Human Resources Specialist

Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

This position offers a hybrid work schedule, with specific in-office and remote days determined by the evolving needs of the school and team.

To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

At the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, excellence and collaboration are more than values-they are our daily practice. As a member of the business office team, you will play a vital role in supporting the school's mission and driving operational excellence. This position offers the opportunity to grow your career in a dynamic, forward-thinking environment. You will gain hands-on experience in a flexible, customer-focused, and data-driven workplace where innovation and outcomes matter. We embrace continuous improvement, support your professional development, and empower you to make a difference every day. Join us and help shape the future of journalism and media through impactful HR work.

The mission of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media is to prepare students to ignite the public conversation in our state, the nation and the world, and to understand the role of communication in fostering democracy. Our faculty, staff, students and administrators work collaboratively to build and foster an environment that is welcoming and accessible to people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and beliefs.

The school offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, and administers a variety of professional development and distance-learning programs. Enrollment includes about 1,000 undergraduates and 130 graduate students in addition to professional development and distance education students. Our faculty members are international thought leaders whose scholarly and creative activities are visible and respected in the public realm.

This position may be eligible for hybrid work schedule. Employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

The UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media invites applications for the role of HR Specialist. The HR Specialist plays a pivotal role in delivering comprehensive human resources support and consultation across a wide range of functional areas. This position is responsible for managing a variety of appointment types, ensuring compliance with institutional policies, and providing responsive service to internal clients. A significant portion of the role involves overseeing SHRA and EHRA student appointments, direct hire temporary SHRA appointments, and coordinating the onboarding and tracking of unpaid visiting scholars, volunteers, and affiliates. The HR Specialist also manages adjunct instructor appointments and salary administration, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in all related processes.The HR Specialist serves as the Leave and TIM Administrator for the school, maintaining accurate records and ensuring adherence to leave policies. The role also includes handling special employment requests and processing one-time payments, as well as providing administrative support for various HR programs and initiatives.

Beyond core HR functions, the HR Specialist provides essential programmatic support to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs. This includes coordinating the annual faculty workload plans and productivity reports; tracking appointment, reappointment, promotion, and tenure actions; and maintaining records of faculty classroom observations. The HR Specialist assists with internal faculty leave notifications and serves as the recruitment coordinator for permanent faculty searches, supporting the full lifecycle of faculty hiring. Additionally, the role supports new faculty onboarding and maintains the Faculty Resources section on the school's intranet, ensuring that faculty have access to up-to-date and relevant information.

This position is housed in the Hussman business office, which is responsible for supporting the human resources, finance, facilities, and business operations of the school. The HR Specialist reports to the Human Resources Consultant and works closely with our dedicated faculty administrators and staff in the dean's office.

Bachelor's degree; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

This position requires a proactive, detail-oriented professional who can navigate complex HR processes while supporting academic leadership and faculty needs. The HR Specialist must demonstrate a commitment to service excellence in a dynamic academic environment. The successful candidate will bring the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to the role:
- Ability to present information in a clear and concise manner, both verbally and in writing.
- Sound business judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy.
- A commitment to teamwork, information sharing, collaboration, and providing exceptional customer service.
- Ability to establish and maintain strong professional relationships with a wide range of people including University administrators, faculty, staff, and students.
- Accuracy and attention to detail.
- Excellent time-management, organization, project management, and prioritization skills.
- A demonstrated ability to adapt easily, follow through, complete tasks, resolve issues independently, and ask questions and/or escalate when needed.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

The following qualifications are preferred:
- Willingness and ability to learn HR in a higher education setting and approach every complex and dynamic issue with a passion for learning and as a building block to knowledge.
- Previous experience supporting faculty appointment, reappointment, promotion and tenure processes in an academic institution.
- Ability to analyze the entirety of the situation and recommend the best course of action despite ambiguity and pressure.
- Experience with PeopleSoft, PeopleAdmin, LawLogix, and TIM.
- Experience creating PowerPoint presentations.

- Ability to spend extended periods of time in front of the computer with or without reasonable accommodation.

Not Applicable.

Please apply online at https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/306485 and upload the following documents:
1) CV / resume;
2) Cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position;
3) Names and contact information of at least three professional references.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu

Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.