Human Resources Business Partner I (HRBP I)

University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst (MA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Massachusetts Amherst is seeking a Human Resources Business Partner I (HRBP I) to support an academic grouping within the College of Natural Sciences, meeting HR objectives with judgment and leadership.

As a subject matter expert on HR management, staff policies and procedures, this role serves all employees in the unit, including faculty and staff, with emphasis on onboarding, classifications, and performance processes. The position offers a hybrid work arrangement in Amherst, MA.

Qualifications

• Associates degree with 4+ years of HR experience or a Bachelor’s degree with 2+ years HR experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication, including training skills.
• Strong problem solving, prioritization, and timeliness for individual and team performance.
• Commitment to inclusion and understanding of diverse thought and backgrounds.
• Proven competence with spreadsheets, calendars, and HR data systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction and leadership to HR staff to ensure timely HR processes.
• Train and guide staff on HR tasks and proper procedures across systems.
• Share HR knowledge to support CNS staff learning needs.
• Engage with CNS faculty and staff to support HR activities for all employees.
• Manage hiring, promotion, transfer, tenure, and reappointment processes with compliance.
• Advise on position descriptions, classifications, and compensation practices.
• Support onboarding, leave, performance evaluation, and employee relations matters.
• Create queries and reports to support HR management across the college.
• Collaborate to update knowledge-based HR resources and improve processes.

Skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Multitasking / prioritization

Discretion and judgment

Education

Associates degree + 4 years HR experience

Bachelor's degree + 2 years HR experience

Job description

Title: Human Resources Business Partner I (HRBP I)

Executive Area: Human Resources

College/School/MBU: Human Resources

Department: Office of Human Resources

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the College of Natural Sciences Human Resources Business Partner III, the Human Resources Business Partner I (HRBP I) supports an academic grouping within the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) in meeting its HR operational and strategic objectives, with a high degree of judgment, initiative, and leadership. Serves as a subject matter expert and advisor on matters related to human resource management, personnel policies and procedures for all employees throughout the unit.

Essential Functions

• Provide direction, leadership, and support to a team of HR staff members to ensure efficient, accurate, and timely execution of HR processes.
• Provide training and guidance on HR tasks, ensuring staff understand and follow proper procedures for submitting transactions across various systems.
• Share knowledge of HR processes, policies, and best practices to support the learning needs of CNS staff.
• Engage regularly with CNS faculty and staff to administer Human Resources activities across the unit, supporting all employees, both academic and non-academic.
• Manage the hiring, promotion, transfer, tenure, and reappointment processes. Advise on process compliance. Support onboarding processes to enhance employee effectiveness.
• Work with managers to develop clear, accurate and results-oriented position descriptions.
• Review and approve the submission of staff classification review requests in the Talent Management software system. Administer and advise managers and staff on university compensation and classification processes, ensuring alignment with HR best practices.
• Facilitate and monitor leave processes. Partner with leadership to support non-standard leave cases.
• Manage, monitor, and provide guidance on employee evaluation processes. Support and maintain engagement to drive best in class performance.
• Support senior level HR staff in resolving employee performance concerns. Partner with managers to elevate non-standard employee relation or performance matters.
• Process, monitor, and approve HR actions within HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems), ATS (applicant tracking system), and other relevant systems. Advise staff on proper policies and procedures to support the timely and accurate management of employment actions. Troubleshoot and resolve complex HR processing inquiries with a high level of independence.
• Create and provide queries and reports to support ongoing HR management throughout the college.
• Collaborate with college and department constituents to create, write and update knowledge-based resources.
• Partner with peers and leadership to advance current processes and systems to support continuous improvement throughout the HR operation.

Other Functions

• Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associates degree and four (4) years of human resource-related experience OR a bachelor's degree and two (2) years of human resource-related experience.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively problem-solve, manage multiple demands, and prioritize competing tasks while maintaining a strong focus on timeliness and quality for both individual and team performance.
• Strong service orientation that demonstrates proactive relationship building and customer-focused problem solving.
• Commitment to inclusion and awareness and understanding of diverse thought, cultures, race, gender, and other differences.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including training skills.
• Proven competence with spreadsheets, word processing, electronic calendars and organizational charts, as well as central data systems.
• Ability to exercise extreme discretion and judgment in matters of a sensitive or confidential nature.

Preferred Qualifications

• PHR/SPHR certification.
• Experience in Higher Education.

Additional Details

This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position is non-unit, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees Non-Unit (Professional) Employee Personnel Policy.

Salary Information

Pay Grade: PSSAP Grade 26

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.