HR Advisor

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $75,000 - $85,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.


Position Summary


Reporting to the Senior Human Resources Business Partner (SHRBP), the HR Advisor provides operational and consultative HR support to assigned schools and administrative units across Columbia University. The incumbent serves as a resource to managers, employees, and HR partners by providing guidance on University policies, employment practices, and HR programs and by supporting the delivery of consistent, responsive HR services.


The HR Advisor manages an assigned portfolio of routine to moderately complex HR matters, including employee relations, HR operations, leave and accommodation coordination, case management, and other employment-related issues. The role applies established University policies, procedures, and practices; uses sound professional judgment to assess issues and determine appropriate next steps; and resolves matters within established authority while referring higher-risk, more complex, or sensitive matters to the SHRBP for additional guidance or review.


Working collaboratively with CUHR units and other University partners, the HR Advisor coordinates resources and follows through on assigned matters to support timely and accurate service delivery. The role also supports HR projects and operational improvements, analyzes HR operational data, prepares reports and metrics, and identifies opportunities to improve processes and client service.


Who We're Looking For


We are looking for an experienced, service-oriented HR professional who is collaborative, consultative, adaptable, and solutions-focused. The ideal candidate is comfortable managing day-to-day HR matters, applying established HR policies and practices, providing guidance to managers and employees, and coordinating with HR partners to resolve service requests.


You are curious and committed to continuous learning, with the ability to manage competing priorities, adapt to changing client needs, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment. You use sound judgment, discretion, empathy, and strong relationship-building skills when handling sensitive employee matters and are comfortable recognizing when an issue requires additional guidance or escalation.


Responsibilities


Client Advisory and Support
• Provides day-to-day operational and consultative HR support to managers, employees, and local HR partners, including guidance on University policies, workplace concerns, leave administration, accommodations, and other employment matters.
• Assesses routine to moderately complex HR questions and service requests, identifies appropriate next steps, and resolves matters using established University policies, procedures, and practices.
• Manages an assigned portfolio of HR matters and follows established processes to ensure timely communication, appropriate documentation, and resolution.
• Provides guidance to managers and employees on routine HR matters and refers issues outside established practices or delegated authority to the SHRBP or appropriate HR partner.
• Builds effective working relationships with managers, HR professionals, and University stakeholders to provide responsive and consistent HR support.
• Collaborates with Shared Services, HR Centers of Excellence, HR Compliance, and other University partners to coordinate resources and facilitate timely resolution.
• Keeps the SHRBP informed of significant, sensitive, or unusual matters requiring additional guidance, review, or approval.


Employee Relations
• Manages assigned routine to moderately complex employee-relations matters involving performance, attendance, conduct, workplace conflict, corrective action, and related workplace concerns in accordance with University policies and established practices.
• Reviews available information, identifies relevant issues and potential concerns, and develops recommendations for appropriate next steps consistent with University policy and SHRBP direction.
• Provides managers with guidance on employee communications, documentation, performance improvement, corrective action, conflict resolution, and related employee-relations matters.
• Supports workplace reviews and investigations by gathering information, conducting interviews as assigned, documenting facts, and assisting with findings and recommendations.
• Coordinates assigned employee-relations matters through resolution or referral, maintaining communication with the SHRBP regarding significant developments.
• Prepares case summaries that outline relevant facts, applicable policies or procedures, issues or concerns, and recommended options for SHRBP review as appropriate.
• Refers matters involving significant risk, unusual circumstances, complex investigations, or exceptions to established practices to the SHRBP or appropriate HR partner.


HR Service Delivery & Case Management
• Reviews, manages, and tracks ServiceNow cases, shared HR email requests, and other assigned service requests through resolution or referral.
• Coordinates with Shared Services, HR Centers of Excellence, HR Business Partners, HR Compliance, and other University partners to support accurate and timely service delivery.
• Maintains accurate and timely case documentation in applicable HR systems.
• Updates and closes cases in accordance with established documentation, compliance, recordkeeping, and confidentiality requirements.
• Follows up on pending requests, approvals, exceptions, and outstanding matters to support timely resolution.
• Participates in quality assurance activities and applies established service standards to promote consistency, accuracy, and a positive client experience.
• Identifies recurring service issues and process improvement opportunities and provides observations and recommendations to the SHRBP.


Projects, Data & Performance Measurement
• Supports HR projects and initiatives by coordinating activities, tracking milestones, maintaining project documentation, and completing assigned work.
• Collects, validates, and analyzes HR operational data to support routine reporting, service monitoring, planning, and management decision-making.
• Assists the SHRBP with developing and tracking key performance indicators and service metrics.
• Prepares dashboards, reports, presentations, and summaries that organize information, identify trends, and provide operational insights.
• Implements assigned HR initiatives and operational improvements in accordance with established direction and provides feedback on implementation and results.
• Maintains manager resources, templates, training materials, FAQs, and other tools that support consistent HR practices.
• Manages competing priorities and adjusts work in response to changing client and organizational needs.


Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of four years of progressively responsible client-facing human resources experience providing hands-on, day-to-day HR support, including advising managers and employees, addressing employee-relations matters, applying HR policies and processes, and coordinating the resolution of HR service requests or related matters.


Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in higher education, healthcare, or another large, complex, or highly regulated organization.
• Experience managing routine to moderately complex employee-relations matters, supporting workplace investigations, or preparing case assessments and recommendations.
• Experience using HR service-delivery, case-management, human resources information, or reporting systems, such as ServiceNow.
• Experience supporting HR projects, organizational change, service-delivery initiatives, or process-improvement efforts.
• Experience developing, tracking, or reporting key performance indicators, service-level metrics, or other HR operational measures.
• Familiarity with labor relations principles and practices.
• Professional HR certification, such as SHRM-CP, PHR, or an equivalent credential.
• Experience using Power BI or similar business intelligence and data-visualization tools to develop dashboards, analyze HR data, track key performance indicators, and prepare reports.
• Experience using Codex or other AI-enabled tools to support data analysis, dashboard and report development, process improvement, documentation, or HR service delivery.


Other Requirements
•Experience advising managers, employees, or HR partners on workplace matters, HR policies and procedures, and employment-related issues.
•Demonstrated ability to manage routine to moderately complex HR matters within established policies, procedures, practices, and leadership direction and to exercise sound professional judgment regarding resolution, referral, and escalation.
• Working knowledge of employment laws, HR policies, employee-relations principles, and HR practices.
• Experience coordinating with multiple HR functions or service teams to manage requests and facilitate timely resolution.
• Experience collecting, organizing, and interpreting data and preparing reports, summaries, or other HR documentation.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and consultative communication skills, including the ability to communicate sensitive or complex information clearly and professionally.
• Strong organizational and case-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, maintain accurate documentation, and meet established deadlines.
• Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment when handling confidential and sensitive employee information.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with stakeholders at various levels of an organizatio


Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran


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