Program Specialist I

University of Texas at Dallas; Richardson (TX); On-site; USD 477,313 - 571,726; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition Benefits

BCBS PPO Medical insurance - 100% paid

Dental Insurance Plan

Long and short-term disability

TRS Retirement Plan

Paid time off

Paid Holidays

Remote Work Options

Job summary

University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson seeks a Program Specialist I to provide administrative, human resources, and payroll support for a medium to large workload within the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. You will manage onboarding, timekeeping, postings, visas for international staff, and assist with policy compliance, while coordinating with faculty and staff.

A Bachelor's degree in Business and at least four years of related experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business or related field with minimum four years of experience in program/project development or equivalent.
• Strong communication skills and initiative are preferred.
• Good attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Provides payroll and HR administrative support to the department, assisting hires with onboarding forms and ensuring funding is in place.
• Initiates electronic forms for hiring, attribute changes, leaves, end of assignments, and supplemental pay for faculty, staff, researchers, and students.
• Verifies and processes time records and troubleshoots payroll issues to ensure accurate payroll distribution.
• Maintains and updates department personnel spreadsheet daily for time and labour tracking and communicates with staff and supervisors.
• Maintains job postings for faculty, researchers, and staff and monitors posting effectiveness and update frequency.
• Coordinates logistics for foreign visitors and international employees, visas, related documents, and immigration policy compliance.
• Assists international students with eligibility for work authorization under visa categories.
• Fosters relationships with faculty and staff to ensure compliance with university policies and regulations.
• Maintains competence through professional development courses and required training.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Skills

Microsoft Excel

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Job description

Posting Details

• Posting Number: S07177P
• Position Title: Program Specialist I
• Functional Title:
• Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Salary Range: Commensurate with experience up to $47,000
• Pay Basis: Monthly
• Position Status: Regular full-time
• Location: Richardson
• Posting Open Date: 07/30/2026
• Posting Close Date:
• Open Until Filled: Yes
• Desired Start Date: 09/01/2026

Job Summary

Provide administrative, human resources, and payroll support for a medium to large workload in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering within the Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Business or a related field, with a minimum of four years of experience in program/project development or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel
• Excellent communication skills and initiative
• Good attention to detail and strong organizational skills

Other Qualifications

To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Functions:

• Provides payroll and human resource administrative support to the department in assisting hires with the completion of all forms in the onboarding process. Ensures that funding is in place for the respective offers. Oversees and tracks the onboarding progress and provides support for all department hiring
• Initiates electronic forms for hiring, job attribute changes, leaves of absence, end of assignments, and supplemental pay for all Faculty, Staff, Research Assistants, Teaching Assistants, Visiting Scholars, Student Workers, Temporary staff, and Research Associates
• Verifies and processes employee time records and troubleshoots payroll issues to ensure prompt and accurate payroll distribution for the department each pay period
• Updates department personnel spreadsheet daily to manage time and labor and communicates with employees and their supervisors to ensure accurate recordkeeping
• Maintains job postings for faculty, researchers, and staff so the department can efficiently recruit individuals who can fulfill positions that require specialized skills or knowledge. Provides continuous monitoring of the effectiveness of these postings, ensuring the accuracy and frequency of updates
• Coordinates the logistics for department foreign visitors and employees coming to campus. Organize documentation for visas and other related documents. Monitors change in laws and regulations regarding immigration policies. Provides guidance to departments on international employee requirements and contractual obligations. Organize the payment of required visa fees and submit it with the relevant documentation to HR for the necessary approvals from the Department of Homeland Security
• Assists international students in acquiring eligibility for work authorization under specific visa categories
• Fosters relationships with faculty and staff to ensure compliance with university regulations and policies
• Remains competent and current by attending professional development courses, software training classes, and courses and/or training sessions as directed by the supervisor or required by the University
• Other duties as assigned

Remote Notice

After the probationary period, this role may be eligible for a hybrid (partly remote/partly in office) work schedule, subject to business need and manager approval. May be required to use personal computer and other standard office equipment. Must be located within the DFW Area and have the ability to be on campus with 24 hours of notice. A UT Dallas Remote Work Agreement will be required within 14 days after approval.

What We Can Offer

UT Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer with an employee-friendly and supportive work environment. Our comprehensive compensation and benefits package that is effective as of your hire date includes:

• Competitive Salary
• Tuition Benefits
• Internal Training
• BCBS PPO Medical insurance - 100% paid for full-time employees
• PPO and DHMO Dental Insurance Plan - PPO plans include ortho benefits
• Long and short-term disability
• TRS Retirement Plan - defined benefit plan offering lifetime annuity upon retirement
• Voluntary Retirement Plan Options - additional savings opportunities with Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plans and Deferred Compensation Plans
• Dental/Vision/AD&D
• Paid time off
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Winter Break
• Fertility Benefits
• Remote Work Options - approved by department

All UT Dallas employees have access to various professional development opportunities, including a membership to Academic Impressions, LinkedIn Learning, and UT Dallas Bright Leaders Program.

Visit https://hr.utdallas.edu/employees/benefits/ for more information.

Important Message

1) All employees serve as a representative of the University and are expected to display respect, civility, professional courtesy, consideration of others and discretion in all interactions with members of the UT Dallas community and the general public.

2) The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all members of the university community. UT Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its services, programs, activities, employment, and education, including in admission and enrollment. The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the employment application and interview process, contact the ADA Coordinator. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Title IX Coordinator.