Human Resources Business Partner

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Job Title: Human Resources Business Partner

Department: Human Resources

FLSA Status: Exempt

Grade: 8

Salary Range: $66,000 – $82,400

Union: N/A

Reports to: Executive Director, Human Resources

Work Schedule: Full-time, full year. Office hours 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Schedule may be adjusted based on MICA and other departmental needs or requirements.

General purpose: The HR Business Partner provides dedicated support and develops close working relationships with assigned client areas, working collaboratively with department managers, staff, and senior leadership of the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). The HR Business Partner assures equity, inclusion, access, and anti-racism as central to their work and the delivery of services to faculty, staff, students, and families. This position will be the first point of contact for client groups on all HR related matters (e.g., policies, processes, employee relations, performance management, new hire orientation, onboarding, employee engagement activities, training and development, and recruiting). The position will ensure effective delivery of HR core processes and compliance with relevant institutional guidelines, policies, practices, and employment laws. The HR Business Partner may receive and investigate complaints related to performance and/or workplace behavior.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Recruitment & Talent Management

• Develops recruitment strategies, including review of all open positions and updating job descriptions and job specifications, developing a search and advertising plan, and identifying target markets and recruitment sources.

• Post jobs to appropriate job boards and utilize targeted and niche sourcing strategies to fill critical vacancies. In addition to traditional job boards and job fairs, must be able to effectively utilize social media to network and direct source passive candidates to fill vacancies via LinkedIn, Monster, CareerBuilder, etc.        

• Assists clients in evaluating applicants to determine if they meet the position requirements, phone screening, participates in interviews, makes selection recommendations, conducts reference checks, sets salaries, extends offers, and assists new hires with onboarding and orientation.

• Supports or leads high-level searches.

• Works closely with the team on recruitment initiatives to drive and enable hiring and retention of talented and diverse employees who will effect positive change. Recommends improvements to selection policies and procedures.

Administrative & Onboarding

• Assists with supporting the department’s main telephone and email accounts, handling inquiries or directing emails or calls to the appropriate area.

• Verifies I-9 forms for new faculty and staff, utilizing E-Verify, entering data, and coordinating logistics, as needed.

• Completes offboarding tasks, including exit interviews, notification emails, system notifications, etc.

• Assists with responding to reference checks, employment verification, and unemployment requests in a timely manner.

• Assists with submitting requests for the annual MVR background check.

• Organizes, files, maintains, and destroys records according to established procedures. Scans employment forms and faculty contracts to the appropriate employee’s electronic file.

• Shares responsibility for overseeing New Hire Orientation.

• Onboarding new employees, providing new hires with an overview of Workday, ensuring all onboarding tasks are completed, troubleshooting any access issues, and providing the new hire with a professional and positive onboarding experience.

Employee Relations

• Works closely with management and employees to improve work relationships, build morale, increase productivity, and retention.

• Educates and supports client groups on employee relations policies and procedures, such as coaching, counseling, career development, discipline, performance management, policy interpretation, and other employee relations matters. Adheres to policies in accordance with federal, state(s), and local employment laws as well as MICA guidelines.

• Manages annual performance assessment process for respective client group(s).

• Receives and investigates complaints related to performance and/or workplace behavior.

• Creates an investigation plan, provides parties with information about the process and their rights, gathers evidence, conducts interviews, and drafts written findings. Prepares report and recommends resolution(s), working in conjunction with the Executive Director of Human Resources as needed.

• Ensures a fair, timely, and well-documented investigative process. Maintains accurate and thorough records and notes of investigatory process. Creates comprehensive written investigative reports that clearly identify the issues investigated, identify all relevant College policies, and summarize all relevant evidence.

• Maintains all information in a case management database to organize, manage, and track employee relations issues.

• Remains knowledgeable of federal and state law and regulations, and trends within higher education related to harassment and other discriminatory practices. Identifies and integrates best practices into knowledge base and practice.

• Assists with facilitating mediation for conflict management and problem-solving dialogues.

• Tracks, trends, reports, and raises concerns that may be systemic problems relating to complaints. Assists with the development and execution of campus-wide engagement and recognition programs and events.

• Participates in campus-wide committees, identifies opportunities for recognition, supports existing recognition events and activities, and assists in development and implementation of employee engagement surveys.

Training & Organizational Development

• Collaborates with HR team, management, and leadership in defining training initiatives by having an excellent understanding of MICA’s objectives, issues, needs, and key success factors.

• Actively participates in setting the HR strategy for planning processes, recommends, and assists in developing policies, and actively promotes best practices.

• Supports organizational/cultural change by assisting clients with assessment of their existing organization and culture in determining need for change in roles, competencies, behaviors, and the requisite skills required to support the new organization/culture.

• Provides input and feedback that enhances the delivery of existing programs.

Other

• Collaborates with other HR team members to address organizational needs, and initiates, participates in, leads/manages a variety of projects, or provides direction on HR-related programs and practices.

• Ensures consistency, communication, and collaboration in a small yet complex environment.

• Maintains a network of other Human Resource professionals.

• Seeks and participates in professional development activities. Other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships.  Must be flexible, collaborative, and foster effective working relationships.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with teammates and clients by building trust and credibility.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to organize, synthesize, and analyze complex or diverse information and problems.

• Impeccable organizational (time, task, project management) skills. Ability to work independently and handle multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously, including multiple ongoing and complex employee relations incidents and complaints.

• Effective oral and written communication of policies, procedures, and legal concepts.

• Proven excellent client support skills with demonstrated evidence of strong business acumen.

• Proficiency in utilizing technology used for communication, data gathering, and reporting.

• Proficiency in using and understanding basic data management systems, basic computer applications (e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), and HRIS products (e.g., Workday, PeopleSoft, etc.).

• Willingness and ability to learn additional applications as needed.

• Maintain confidences and exercise sound judgment and discretion.

• Tolerate a high degree of ambiguity.

• Diffuse and manage situations involving intense conflict.

• Knowledge of current State and Federal laws. Solid understanding of multiple HR disciplines, including ER, recruitment, training, OD, compensation, and benefits.

• Ability and willingness to travel (by car, air, train, or bus) domestically as needed.

• Ability and willingness to work weekends, evenings, and other non-traditional schedules. Excellent customer service skills and works effectively with many types of personalities.

• Ability to solve simple and complex problems with critical thinking skills.

• Strategic high-level thinking coupled with the attention to detail necessary for successful planning and execution.

• Personal commitment to excellence and MICA’s mission, vision, and tenets, and promoting community building.

• Demonstrated commitment to practices in equity, inclusion, access, and anti-racism and to serving the needs of a culturally and educationally diverse and inclusive community with diplomacy and tact.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, CCP, or other certified HR designation or willingness to obtain certification within a year of employment.

• 2+ years of HR generalist/consulting experience.

• 2+ years of in-depth experience in managing employee relations issues.

• 2+ years of demonstrated experience working with and providing consultation to all levels of employees as a partner on strategic and tactical HR related issues and to work effectively in a complex environment. Experience that demonstrates the highest personal levels of uncompromising integrity, honesty, and discretion.

• Must possess a record of service that identifies concern for the safety and well-being of others.

• Experience in conducting effective investigations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree. HR or OD specialization.

• Experience in higher education.

• Familiarity with Workday software.

Reporting to this position: No direct reports.

Conditions of Employment:

• Satisfactory background check results.

• Provide proof of COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.

• Must work on-campus full-time to ensure full integration and understanding of campus life and culture.

• Consideration of a hybrid work schedule will be given after six months of employment.

Physical demands and work environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

• Required training: Handbook orientation, Anti-Harassment, Hazard Communication, Emergency Plans & Fire Prevention, Personal Protection Equipment.

Maryland Institute College of Art is committed to its policy of providing equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status (disabled, Vietnam-era, or otherwise). Furthermore, the College does not tolerate any form of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment or sexual violence. This policy applies to all programs, facilities, and activities provided by Maryland Institute College of Art, including but not limited to admission, educational programs, and employment.

Applicants must apply online for each job in which they are interested. You will not be considered for any job for which you have not specifically applied. We do not accept applications via email, U.S. mail, or fax. Successful candidates for any staff or faculty positions will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

MICA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact Human Resources at 410-225-2363.