Senior Human Resources Generalist

Senior Human Resources Generalist

Under the general direction of the Manager of Human Resources & Academic Personnel, the Senior Human Resources (HR) Generalist provides comprehensive, analytical, and operational support across a broad range of human resources and payroll functions. The role supports career, contract, limited, and casual/restricted appointments within the School of Education & Information Studies (SE&IS), which includes two academic departments, 16 research centers, multiple faculty research initiatives, three Infant–12th grade schools, and two external partnership schools. The Senior HR Generalist independently administers the full lifecycle of staff personnel actions, including appointments, job changes, separations, and leave of absence processes. The incumbent is responsible for monitoring and analyzing workforce and payroll transactions to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and University of California policies and procedures. This role exercises sound judgment in identifying issues, assessing risk, and determining appropriate corrective or escalation actions. Serving as a primary HR contact for an assigned portfolio of SE&IS departments, research units, faculty, and staff, the incumbent provides guidance on both routine and complex HR matters. Responsibilities include advising on recruitment strategy and execution, onboarding, personnel administration, and payroll processes, ensuring a high level of service and a positive customer experience. The Senior HR Generalist applies strong analytical skills to resolve problems, interpret policy, and recommend solutions that align with organizational goals and compliance requirements. The incumbent collaborates closely with internal and external partners, including Campus Human Resources (Compensation, Employment, and Employee & Labor Relations), Insurance & Risk Management, the Dashew Center, the UCPath Center, and other campus stakeholders, to address employment-related matters and facilitate timely resolution of issues. Additional responsibilities include supporting the interactive process for workplace accommodations, advising on benefits eligibility and options, and administering leave programs in coordination with central offices. The Senior HR Generalist ensures accurate and timely processing of related transactions while providing clear guidance to employees and managers. This position requires the ability to interpret and apply complex policies, manage competing priorities, maintain strict confidentiality, and operate with a high degree of independence, initiative, and professionalism.

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in Human Resources and/or payroll responsibilities or equivalent combination of relevant experience. Preference for HR/Payroll within a University setting. (Required)
• Experience working with unionized workforces. (Required)
• Experience with conflict management and/or mediation. (Preferred)
• Advanced knowledge of University Personnel and Payroll policies, procedures, and organizational structure. Advance knowledge and experience in using UCLA systems including UCPath, Online Financial Systems Reports (OFSR), Campus Data Warehouse (CDW), People Admin, and other campus personnel and fiscal tools (Preferred)
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the personnel processes related to staff appointments, promotions, changes in titles/types of appointments, and appointment limitations. (Required)
• Superior writing and editing skills sufficient to compose and edit correspondence and emails that are professional, clear, concise and grammatically correct. Experience and knowledge with MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel. (Required)
• Ability to make oral, group, and one-on-one presentation for the purposes of providing information, explaining policies and procedures, and answer questions. (Required)
• Ability to prioritize and adjust a heavy workload to meet deadlines. Demonstrate the ability to determine the relative importance of job responsibilities to meet these deadlines. (Required)
• Ability work independently with minimal supervisor, using initiative and resourcefulness in performing and executing job duties with frequent interruption, distractions, and changing priorities and deadlines. Ability to work as a team using the same principles. (Required)
• Advance organizational skills to maintain materials and information in a systematic way. Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and acute attention to detail. (Required)
• Advanced mathematical and quantitative skills to calculate salaries, payroll documents, formulas, expense transfers, leave accruals, payroll changes, and the creation of financial analysis. (Required)
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interface effectively with persons of various social, cultural, economic and/or educational backgrounds to obtain and convey information, interpret complex policies and procedures and resolve conflicts. Ability to respond to customer needs and expectations in a supportive and professional manner, with attention to promptness and a focus on solutions. (Required)
• Skill working independently with ability to follow through on assignments with minimal supervision. Ability to independently analyze complex problems and determine the appropriate course of action with in applicable policies and procedures. (Required)
• Experience in synthesizing information, interpreting policies and processes as well as informing others with clarity and accuracy of details. (Required)
• Working knowledge of University health plans, FML, Leave of Absence, retirement plans, and other employee benefits. (Preferred)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

• Bachelor's Degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training (Required)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.
• Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.
• CANRA: The position is designated as a mandatory reporter under CANRA. The employee must sign the "Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse".
• Ability to work on-site at UCLA's Campus a minimum of 2 days per week with additional days as needed for operational needs. (Required)
• 5% Domestic Travel

Schedule

Monday - Friday | 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Union/Policy Covered

99-Policy Covered