Human Resources Assistant

Lehighbar; Bethlehem (Northampton County); Hybrid; USD 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition benefits

Above-standard retirement support

Health insurance

Generous leave entitlements

Job summary

Lehigh University’s Human Resources team seeks a detail-oriented HR Assistant to ensure accurate benefits support for faculty and staff from day one. If you enjoy getting details right and helping people navigate workplace benefits, this is a meaningful entry point into higher education HR.

Position S78040 is Grade 7 - 37.5 with an approximate salary range of $37,190-$44,640 and offers a chance to grow within a centralized HR model at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 1–3 years of related experience in admin, HR or benefits support.
• Experience with HRIS or payroll support is a plus.
• Strong data entry with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.

Responsibilities

• Process benefits enrollments, changes, and leave requests accurately.
• Maintain employee data in HR systems and support payroll adjustments.
• Assist with compliance audits and document management per policies.
• Serve as first contact for benefits inquiries with clear guidance.
• Contribute to open enrollment and HR events.
• Coordinate leave of absence administration and track balances.
• Prepare and distribute benefits communications to faculty and staff.
• Reconcile benefits invoices with payroll and finance teams.
• Maintain HR records per retention policies.
• Provide administrative support to HR (scheduling, correspondence, inquiries).

Skills

Data entry accuracy

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Discretion/confidentiality

Multitasking

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

HRIS platforms

Microsoft Office

Job description

Lehigh University's Human Resources team is looking for a detail-oriented Human Resources Assistant to help ensure that Lehigh's faculty and staff receive accurate, timely benefits support from day one. If you're someone who finds satisfaction in getting the details right and genuinely enjoys helping people navigate their workplace benefits, this role offers a meaningful entry point into higher education HR.

Position Number: S78040

This position is a Grade: 7 - 37.5 with an approximate salary range of $37,190-$44,640 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

What You'll Be Doing

• Processing benefits enrollments, changes, and leave management requests with accuracy and within established timelines
• Maintaining employee data in HR systems and supporting payroll adjustments related to benefits activity
• Assisting with compliance audits and document management to meet federal, state, and university policy requirements
• Serving as a first point of contact for general benefits enquiries, guiding employees through their options with clarity and care
• Contributing to key HR events including open enrollment
• Coordinating leave of absence administration, including tracking employee leave balances and ensuring documentation is complete and current
• Supporting the preparation and distribution of benefits-related communications to faculty and staff across the university
• Reconciling benefits invoices and flagging discrepancies for review in collaboration with payroll and finance teams
• Assisting with the maintenance of HR records in accordance with Lehigh's records retention policies and applicable regulations
• Providing general administrative support to the HR department, including scheduling, correspondence, and responding to routine HR enquiries

What You'll Bring

• High School Diploma or GED
• One to three years of work related experience
• Experience in an administrative, HR, or benefits support role — or demonstrated equivalent capability
• Strong data entry skills with a track record of accuracy and attention to detail
• Comfortable handling sensitive employee information with discretion and confidentiality
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, particularly when explaining complex benefits information to employees
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms and standard office productivity tools
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a structured, compliance-conscious environment like Lehigh's centralized HR model

Why Lehigh

Lehigh University brings together a close-knit academic community in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with a genuine commitment to the well-being of its people. As a staff member, you'll have access to generous tuition benefits, above-standard retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and significant leave entitlements, reflecting the University's long-standing investment in its workforce. The HR team operates with a collaborative, service-first culture where your contributions to process accuracy and employee experience have a direct impact on the broader university community.

Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university’s mission.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.

Special Considerations

• The duties of this position may allow the employee to work partially remote as deemed appropriate by their supervisor.

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.