HR Operations Lead

University of Minnesota; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition benefits

Paid holidays

Generous retirement plans

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry is hiring a Human Resources Operations Lead to guide HR operations across the department and school. Hybrid work arrangement: three days on-site, two days remote after 90 days.

Salary range is $87,000–$90,000 annually, with duties spanning policy development, employee relations, onboarding, training, and HR reporting. This role collaborates with the Dean's Office and HR team to support faculty, staff, and students.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree plus at least four years of HR generalist experience, or a combined education and experience totaling at least eight years.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to effectively manage and prioritize multiple tasks with accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Develop and update HR policies and procedures for staff, faculty, and students.
• Own and manage the annual Service Awards Program with the Dean's Office.
• Lead employee relations investigations and disciplinary actions for assigned departments.
• Coordinate onboarding and offboarding for residents and adjunct faculty.
• Facilitate training for supervisors and employees on HR administration and change management.
• Provide bi-weekly and monthly HR reporting and analytics to stakeholders.

Skills

Attention to detail

Written & verbal communication

Multitasking & prioritization

Education

BA/BS + HR generalist exp

Tools

TDX ticketing

PeopleSoft HRMS

Job description

About the Job

The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry (SOD) has an exciting opportunity to hire a Human Resources Operations Lead! This position serves as the HR team member who leads HR operations within the department and across the school, and partners with assigned departments to provide a full range of generalist support. This position provides operational support and direction for our faculty, staff, and students, builds relationships, and collaborates daily with HR team members.

The pay range for this position is $87,000- $90,000, depending on experience.

This position will work a hybrid schedule: three days on-site and two days remote after the first 90 days of employment.

Human Resources Operations Lead (50%)

• Develop and update HR policies and procedures to address the needs of SOD staff, faculty, and students, i.e., compensation and recruitment guides, as well as any other tasks assigned
• Serves as the primary PCard holder for the office; Completes the required training to obtain a University PCard; Maintains appropriate use of the PCard; Pays office invoices; Reconciles PCard accurately in accordance with University Policies
• Own and communicate information and answer questions regarding the employee recognition program; Monitor program funds for acceptable use
• Own the annual Service Awards Process and program, alongside the Dean's Office
• Serve as a partner on the HR team, sharing knowledge and providing technical guidance and problem-solving

Employee Relations and Performance Management (20%)

• Consult with and advise management and employees on HR issues for assigned department(s)
• Partner with Department Administrators on initiatives and projects while fostering a collaborative team environment
• In the performance management process:
  • Support the University of Minnesota's performance management philosophy, which includes goal setting, regular check-ins, probationary and annual reviews. This is to be done in partnership with the HR Consultant
  • Advise supervisors on performance management solutions (in consultation with the HR Consultant).
• On employee relations and labor relations:
  • Lead employee relations investigations, documentation, and issuing discipline up to and including termination of appointment, for assigned department(s)
  • Create and execute action plans as appropriate

Overall Faculty and Staff Support (20%)

• Resident Support:
  • Coordinates the end-to-end onboarding lifecycle for new residents, including hiring logistics, compliance verification, and the execution of orientation sessions
  • Partners with divisions and the Advanced Education Coordinator to accurately and efficiently offboard residents
  • Consults with Program Directors to navigate complex residency requests, including program extensions, leaves of absence, and time-off tracking
• Adjunct Faculty Support:
  • Partners with divisions to request, hire, and onboard new adjunct faculty
  • Continuously updates adjunct appointments and pay based on the adjunct roster
• Provide contract interpretation for labor-represented employees and interpretation of university policy for all employee groups
• Coordinate communication with team members and management on evaluating disability accommodations, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, leaves of absence, and resolving certain situations related to policies, procedures, and HR issues
• Other duties as assigned

Training and Development/Compliance (10%)

• Facilitate training and development for supervisors and employees on organizational effectiveness issues, such as HR administration compliance and process improvement efforts involving change management
• Facilitate the mid-probationary review process by assigning evaluations and following up with leadership to ensure new employees receive timely feedback
• HR Reporting/Analytics:
  • Provides bi-weekly and monthly staff reporting to the Dean, HR Director, and other internal stakeholders
  • Creates and provides HR metrics upon request
  • Serves as the HR office contact for external partners such as faculty affairs, finance, etc.

Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree plus at least four years of HR generalist experience, or a combined education and experience totaling at least eight years.
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to effectively manage and prioritize multiple tasks with accuracy

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with TDX or other ticketing systems within a fast-paced organization
• Experience creating and hosting training sessions
• Experience with creating and implementing process improvements
• Experience with University of Minnesota HR policies, procedures, and PeopleSoft HRMS
• Experience working in a higher education environment
• Professional HR certification (e.g., PHR, SPHR, or SHRM-CP/SCP) is a plus

Core Competencies:

• Operational Excellence: Deep understanding of HR functional areas and operational workflow design
• Problem Solving & Critical Thinking: Strong ability to analyze complex situations and propose strategic solutions
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Proven success in building strong relationships across diverse academic and administrative groups

Key Performance Metrics:

• Timely execution and completion of annual HR operational processes (e.g., performance reviews, service awards)
• Accuracy and compliance in PCard reconciliation, reporting, and records management
• High stakeholder satisfaction regarding consultation, onboarding support, and overall HR operations responsiveness

About the Department

The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry is the state's only dental school and the only dental school in the northern tier of states between Wisconsin and the Pacific Northwest. The School of Dentistry advances health through scientific discovery, innovative education, and the highest quality care for all communities. Our impact extends beyond dental offices to classrooms and clinics throughout the region. We educate dentists, dental specialists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, dental educators, and research scientists.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $41.83 - $43.27 per hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.