Director, HR/FA

Director, HR/FA

Position Summary

Reporting to the Center Administrator, the Director, Human Resources and Faculty Affairs serves as the primary point of contact for all HR/FA matters within the Center and interacts with all levels of management and staff. The incumbent advises leadership, responds to employee inquiries, and interprets University policies, ensuring consistent and compliant application across all HR and faculty affairs activities.

The Director is responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and managing the day-to-day human resources and faculty affairs operations of the Center, ensuring operational effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and alignment with institutional policies and priorities. This role serves as a key advisor to leadership on HR strategy, employee relations, and workforce processes.

Recruitment/Onboarding

• Oversee hiring and appointment processes for all categories of employees, including advising hiring managers on recruitment strategies and posting positions using Columbia's job site (i.e., TalentLink and ASR/Interfolio), as well as external advertising sources.
• Oversee full-cycle recruitment activities including posting positions, scheduling interviews, managing the I-9 process, completing pre-hire background checks, and processing all new hires and employment-related changes.
• Oversee onboarding for staff, faculty, researchers, and students, including scheduling welcome programs, medical surveillance, and UNI creation.
• Ensure effective communication with new hires and departments to support a consistent and high-quality onboarding experience.
• Oversee template-based hires in PeopleSoft and/or nominations, ensuring accurate collection, review, and processing of information in PAC.
• Oversee processing of all short-term visitors utilizing JIRA and Visual Compliance.

Payroll and PeopleSoft Process Management

• Oversee the department's preparation and processing of payroll using TLAM and management of time-off tracking.
• Ensure accurate collection, review, and approval of time-off trackers for Officers, ensuring compliance with institutional requirements.
• Oversee processing of employment-related changes via TalentLink, PAF, SharePoint, or PAC paper transactions (including position updates, promotions, reclassifications, leaves of absence, and terminations) for PeopleSoft updates.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to resolve issues and ensure timely, accurate, and compliant processing of transactions.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance of HR and payroll operations.

Records Maintenance and Compliance

• Oversee maintenance of personnel and payroll records, including time and attendance data, appointment information, and other HR records in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and University policies.
• Ensure standardization of HR documentation and maintain strict confidentiality of all employee information.
• Provide guidance to employees and senior leadership regarding changes in employment status, benefits-related information, and other HR communications.
• Maintain and oversee organizational charts and job description records.
• Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of HR metrics, including recruitment effectiveness, turnover, and diversity and inclusion data.
• Oversee preparation and review of PAFs, new hires, reappointments, salary actions, title changes, and upgrades.

HR Leadership, Immigration Compliance & Special Projects

• Serve as a strategic HR and faculty affairs advisor to leadership, providing guidance on policy interpretation, employee relations, and operational decision-making.
• Work closely with ISSO and COMPASS systems to manage and ensure compliance related to employee visa sponsorship and immigration processes.
• Lead and support HR and faculty affairs initiatives, special projects, and process improvement efforts to enhance operational effectiveness.
• Provide functional oversight and guidance to administrative staff supporting HR and faculty affairs operations.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience.
• Minimum of 4 years progressively responsible experience of in human resources, faculty affairs, or academic administration, preferably in higher education or an academic medical center.
• Strong knowledge of human resource principles, practices, and employment regulations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with ability to interact across all levels of an organization.
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures consistently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and HR systems (e.g., PeopleSoft, TalentLink).

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field or certification.
• Previous experience working in a school, higher education, or academic environment.
• Experience advising leadership on HR operations, employee relations, and policy interpretation.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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