreation alone. As one of UW–Madison’s largest student employers, we also provide opportunities for students to develop skills, grow as leaders, and gain experiences that extend beyond their time on campus.

Rec Well is part of Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Our staff is dedicated to serving students and to helping them succeed in and out of the classroom in areas including health and wellbeing, student success and belonging, student leadership and community engagement, and student advocacy.

Compensation:

The minimum salary for this position is $60,000 annually. The expected salary ranges from $65,000 to $75,000 annually.

In addition to salary, this position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally-recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see:

https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of two years of relevant human resources experience

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word & Excel

• Experience interpreting and applying HR policies and procedures

• Strong attention to detail and decision-making abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with students, staff, and supervisors

• Ability to establish priorities, organize varied and complex tasks and workload

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information with tact and discretion

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a human resources role working in payroll and/or benefits

• Experience with Workday HRIS

• Experience working in higher education

• Ability to communicate in English and Spanish, verbally and in writing

Additional Details:

• Typical working hours are Monday through Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm. Actual schedule will be determined upon hire.

• This position is eligible for up to the equivalent of two work days remote.

Education:

Bachelor's Degree preferred

Contact Information:

Jenni Regan

Email: [e-mail]

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying to.Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.