Human Resources Specialist I

kansascity; Joplin (MO); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Kansas City University is seeking an HR Specialist I - Generalist Support to provide broad employee-facing HR support across the life cycle, serve as a welcoming first point of contact, assist with onboarding, timekeeping, and wellness programs, and collaborate with HR teams across both campuses.

The role emphasizes accurate information, organized processes, confidentiality, and strong customer service to enhance the employee experience at both KCyou campuses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Communications, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of one year of professional HR, administrative, employee services, or related experience preferred.
• Experience with Workday or another HRIS and employee timekeeping platform strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with HR practices related to employee records, onboarding, benefits, timekeeping, employee communications, and general HR administration.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact professionally with employees, managers, candidates, vendors, and campus partners.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, events, and administrative details.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Provide employee-facing HR support throughout the employee life cycle, from hire through separation.
• Serve as an accessible first point of contact for routine employee and manager HR questions and connect individuals with the appropriate HR resource when additional expertise is required.
• Support employee transactions and maintain accurate employee information in Workday.
• Assist with onboarding, employee changes, employment documentation, records, reporting, and separation activities.
• Respond to routine questions regarding HR policies, procedures, benefits, time and absence, payroll-related processes, and Workday transactions within the scope of the position.
• Partner with HR II Generalists and other HR functional specialists to support timely resolution of employee needs.
• Provide responsive, accurate, and employee-centered HR service while maintaining confidentiality and appropriate documentation.
• Coordinate and lead new employee orientation logistics for both campuses, ensuring a consistent and welcoming onboarding experience.
• Schedule orientation dates, rooms, speakers, food/catering, and other program logistics.
• Coordinate orientation materials, presentations, communications, and other support needs.
• Coordinate new employee photographs, temporary badges, and required notifications to appropriate campus partners.
• Partner with HR team members and University departments to continually improve the new employee orientation experience.
• Provide administrative and operational support to the HR team across both campuses.
• Assist with HR purchasing, scheduling, materials, meetings, and other department operational needs.
• Provide project and administrative support to HR functional leads during high-volume periods, annual processes, and special initiatives.
• Serve as backup support to other HR team members as needed.
• Provide operational and event support for KCyou Well-Being programs and activities.
• Coordinate room scheduling and other event logistics.
• Coordinate purchasing of awards, supplies, and materials.
• Assist with scheduling, purchasing, and payment processes for wellness vendors and activities, including Lunch & Learns, wellness fairs, fitness activities, biometric screenings, therapy dog events, and similar programming.
• Serve as an on-campus contact for vendors and assist with event setup and coordination.
• Provide routine Time and Absence support to employees and managers, escalating complex questions to the Time & Absence Lead as appropriate.
• Support biweekly timekeeping review and administrative processes.
• Assist employees and managers with Workday time entry, absence requests, corrections, and general process questions.
• Identify recurring questions or issues and communicate trends to the Time & Absence Lead.
• Provide Leadership and Development trainings, working closely with the Associate Director of Human Resources.
• Assist in the support of Internal Communications and Employee Engagement, working closely with the Internal Communications and Engagement Manager for Human Resources.
• Other administrative tasks (i.e., filing, preparing documentation)
• Active participation in team and University meetings
• Function effectively in a team environment
• Participate in special projects as assigned

Skills

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

Workday

Job description

Job Type: Staff

Job Description:

The Human Resources Specialist I - Generalist Support provides broad, employee-facing Human Resources support across the employee life cycle and helps coordinate the day-to-day operational activities of the HR department. This position serves as a welcoming first point of contact for employees and visitors, supports HR events and communications, coordinates new employee orientation logistics, assists with employee wellness programming, and provides routine Time and Absence support. The HR Specialist works collaboratively with HR team members and campus partners to provide responsive service, accurate information, organized processes, and a positive employee experience across both KCU campuses.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

HR Specialist / Employee-Facing Generalist Services

• Provide employee-facing HR support throughout the employee life cycle, from hire through separation
• Serve as an accessible first point of contact for routine employee and manager HR questions and connect individuals with the appropriate HR resource when additional expertise is required
• Support employee transactions and maintain accurate employee information in Workday
• Assist with onboarding, employee changes, employment documentation, records, reporting, and separation activities
• Respond to routine questions regarding HR policies, procedures, benefits, time and absence, payroll-related processes, and Workday transactions within the scope of the position
• Partner with HR II Generalists and other HR functional specialists to support timely resolution of employee needs
• Provide responsive, accurate, and employee-centered HR service while maintaining confidentiality and appropriate documentation

New Employee Orientation Lead

• Coordinate and lead new employee orientation logistics for both campuses, ensuring a consistent and welcoming onboarding experience
• Schedule orientation dates, rooms, speakers, food/catering, and other program logistics
• Coordinate orientation materials, presentations, communications, and other support needs
• Coordinate new employee photographs, temporary badges, and required notifications to appropriate campus partners
• Partner with HR team members and University departments to continually improve the new employee orientation experience

HR Team Support

• Provide administrative and operational support to the HR team across both campuses
• Assist with HR purchasing, scheduling, materials, meetings, and other department operational needs
• Provide project and administrative support to HR functional leads during high-volume periods, annual processes, and special initiatives
• Serve as backup support to other HR team members as needed

Wellness Partner

• Provide operational and event support for KCyou Well-Being programs and activities
• Coordinate room scheduling and other event logistics
• Coordinate purchasing of awards, supplies, and materials
• Assist with scheduling, purchasing, and payment processes for wellness vendors and activities, including Lunch & Learns, wellness fairs, fitness activities, biometric screenings, therapy dog events, and similar programming
• Serve as an on-campus contact for vendors and assist with event setup and coordination

Time & Absence Support

• Provide routine Time and Absence support to employees and managers, escalating complex questions to the Time & Absence Lead as appropriate
• Support biweekly timekeeping review and administrative processes
• Assist employees and managers with Workday time entry, absence requests, corrections, and general process questions
• Identify recurring questions or issues and communicate trends to the Time & Absence Lead

Supportive Functions

• Assist with Leadership and Development trainings, working closely with the Associate Director of Human Resources
• Assist in the support of Internal Communications and Employee Engagement, working closely with the Internal Communications and Engagement Manager for Human Resources
• Other administrative tasks (i.e., filing, preparing documentation)
• Active participation in team and University meetings
• Function effectively in a team environment
• Participate in special projects as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Communications, or a related field preferred
• Minimum of one year of professional HR, administrative, employee services, or related experience preferred
• Experience with Workday or another HRIS and employee timekeeping platform strongly preferred
• Familiarity with HR practices related to employee records, onboarding, benefits, timekeeping, employee communications, and general HR administration
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact professionally with employees, managers, candidates, vendors, and campus partners
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, events, and administrative details
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail
• Ability to a