Human Resource Specialist

Human Resources Specialist

USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry

Elevate your career at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC a community dedicated to excellence in education innovation and oral health. Since 1897 Ostrow has prepared generations of dental and oral health professionals to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and communities.

We are looking for a Human Resources Specialist to join our team and help create an employee experience where faculty and staff can thrive grow and do their best work.

This is more than an HR role. It is an opportunity to build meaningful relationships support employees through important moments in their careers strengthen our workplace culture and help advance the people and mission behind one of the nations leading schools of dentistry.

Make an Impact That Matters

The Human Resources Specialist will play an important role in supporting faculty staff and leaders across Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. Youll bring together employee relations leave administration recruitment payroll training compliance and day-to-day HR operations to create a responsive supportive and effective workplace experience.

In this role you will:

• Provide thoughtful consultation and guidance to managers and employees on employee relations matters including performance management conflict resolution workplace concerns and policy interpretation.
• Serve as a trusted resource to employees and leaders helping them navigate HR processes policies and workplace challenges with professionalism empathy and sound judgment.
• Conduct workplace investigations in a fair timely objective and confidential manner ensuring appropriate documentation resolution and follow-up.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee records and HR systems to support reporting compliance workforce planning and process improvement.
• Support the full employee lifecycle including recruitment onboarding benefits administration employee support and offboarding.
• Work with our payroll team to administer payroll accurately and ensure compliance with applicable laws regulations university policies and established procedures.
• Collaborate with the Leave Administrator to coordinate leave of absence programs serving as a knowledgeable and supportive resource to employees and managers throughout the leave process. Ensure timely and accurate processing of medical family disability and other protected leaves; maintain appropriate documentation; coordinate with benefits and payroll partners; monitor leave status and return-to-work requirements; and ensure compliance with applicable federal state and university policies.
• Design coordinate and facilitate training and development programs that strengthen employee capabilities support leadership growth and promote compliance and engagement.
• Assist in developing and implementing HR policies procedures programs and best practices that support a positive and inclusive workplace.
• Partner with managers and university colleagues to identify opportunities to improve processes strengthen employee engagement and enhance the overall employee experience.
• Help communicate HR programs resources and initiatives in ways that are clear accessible and meaningful to our faculty and staff.
• Collaborate across the university to advance shared human resources goals and ensure that Ostrow employees receive responsive consistent and high-quality HR support.

Why This Opportunity

At Ostrow youll have the opportunity to see the impact of your work firsthand. Every day our faculty and staff contribute to educating future oral health professionals advancing research and innovation and serving communities. As an HR Specialist you will help create the environment that enables that work to happen.

Youll have the opportunity to work closely with leaders faculty staff and university partners while helping shape a workplace culture grounded in collaboration respect inclusion and professional growth.

If you are someone who enjoys helping people solving problems building trusted relationships navigating complex situations and turning HR practices into meaningful employee experiences this could be the opportunity youve been looking for.

Youll work alongside passionate colleagues and leaders who value collaboration thoughtful communication continuous improvement and a commitment to making a difference.

What Youll Bring

Were seeking a highly motivated personable and solutions-oriented HR professional who combines strong technical knowledge with sound judgment empathy and a genuine commitment to supporting people.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Bachelors degree in Human Resources Business Administration or a related field. A masters degree or professional HR certification is preferred.
• At least three years of progressively responsible professional human resources experience with an emphasis on employee relations leave administration recruitment training and general HR administration.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws HR best practices and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to advise managers and employees build credibility and establish trusting relationships across all levels of an organization.
• Exceptional interpersonal written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and thoughtfully.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion professionalism and sound judgment.
• Experience supporting workplace investigations performance management conflict resolution and other employee relations matters.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced and complex environment.
• Proficiency with HRIS systems Microsoft Office applications and other HR technology and productivity tools.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and effectively use emerging technologies and AI-assisted productivity tools while exercising independent judgment and maintaining the highest standards of accuracy confidentiality and professionalism.
• A collaborative adaptable and solutions-oriented approach with the ability to work independently while building strong partnerships across the organization.
• A commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where employees feel respected supported valued and empowered to succeed.

What We Offer

At USC your work is part of something bigger. Youll join a dynamic academic community where innovation collaboration professional growth and service are valuedand where the work you do can have a lasting impact on employees students faculty and the communities we serve.

In this role youll have the opportunity to:

• Make a meaningful difference by helping employees navigate important moments in their careers and creating an environment where people can thrive.
• Build a rewarding HR career while gaining experience across employee relations recruitment training payroll compliance and organizational development.
• Partner with accomplished faculty academic leaders and staff who are passionate about advancing education research and oral health.
• Help shape workplace culture through thoughtful HR practices employee support and meaningful professional development opportunities.
• Bring your creativity and problem-solving skills to the work identifying new ways to improve processes strengthen communication and enhance the employee experience.
• Leverage emerging technology and AI tools to work smarter improve HR services and create greater impact while maintaining professional judgment and integrity.
• Grow your professional network within one of the nations leading private research universities and a highly respected school of dentistry.
• Develop your skills and expertise through opportunities for professional learning collaboration and career growth.
• Experience the energy of a vibrant university community in Los Angeles surrounded by diverse perspectives ideas and opportunities.

• For more information on USC employee benefits visit: salary range for this position is $75000 - $86000. When extending an offer of employment the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position the candidates work experience education/training key skills internal peer equity federal state and local laws contractual stipulations grant funding as well as external market and organizational considerations.
• USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screening implications for the position for which you are applying.

Most importantly youll have the satisfaction of knowing that your work helps support the people who make Ostrows mission possiblecreating a stronger workplace today while helping build the future of oral health.

Help Shape Whats Next

The future of Ostrow is shaped by its peopleand a strong employee experience is essential to that future.

If youre ready to use your HR expertise to support people strengthen culture solve meaningful problems and create lasting impact we invite you to apply.

Join the USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry and become part of a team committed to helping our faculty and staff thrive while preparing the next generation of oral health leaders.

Minimum Education: Bachelors degree

Addtional Education Requirements: Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience: 3 years

Minimum Skills: Directly related human resource experience providing thorough knowledge of laws governing human resource and policies and procedures. Knowledge of human resource theories principles and practices. Knowledge of principles and processes involved in business and organizational planning coordination and execution. Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills.
Preferred Education: Bachelors degree

Preferred Certifications: Professional in Human Resources - PHR Senior Professional in Human Resources - SPHR SHRM (Human Resource Certification) SHRM-CP SHRM-SCP.
Preferred Experience: 5 years
Preferred Skills: Human resource generalist experience in a university setting.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin protected veteran status disability or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at or by email at . Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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