Human Resources Partner

University-of-Main; Orono (ME); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday & vacation time

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Tuition waiver

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

The University of Maine is seeking two Human Resources Partner positions to support departments across UMaine and UMaine Machias. You will partner with HR teams to provide generalist HR support, including employee relations, policy interpretation, and workforce management across a matrixed organization.

These roles are full-time with a fixed starting salary of $62,000 and a pathway to hybrid work after a probationary period.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressive experience in a HR generalist or employee relations role.
• Working knowledge of human resources principles and practices, including employee and labor, performance management, policy interpretation, organizational practices, and applicable employment laws and regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and/or employment-related requirements in a consistent, practical, and sound manner.
• Strong judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to assess situations objectively, recognize risk, and determine when consultation or escalation is appropriate.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify issues and trends, gather and evaluate relevant information, and develop practical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with employees, faculty, managers, administrators, and other internal and external stakeholders. Experience presenting information, facilitating discussions, or providing training is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively, manage competing priorities, and build effective working relationships across multiple levels and functions of an organization.
• Experience using HR information systems and other workplace technologies to support HR operations, communication, reporting, and decision-making.
• Demonstrated commitment to responsive, professional, and service-oriented HR support.
• Experience working in a higher education setting or similarly complex matrixed organization.

Skills

Employee relations

Workforce management

HR generalist

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

HRIS

Job description

We're looking for a results-driven HR Partner to bridge strategy and daily operations. If you bring a strong skillset in workforce management, employee relations, and organizational support, we want to hear from you.

The University of Maine is seeking to fill two Human Resources Partner positions to support assigned departments at the University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias. The HR Partner will collaborate with the UM Human Resources team and HR Centers across the University of Maine System to deliver effective HR solutions that align with and support the University’s goals. The HR Partner will also provide HR generalist support to employees, including managers and supervisors, within their assigned portfolio.

The HRP must have the interest and ability to work in a fast-paced, unionized environment and manage multiple projects at a time. They must have the capacity to consistently meet deadlines while demonstrating a positive and collaborative attitude that supports employee engagement. The HR Partner will be a collaborative problem-solver who takes initiative and thrives in a matrixed organization.

These are full-time positions with an annual salary of $62,000; this is a fixed starting salary set within a predefined wage band and is nonnegotiable. Work will be conducted in-person at the University of Maine campus, with the possibility for a hybrid work schedule (up to 2 days per week remote) after successful completion of the probationary period.

The University of Maine System offers highly competitive benefits for full-time and eligible part-time employees that includes (but is not limited to):

• 13 paid holidays plus earned vacation time and sick time.
• Health, dental and vision insurance.
• Low-cost short-term disability insurance and employer-paid long-term disability insurance.
• Employer-paid basic life insurance and supplemental life insurance.
• A tuition waiver program for employees and their spouse or dependent child(ren).
• A 403(b)-retirement plan with employer contribution.

About the University:

The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state. UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System’s flagship institution. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world. More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu.

The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options.

UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life. Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live. Visit the Maine Office of Tourism to learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressive experience in a HR generalist or employee relations role.
• Working knowledge of human resources principles and practices, including employee and labor, performance management, policy interpretation, organizational practices, and applicable employment laws and regulations.

Preferred:

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and/or employment-related requirements in a consistent, practical, and sound manner.
• Strong judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to assess situations objectively, recognize risk, and determine when consultation or escalation is appropriate.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify issues and trends, gather and evaluate relevant information, and develop practical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with employees, faculty, managers, administrators, and other internal and external stakeholders. Experience presenting information, facilitating discussions, or providing training is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively, manage competing priorities, and build effective working relationships across multiple levels and functions of an organization.
• Experience using HR information systems and other workplace technologies to support HR operations, communication, reporting, and decision-making.
• Demonstrated commitment to responsive, professional, and service-oriented HR support.
• Experience working in a higher education setting or similarly complex matrixed organization.

For full consideration, materials must be submitted by 4:30p.m.EST on October 23, 2026.

The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening.

The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran or military status in any aspect of its education, programs and activities, and employment. The System provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you are encouraged to contact the System Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services at 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, Orono, ME 04469-5713, by calling 207.581.1226, or via TTY at 711 (Maine Relay System). For more information about Title IX or to file a complaint, please contact the UMS Title IX Coordinator at www.maine.edu/title-ix/.

Clery Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, such as the University, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report, (ASR) and provide notice of the availability of the ASR to all prospective employees. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University's crime statistics for the past three calendar years; and disclosures regarding the University's current campus security policies. You may view the University’s Annual Security Report. If you wish to have a paper copy of the ASR or you need to have a copy of the ASR in an accessible format, the University will provide such a copy upon request. Please contact: UMaine Police Department, 81 Rangeley Rd., The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5794, or call 207.581.4053.