Senior HR Generalist

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana (IL); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental & Vision Insurance

Retirement Plan

Tuition waivers for employees and/or:

Hybrid work options

Job summary

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is seeking a Senior HR Generalist to manage a range of HR activities and provide strategic guidance. The role covers labor relations, leave management, recruitment, compliance, and appointments across the unit, with a strong emphasis on ensuring policy alignment and staff support.

The position is 100% full-time Civil Service 5020 - Human Resource Associate, onsite with hybrid options, and the salary ranges from $65,000 to $72,000 per year.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Administration, Management, Organizational Administration, Public Administration, Labor Relations, Business Administration or a field closely related to the position.
• Three (3) years of work experience performing professional-level human resources duties.

Responsibilities

• Labor & Employee Relations: guidance on performance management and corrective actions.
• Leave Management: manage FMLA, PLFA, or other managed leave categories and related guidelines.
• Recruitment & Talent Acquisition: coordinate search, hiring, and onboarding for all levels and employment categories.
• HR Compliance & Policy: ensure adherence to HR policies and legal requirements through tracking and training.
• Appointments Management: manage appointments and records, data entry and reporting.

Skills

Labor & Employee Relations

Leave Management

Recruitment & Talent Acquisition

HR Compliance & Policy

Appointments Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/related field

Job description

Senior HR Generalist

Illini Union-Oper

Job Summary

The Senior HR Generalist manages a variety of human resource activities, provides strategic guidance on a variety of human resource activities, and manages complex human resource related issues.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Labor & Employee Relations
  • Provides guidance to supervisors on performance management practices and issues.
  • Recommends interpretation of collective bargaining agreement language and corrective actions to performance issues under administrative supervision.
  • May infrequently participate in contract negotiations.
  • May serve as a resource to lower-level staff.
  • Facilitates accommodations and conflict resolution efforts. Resolves supervisor/employee conflicts requiring intervention or consultation with either party.
• Leave Management
  • Responsible for overall unit management of FMLA, PLFA, or other managed leave categories. Develop and implement related guidelines and process improvements.
  • Counsel and resolve complex or sensitive issues related to leave. Informs and advises staff on complex regulations/policies relating to leave usage.
• Recruitment & Talent Acquisition
  • Responsible for independently coordinating search, hiring, and onboarding processes for roles at all levels in all employment categories applicable to the unit, including recruitment efforts.
  • Communicate with applicants and new hires, facilitating interview, hiring, and onboarding processes including work authorization.
  • Communicate and implement search procedures aligned with best practices and compliance needs, advising search committees and hiring managers.
  • Contribute to overall hiring plans, providing guidance on search strategies aligned with talent needs (e.g., multi-level searches, search timing).
  • Responsible for aligning recruitment and advertising efforts with unit and university branding efforts.
• HR Compliance & Policy
  • Ensures adherence to HR policies and legal requirements through tracking, training, and internal reviews. May develop and implement internal compliance strategies.
  • Provides expertise on HR policies and legal requirements.
• Appointments Management
  • Responsible for managing employee appointments and records, and the interaction between multiple types of appointments to result in appropriate pay and employee status information.
  • Enters routine and non-routine data, pulls routine and non-routine reports, developing new reports as needed. Ensures accuracy of input data, resolves any discrepancies, considers long-term data retention and data integrity.
  • Participate in appropriate systems testing and provides feedback.

Work Schedule, Travel, or Other Job Expectations

Eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Administration, Management, Organizational Administration, Public Administration, Labor Relations, Business Administration or a fieldcloselyrelated to the position.
• Three (3) years (36 months) of work experience performing professional-level human resources duties.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5020 - Human Resource Associate position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 9/29/2026.

• Salary Information: The budgeted salary for the position is $ 65,000 to $72,000 per year.
• Work Schedule: The expected work schedule for this position is Monday to Friday (8 am to 4:30 pm or 8:30 am to 5 pm)
• Onsite Position: Work for this position will be onsite at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on a full-time basis with an option to work hybrid.
• Sponsorship: This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx.

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - the state's flagship public university and one of the world's leading research institutions - every staff member helps shape what's next. Founded in 1867, Illinois is home to a vibrant community of 59,000 students from all 50 states and 129 countries, supported by 15 colleges and instructional units, more than 20 research institutes, and one of the most comprehensive student service ecosystems in the nation. Whether you're empowering first-generation students, fueling breakthrough innovation, or strengthening communities across Illinois and beyond, your work here has a far-reaching and deeply meaningful impact. The university offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and financial security. Join a top 10 public university that has launched over 330 startups and continues to redefine excellence - where the Illinois Value Proposition ensures that your contributions are recognized, your potential is nurtured, and your career can thrive.

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or [e-mail].

Requisition ID: 1037963

Job Category: Professional and Administrative