HR Operations Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Who We Are:

Are you ready to work at a dynamic institution that believes in higher education with lower obstacles? Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (now known as Franklin Cummings Tech) is a nationally accredited non-profit, technical college serving Massachusetts. The college was seeded in 1791 with funds from the estate of Benjamin Franklin given to the City of Boston to proliferate access to apprenticeship and entrepreneurship. Today, that legacy has evolved into an accredited college that delivers accessible tech and trade education to level the playing field for aspiring talent.

With a mission to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement, Franklin Cummings Tech offers a unique mix of certificates and degrees that appeal to enterprising students from Eastern Massachusetts and respond to employer demand for a well-prepared workforce. Intentional partnerships with the industries we serve coupled with high graduation and job placement rates, recently attracted the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the college from the Cummings Foundation, helping to spur incredible growth in the past four years.

Franklin Cummings Tech educates more than 1,000 learners annually across three student types: 1) certificate and degree seekers, 2) continuing education enrollees, and 3) early college students. As evidence that our mission holds resonance student enrollment is up and Fall 2027 applications have soared 16% year over year. 

We seek optimistic, data-informed, and dedicated colleagues who are eager to increase student success outcomes and boost total enrollment to 1,500 learners by 2030. Join us in this mission-driven work. 

Position Summary:

The HR Operations Coordinator serves as the operational bridge between Human Resources and the Business Office, ensuring that the administrative foundations of the employee lifecycle — onboarding documentation, employment eligibility verification, background checks, benefits administration, and HRIS records — are accurate, compliant, and seamless for employees. The coordinator owns Form I-9 verification and the College’s CORI background check process, serves as the day-to-day liaison to the Business Office on benefits and payroll matters, acts as the first point of contact for incoming employee HR questions, and provides administrative support across recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, and HR compliance activities. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented HR professional who takes pride in accuracy, confidentiality, and responsive service to a close-knit campus community.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The following duties are representative of the work performed in this position. Other duties may be assigned based on organizational needs.

Employment Eligibility and Background Checks:

• Own and administer the Form I-9 process for all new hires, including timely completion, document verification, reverification, secure retention, and periodic self-audits, transitioning this function from the Business Office to Human Resources
• Implement and administer the College’s CORI background check program in compliance with Massachusetts law and DCJIS/iCORI requirements, including candidate acknowledgment forms, submission, secure handling of results, adjudication support, and compliant record retention and destruction
• Initiate background check screenings for new hires upon offer acceptance, monitor completion status, and communicate clearance to hiring managers and the Business Office to keep start dates on track
• Coordinate any additional pre-employment screening requirements (e.g., SORI, reference checks, credential verification) applicable to specific positions
• Maintain background check policies, tracking logs, and audit-ready documentation

Benefits and Payroll Liaison:

• Serve as the day-to-day operational liaison between Human Resources and the Business Office for benefits administration, including enrollments, qualifying life event changes, terminations, and COBRA notifications
• Reconcile monthly benefits invoices against enrollment records and resolve discrepancies with carriers and the Business Office
• Support annual open enrollment logistics, including employee communications, system setup, and enrollment tracking
• Coordinate with payroll on new hires, status changes, separations, and leave-related pay adjustments to ensure accurate and timely processing
• Support leave administration tracking and documentation, including FMLA and Massachusetts PFML paperwork

HR Administration and Onboarding:

• Coordinate onboarding logistics for new employees, including offer letter preparation, new hire paperwork, orientation scheduling, and first-day readiness across departments
• Deliver first-day new hire orientation for new staff members, including benefits enrollment guidance, required paperwork and policy acknowledgments, Paylocity setup, and introductions to key campus resources and departments
• Maintain accurate employee records in Paylocity and physical/electronic personnel files, and process employment verifications
• Coordinate employee offboarding from notice through final day, including exit paperwork, benefits terminations and COBRA notification, coordination with the Business Office on final pay and accrual payouts, Paylocity separation processing, collection of college property and systems access deactivation requests, and exit interview scheduling
• Support recruitment logistics, including job postings, interview scheduling, and search committee coordination
• Serve as the first point of contact for incoming HR questions from employees and managers, resolving routine inquiries regarding benefits, payroll timing, policies, and Paylocity navigation, and escalating complex or sensitive matters to HR leadership
• Track HR compliance calendars and deadlines (e.g., required postings, ACA reporting support, policy acknowledgments) and support HR projects and reporting as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree required; Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field preferred
• Two or more years of experience in HR administration, benefits administration, payroll coordination, or a related operational role
• Working knowledge of Form I-9 requirements; familiarity with Massachusetts CORI requirements or demonstrated ability to learn and administer regulated compliance processes
• Experience with an HRIS platform (Paylocity preferred) and strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• aPHR, PHR, or SHRM-CP certification a plus
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, including a CORI check

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, particularly with compliance documentation, data entry, and recordkeeping
• Absolute discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential employee information
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage recurring deadlines, competing priorities, and high transaction volume
• Clear, professional, and service-oriented communication with employees, candidates, and colleagues across departments
• Collaborative working style suited to partnering daily with the Business Office, hiring managers, and external vendors

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while performing desk-based computer work
• Ability to move throughout campus buildings and facilities to attend meetings, events, and departmental functions
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, and transport materials weighing up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to operate a computer, keyboard, and standard office equipment for prolonged periods with accuracy
• Visual and auditory acuity sufficient to review documents and digital content and to communicate with others

Work Environment:

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in person, by telephone, via video conference, and in writing
• This position operates primarily in a professional office environment with regular interaction with students, faculty, staff, and external partners
• Ability to work occasional evenings or extended hours in support of open enrollment, orientation sessions, and institutional events
• Ability to attend and participate in campus events, including Commencement and community engagement activities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and deadlines

This position operates primarily in a professional office environment. The College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state law.

Employee Expectations:

All employees are expected to support the college’s student-centered mission, contribute to institutional growth and innovation, and collaborate across departments to improve student recruitment, retention, graduation, and career placement outcomes. 

Our college is an in-person institution. Campus presence is the default expectation for all employees. In-person presence remains the expectation and the standard for all staff. Flex arrangements are a discretionary privilege, not a right, and may be modified or discontinued if it is determined that flex arrangements are diminishing service quality, team cohesion, or responsiveness to students, external partners, and colleagues. The student experience and fidelity of institutional operations take priority over individual schedule preferences.

The salary for this position is $33,000-$42,000 for a 25- hour work week. This position is exempt. 

Please note: Franklin Cummings Tech is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on an ongoing basis without sponsorship to be considered for this position at Franklin Cummings Tech.

Franklin Cummings Tech is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status.