Assistant Director of Human Resources

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $63,700-$75,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Associate Director, the Assistant Director plays a key role in the overall operations of the Columbia College Human Resources team, supporting and coordinating HR activities and initiatives for the entire College employee population. The Assistant Director works collaboratively to foster a positive and productive work environment aligned with the College's mission and strategic goals. This role supports a diverse set of departments that includes Academic Affairs, Development and Alumni Relations, Undergraduate Student Life, Undergraduate Global Engagement and the Dean's Office, Enrollment Group, Center for Career Education, Center for Student Advising, and Double Discovery Center.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment and Staffing
  
  • Partners with unit managers on all aspects of the recruitment process, consulting with HR leadership for guidance as necessary.
  • Reviews and evaluates job descriptions to ensure parity, appropriate classification, and salary range alignment, facilitating approval through University processes.
  • Advises on recruitment strategies and best practices for resume review, candidate interviews, reference checking, finalist selection, offer negotiation, and onboarding.
• Employee Relations and Policy Interpretation
  
  • Engages with all levels of College management and staff on HR items, responding to employee inquiries, interpreting policies, and providing consistent support as a trusted resource.
  • Works with leadership to communicate relevant policy updates, creating tools and resources to facilitate understanding and guidance.
• Onboarding and Offboarding
  
  • Oversees and enhances onboarding and process, including working with HR leadership to create a comprehensive new employee orientation experience and ensuring successful integration into the College.
  • Manages the offboarding process, conducting exit interview, collecting feedback, and managing transitions. Enhances the current processes by developing resources to support teams and managers as employees transition out of the organization.
• Payroll and Compensation
  
  • Oversees payroll processes, including approving payroll, troubleshooting complex issues, and reconciling accounts to ensure alignment with the budget.
  • Takes the lead role in CCHR's interface with the University's time and absence management systems and central partners, ensuring adherence to payroll deadlines and accuracy.
  • Assists with compensation analysis to support equitable pay practices.
  • Partners with HR leadership on the annual merit increase and comprehensive fiscal year-end activities.
• HRIS Management & Data Integrity
  
  • Initiates and/or approves HR transactions in the University's HRIS system, confirming accuracy and troubleshooting as needed.
  • Ensures HR records are organized and compliant with document retention policies. Maintains relevant employee lists, databases, and information systems, ensuring data integrity.
• Leave Management and Accommodations
  
  • Manages leaves of absence and accommodations, consulting with employees, and liaising with the University's Leave Management office.
  • Maintains records and ensures compliance with local, state, federal, and University regulations on employee leave and accommodations.
• Reporting, Analytics and Workforce Planning
  
  • Under leadership directions, , develops, maintains and analyzes reports and spreadsheets to track HR metrics, identify trends, and support workforce planning.
  • Conducts data analysis across the employee life cycle, identifying insights that inform HR strategy and organizational goals.
  • Participates in ad hoc projects as assigned, contributing to continuous improvement and innovation.
• Training and Development
  
  • Assists in the identification and implementation of employee training and development initiatives, aligning with unit and College-wide needs.
  • Provides support for the performance management processes, as needed.
• Compliance and Risk Management
  
  • Ensures adherence to HR policies and practices in line with federal, state, and local employment laws, University policies, and best practices.
  • Proactively identifies and mitigates potential risks in HR operations, conducting audits, advising managers and employees accordingly, and implementing corrective measures as necessary.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience required.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to multitask, prioritizing items as appropriate.
• Skilled at working under pressure without supervision and sound independent judgment required.
• Proven ability to work effectively with diverse populations and build positive working relationships across departments.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of professionalism, diplomacy, discretion, firmness, and collaboration in dealing with individuals at all levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills necessary.
• Excellent computer skills including thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office, including knowledge of databases and advanced spreadsheet skills required.
• Must be able to quickly acquire knowledge of University policies, procedures, and systems.

*Candidates may be asked to participate in a work simulation exercise during the interview process.*

*Applications submitted without a resume and cover letter will not be considered.*

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree or training with an HR focus.
• Experience in a higher education environment.
• Working knowledge of Columbia's Human Resources policies, procedures, and systems including PeopleSoft application and TalentLink.
• Experience with data maintenance, reporting, and analysis desired.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.