Department HR Specialist

Job Location: Raleigh, NC. Department: College Of Engineering - Dean's Office/Administration.

About the Department

The College of Engineering (COE) Human Resources office, situated within the Dean’s Office, serves as the central strategic HR partner for the entire College. We provide comprehensive human resources services and coordination across our nine academic departments, multidisciplinary programs like Operations Research and Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering, and the Industry Extension Services (IES). Our dedicated team also manages all personnel aspects for the College’s extensive Distance Education Programs. We are responsible for coordinating and servicing all personnel actions, from recruitment to retirement, and maintaining official personnel records for the College.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the HR Strategy Partner, the HR Specialist provides comprehensive human resources support to the College of Engineering within an HR Operating Hub service-delivery model. The position coordinates and administers a broad range of HR activities across multiple academic departments, including employee classification and personnel actions, recruitment and onboarding, performance management, time and leave administration, visa sponsorship, employee records, and faculty-related processes. The role requires careful handling of confidential and sensitive information while maintaining accurate, timely, and consistent HR services. In this role, you will independently manage HR processes from initiation through completion, balancing competing priorities and deadlines across multiple departments. You will serve as a key resource to faculty, staff, students and department leadership by interpreting and applying HR policies and procedures across different employee classifications, coordinating with College and University partners, and communicating complex information clearly. Your attention to detail, sound judgment, professionalism, and commitment to responsive service will help ensure employees and departments receive consistent and effective HR support.

• Full-Lifecycle Personnel Administration: Manage end-to-end HR actions across all employee classifications (Tenured/Tenure Track and Professional Faculty, Staff, Post-docs, Unpaid Affiliations, temporary and Students).
• High-Stakes Academic Actions: Facilitate complex faculty processes, including Phased Retirement, Scholarly Leave assignments, Emeritus requests, and Tenure Clock extensions.
• Advanced Consultation & Problem Solving: Serve as a departmental authority on HR compliance; independently research and resolve non-standard personnel, payroll, and leave issues.
• Strategic Partnering: Working with the HR Strategy Partner, collaborate with Department Heads and Directors to translate complex University policies into clear, actionable advice while anticipating workflow bottlenecks.
• International Employment: Serve as the primary contact for non-immigrant international visa sponsorships (J-1, H-1B), managing submissions and monitoring end-dates to prevent gaps in work authorization.
• Payroll, Compensation & Leave: Oversee complex WolfTime leave management (biweekly and monthly), serve as the primary initiator for Additional Pay and Summer Salary, review the overpayment process and ensure payroll lockout compliance.
• Team Guidance & Process Optimization: Provide on-the-job training and advanced troubleshooting for Journey-level specialists, evaluating Hub workflows to improve service delivery.
• Records Governance & Approvals: Serve as the final HR approval authority for graduate student appointments and maintain official department records in accordance with retention policies.

Other duties as assigned across the hub.

Qualifications

Minimum Experience/Education: Bachelor’s degree; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of training and experience from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated ability to independently research, fact-find, and creatively solve complex HR challenges with sound judgment and discretion.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with experience interpreting complex policies for diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and high-volume deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Direct HR experience within NC State University, including working knowledge of NC State personnel policies and enterprise systems (PeopleSoft, WolfTime, PeopleAdmin).
• Hands-on experience coordinating J-1 and H-1B visa sponsorships and federal compliance.
• Prior experience in a higher education, research, or HR Shared Services/Hub environment.

Valid NC Driver's License required.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance