HR Specialist V (Employment Specialist)

Performs complex human resources (HR) work in a fast-paced environment at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Work involves planning and coordinating activities and programs related to staffing, recruitment, and selection of employees. Serves as the agency's wellness coordinator and benefits specialist. Reviews, prepares, and maintains confidential information. Reports to the Director of Human Resources.

Responsibilities

• Works with hiring managers on employee recruitment and selection processes for the agency.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date information of application processing to ensure hiring procedures are followed; maintains all recruitment and selection information in the web-based applicant tracking system.
• Manages recruiting process from job posting to job offer, including advertising the position, screening applications, ensuring the hiring manager follows all processes and procedures, and sending the job offer letter to the final candidate.
• Provides recommendations on applicant knowledge and skills assessments and facilitates the administration of the assessments to applicants.
• Serves as the agency's coordinator for the Optional Retirement Program (ORP). Keeps abreast of benefit changes and informs THECB staff as needed.
• Acts as the agency's benefit specialist; ensures employee benefits for the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) and the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) are handled in a timely and accurate manner.
• Presents benefit information to new hires at new employee orientation and to THECB staff members at annual enrollment and other benefits training sessions.
• Schedules and attends job fairs to promote the THECB and source candidates for employment opportunities and summer internships.
• Serves as the agency wellness program coordinator. Provides health and wellness information to employees and schedules on-site wellness activities.
• Participates in the development of/revision to personnel policies, procedures, and related documents in the assigned areas.
• Cross-trains in other human resources disciplines.
• Ensures compliance with relevant federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.
• Provides HR-related information for the agency's quarterly newsletter.
• Performs routine records maintenance.
• Provides back-up and assistance to other human resources staff and programs, shares the duty of answering the HR Department's main telephone lines, and ensures continuity of human resources services during staff absences and peak periods.
• May update databases and prepare ad-hoc reports.
• May prepare fiscal notes, legislative analysis, and other HR-related assistance during the legislative session.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Three years of recent, progressively responsible human resources experience.
• Six additional months of full-time work experience may substitute for 15 semester credit hours of the required education, up to four years.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in human resources management, business, public administration, organizational development, or related field.
• Experience working with the state of Texas ERS benefits program.
• Experience using the state of Texas Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS) Recruit or other online applicant tracking system.
• Experience working in a government setting.
• Professional Human Resources certification.

Skills

• Knowledge of all state and federal laws and regulations governing human resources practices.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of human resources.
• Knowledge of programs such as employment, benefits, and retirement, and the laws regulating the activities of such programs.
• Skill in using personal computer; general office software, including Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access; and HR-related software and databases.
• Skill in using Excel to track, collect, and analyze data.
• Skill in planning, organizing, and prioritizing assignments and tasks.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in all work-related situations.
• Ability to read, interpret, and correctly apply federal and state human resources statutes.
• Ability to communicate information in a clear, organized, concise, professional, and courteous way, in both spoken and written forms, to individuals with diverse social, ethnic, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to plan, organize, effectively manage, and complete multiple priorities and projects concurrently, and to keep management abreast of issues.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of personnel records and all HR-related information.
• Ability to work under pressure and successfully meet objectives and periodic, milestone, and final deadlines.
• Ability to consistently make good use of time and also be considerate of co-workers' time.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships both internally and externally.

Schedule

This position is authorized for a hybrid telework schedule. Employees are required to work in the office two (2) days per week, with the remaining three days eligible for telework. Specific in-office days may be determined by the department to meet business needs.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a standard office environment.
• Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• Frequent use of personal computer, copiers, printers, and telephones.
• Frequent sitting.
• Frequently working under deadlines, as a team member, and in direct contact with others.