Human Resources Partner (5396C), Berkeley Regional Services - #88114

University of California; Berkeley (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, Berkeley is seeking a Human Resources Partner within BEARS to manage client HR services, policy interpretation, and labor relations support across campus units.

The role includes advising managers, leading recruitment for diverse positions, handling performance issues, and assisting in reorganizations while collaborating with HR/APS to ensure compliant, effective service delivery.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service in a high-volume environment.
• In-depth knowledge of HR concepts, policies, and procedures.
• Experience applying labor relations and compensation practices.

Responsibilities

• Counsels managers on employee and labor policies and resolves issues with bargaining agreements.
• Manages recruitment cycles for staff and academic positions.
• Advises on performance, onboarding, leaves, and job descriptions.
• Assists in reorganizations and staffing objectives to meet goals.
• Represents BEARS at department meetings and coordinates with HR/APS teams.

Skills

Customer service

HR concepts

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

UCPath

HRIS

Job description

At the University of California, Berkeley , we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth . We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

BEARS (Berkeley Educators and Administrators Regional Services) is not only the largest region, it supports the largest variety of personnel positions that make Berkeley such a fascinating place to work. The BEARS Region provides reliable, high-quality administrative support to faculty, academics, staff, student employees, and retirees in support of the UC Berkeley mission of teaching, research, and public service.

BEARS provides the following services:

Research Administration: BEARS helps UC Berkeley Faculty and Principal Investigators (PIs) focus on their groundbreaking and world-class research efforts by providing customized administrative and management support for research proposals, grants, awards, and contracts throughout various steps in the life cycle.

HR and Academic Personnel Support: The BEARS region provides administrative Human Resources and Academic Personnel Support (HR/APS) to the Berkeley campus, including support for hiring, appointments, separations, classifications and compensation, and performance management transactions. Our BEARS HR professionals strive to process status changes expediently. Human Resource Business Partners and Senior Human Resources Partners assist our campus clients with Employee and Labor Relations matters (in partnership with People & Culture), strategic planning and reorganizations, accommodations as required under ADA, performance management, layoffs, recruitments, and general management advice.

Purchasing and Reimbursements (P&R): BEARS provides support to the UC Berkeley campus with Purchasing services as well as assistance with complex Travel and Entertainment (T&E) Reimbursements.

Position Summary

The Human Resources Partner manages client relationships and facilitates effective service delivery to administrative business or academic units on campus. This position serves as a business partner and liaison between clients and BRS HR/APS to ensure the efficient flow of information and coordinate activities that best serve client needs in a timely manner. The Human Resources Partner works with the Service Delivery Manager and AP/HR Process Improvement teams to implement best practices and deliver continuous improvements in service. This position recommends, develops, implements, administers, coordinates, and evaluates Human Resources policies, labor contracts, statutes, programs, and procedures covering recruitment, compensation, employee relations, labor relations, welfare programs, training and development, visa procurement, intercampus transfers, and employee services.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is September 4, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

• Counsels department managers and supervisors on employee and labor policies, procedures, and appropriate practices regarding performance management, recruiting, on-boarding, compensation/classification, disability, training and other areas of HR. Responsible for diverse and complex client allocation. Collaborates with the lead and employee and labor relations, and researches and provides information to resolve grievances, identify inconsistencies, ambiguities, or compliance issues with collective bargaining agreements to flag potential conflicts and problematic provisions, and provide recommendations for interpretation and subjects of bargaining.
• Manages recruitment cycle for a full range of staff or academic positions.
• Advises employees concerning sensitive and difficult to resolve work-related issues.
• Conducts termination interviews, providing feedback to administration and academic unit management.
• Advise managers, supervisors, and employees at all levels on developing job descriptions, managing disabilities, leaves of absence, and employee performance, and interpreting and applying personnel policies and procedures.
• Works with client groups on complex reorganizations and staffing objectives to assist in meeting business goals.
• Represents BEARS at department meetings upon request.
• Prioritizes work assignments, analyzes complex HR trends, and develops recommendations based on the results.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Ability to provide exceptional customer service in a high-volume, fast-paced, professional environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of human resources concepts, policies, and procedures, employment practices, labor relations, salary administration, training, and other areas of human resources.
• In-depth knowledge of disability case management and proven ability to follow through and focus on resolving cases in a timely manner.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective relationships with diverse client groups. Demonstrated ability to handle very difficult or volatile situations/individuals effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to apply skills in a consultative way.
• Demonstrates skill in prioritizing competing work assignments, and timelines.
• Employing political & interpersonal acumen to analyze information to determine appropriate courses of action and their implications
• Possesses strong analytical, active listening, and critical thinking skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of UCPath and other related business software programs and systems, and/or the ability to learn
• Knowledge of academic personnel or administration, and/or the ability to learn
• Worked in a shared services environment, especially in the higher education field.
• Knowledge of campus initiatives relating to and/or impacting human resources, and a thorough understanding of how work may impact other areas, and/or the ability to learn

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or 3 to 5 years of combined experience in human resources, organizational development, and/or training and development.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $85,300.00 - $115,000.00.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

Other Information

• This position is eligible for up to 5 days/week of remote work within the United States. This position is required to attend annual on-campus meetings, as needed.
  • Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change.
• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

Misconduct means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.