Human Resources Business Partner

Covenant College Job Description

Human Resources Business Partner

Join a team of employees who are committed to an exciting mission to offer the world biblically grounded men and women equipped to live out extraordinary callings in ordinary places. Covenant College is a community committed to the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, and everything we do is grounded in our Reformed theology and worldview.

Covenant has a beautiful 400-acre campus that stretches atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia on the Georgia/Tennessee border, just outside of Chattanooga. The community is a hub of vibrant cultural, educational, business, high-tech and entertainment activity and is an affordable place to live or raise a family. The campus enjoys incredible vistas of the Smoky Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau with views that span across several states. The region is widely known as an outdoor recreational paradise for campers, boaters, cyclists, climbers, cavers and hikers, all this while being conveniently located within two hours of Atlanta, Nashville and Knoxville.

Position Summary:

The Human Resources Business Partner provides broad Human Resources support for the College and serves as a practical HR partner to supervisors, department leaders, and employees. The position supports faculty and staff across the full employee lifecycle-from recruiting and onboarding through employee relations, performance management, payroll, benefits, HR systems, and offboarding. This role works closely with leaders to understand departmental needs, provide practical HR guidance, support consistent application of College policies and practices, and identify issues requiring additional review or escalation. The HR Business partner performs a key role in modeling and reinforcing the College's mission, values, and workplace culture through consistent and compliant HR practices, leadership support, and employee guidance.


The Human Resources Business Partner works within a small HR department and shares significant responsibility for the operational delivery of HR services. The position partners closely with the HR Operations Administrator/ Student Employment Manager, who oversees student employment, and with the College's PEO. The role also provides backup support for student employment payroll and HR processes as needed.

Essential Functions:

• HR Business Partner & Employee Relations
  
  • Serve as an HR resource and business partner to supervisors and department leaders, developing an understanding of departmental needs and providing practical guidance regarding employee relations, workplace expectations, performance concerns, and College policies.
  • Partner with supervisors and department leaders to reinforce the College's mission, values, community standards, and workplace expectations through consistent HR guidance, employee relations support, and management practices.
  • Triage employee and supervisor questions, determine whether the matter should be addressed internally or routed to the PEO, and help ensure questions reach the right resource.
  • Partner with supervisors and department leaders to address workforce and employee-related needs while supporting consistent application of College policies, procedures, and HR practices across departments.
  • Identify issues that may involve EEO, ADA/accommodations, FMLA or other protected leave, wage and hour/FLSA, or other compliance concerns and escalate to HR leadership or the PEO as appropriate.
  Recruiting, Onboarding & Employee Lifecycle Administration
  • Support recruiting for non-student roles, including position intake, job posting coordination, applicant tracking system administration, candidate communication, and interview coordination.
  • Partner with hiring managers and HR leadership to clarify recruiting needs, job requirements, timelines, and candidate communication.
  • Coordinate onboarding and offboarding processes, including new hire setup, employment changes, separations, and required documentation and support the Student Employment Manager as needed with student employment onboarding and offboarding.
  Payroll Operations
  • Coordinate the College's payroll preparation process, in partnership with the College's PEO/payroll provider, to ensure payroll deadlines are consistently met.
  • Verify that employee timesheets are submitted, approved, and synchronized within established payroll timelines.
  • Process payroll adjustments, including supplemental earnings, one-time payments, deductions, retirement withholdings, and recurring payroll changes.
  • Prepare and submit payroll data for processing and review payroll registers for accuracy prior to final approval.
  • Communicate payroll configuration needs, including new earnings codes, deduction codes, and other payroll system updates.
  Benefits, Leave & Workers' Compensation Support
  • Triage routine benefits and leave questions, provide first-level guidance, direct employees to PEO resources, and track required follow-up or escalation.
  • Support workers' compensation, including documentation, communication, and follow-up with supervisors, HR leadership, the PEO, or insurance resources.
  HRIS Administration & Employee Records
  • Process employee lifecycle transactions, including new hires, transfers, promotions, compensation changes, supervisor changes, department changes, cost center updates, and work location changes.
  • Launch electronic onboarding for newly hired employees and monitor completion of required onboarding activities; complete Form I-9 verification and administer E-Verify compliance.
  • Support Banner and other HR technology integrations as assigned.
  • Ensure employment records remain accurate, complete, and compliant with institutional policies and applicable regulations.
  Employee Support & Customer Service
  • Serve as one of the primary operational contacts for employees requiring assistance with payroll, HRIS, and time & labor systems.
  • Coordinate with the College's PEO/payroll provider to resolve payroll, benefits administration, and HRIS-related questions.
  • Provide timely, professional customer service while maintaining confidentiality of employee information.
  • Assist with employee communications related to payroll, HR systems, and operational processes.
  HR Systems, Compliance & Documentation
  • Assist with HR reporting, compliance tracking, training records, and audit-related follow-up items.
  • Identify system data inconsistencies, documentation gaps, or compliance risks and escalate to HR leadership, Finance, or the PEO as appropriate.
  Coordination with HR Operations Administrator & Student Employment Manager
  • Coordinate closely to ensure consistent HR, payroll, onboarding, timekeeping, and recordkeeping practices across student and non-student employee populations.
  • Partner on shared HR processes where student and non-student employment overlap, including payroll deadlines, timekeeping expectations, and employment eligibility requirements.
  • Provide backup support for selected student employment payroll and HR administrative processes as needed.
  Collaboration, Culture & Operational Support
  • Partner with HR leadership and Student Employment Manager to support implementation of HR policies, compliance practices, employee communications, and process improvements.
  • Coordinate communication related to organizational changes that impact payroll, HR systems, or employee records.
  • Coordinate onsite meetings and training sessions with the College's PEO or other external partners as needed.
  • Help foster a respectful, mission-aligned, and service-oriented workplace culture by reinforcing organizational values and expectations and helping employees and supervisors navigate workplace concerns constructively.
  • Support HR strategic projects, audits, training logistics, manager communications, and compliance-related tasks as assigned.

Competencies:

• Mission Alignment - Ability to model and reinforce Covenant College's Christ-centered mission, Reformed identity, and community standards through HR practices, guidance, and employee support.
• HR Business Partnership - Ability to build effective relationships with supervisors and department leaders, understand operational needs and priorities, identify people-related concerns, and provide practical HR guidance and support.
• HR Professional Knowledge - Knowledge of HR principles and practices across the employee lifecycle.
• Attention to Detail & Accuracy - Skill in reviewing employee data, payroll inputs, HR records, and documentation with a high degree of precision and accuracy.
• Employee Relations - Ability to build trust with employees and supervisors and provide sound guidance regarding HR policies, workplace expectations, documentation, and appropriate escalation.
• Judgment - Ability to evaluate employee, supervisor, and HR-related matters, recognize sensitive or higher-risk issues, and determine when additional guidance or escalation is appropriate.
• Technology & Systems Proficiency - Advanced skill in using HRIS, payroll, timekeeping, applicant tracking, and related HR systems to process transactions, maintain accurate data, resolve issues, and support efficient HR operations.
• Customer Service - Ability to provide responsive, professional, and courteous service to employees, supervisors, and campus partners .
• Communication - Skill in communicating clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing, with individuals across the institution.
• Organization & Time Management - Ability to organize work, manage competing priorities, and consistently meet recurring deadlines.
• Confidentiality & Process Integrity - Ability to handle sensitive information appropriately, maintain accurate records, and support consistent and reliable HR practices .
• Employment Law & Compliance Awareness - Knowledge of EEO, ADA and accommodations, FMLA and other leave requirements, wage and hour/FLSA, and I-9/E-Verify requirements.

Required Experience/Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Management, or a related field.
• Three or more years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience across multiple areas of the employee lifecycle.
• Experience supporting supervisors or department leaders as an HR resource or business partner.
• Experience administering payroll, including preparing payroll data, processing employee pay changes and adjustments, reviewing payroll for accuracy, and meeting recurring payroll deadlines.
• Experience administering HRIS, timekeeping, applicant tracking, or related HR technology systems.

Preferred Education/Experience:

• Current SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification, or demonstrated progress toward certification, strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting HR in an environment with multiple employee types, pay schedules, or employment arrangements.
• Experience supporting HR administration in higher education, nonprofit, ministry, or another service-oriented environment (Covenant College graduates welcome).
• Experience working with a PEO or outsourced HR/payroll provider.

Additional Eligibility Requirements:

• Acceptance of and commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
• Commitment to the mission and purpose of Covenant College.
• Ability to support the College's Christian mission and community standards through professional HR service, communication, and conduct.
• Must be able to assent to

Physical Work Environment:

This position requires extended periods of sitting or standing, including the ability to remain in a standing or stationary position for at least 50% of the workday. The role involves regular computer use and frequent verbal communication, and the employee must be fluent in English. Occasional lifting of office materials or supplies up to 20 pounds may be required, along with regular use of standard office equipment throughout the workday.

Position Classification

Job Title: Human Resources Business Partner
Job Status: Regular full-time (40 hrs/week), FLSA Exempt
Reports to: Vice President Operations and Finance
Job Type: Permanent
Benefit Eligible: Yes

To Apply:

Interested applicants should apply at . Qualified candidates will have the opportunity to attach supporting documents to the application. Documents required for this position include:

• Letter of interest
• Résumé - including contact information for three references
• A statement or expression of your personal faith, sharing about your walk and the ongoing work of Christ in your life.