Human Resources Business Partner I

About the role

The Harris County Public Library (HCPL) system, established in 1921, has grown into a robust network comprising 26 branch libraries, two technology service centers, and two partner locations. HCPL serves the communities of unincorporated Harris County and cities without independent library systems. In 2024, HCPL received the prestigious National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honor awarded to libraries in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Provides entry-level HR consultation and guidance to department leaders, supervisors, and employees regarding routine workforce matters, HR policies, procedures, and standard employment practices in a respectful, consistent, and service-oriented manner.
• Supports assigned HR functional areas, including workforce planning, recruitment and staffing, classification and compensation, employee relations, payroll and benefits administration, performance management, learning and development, and compliance activities.
• Processes personnel actions and employment-related transactions; maintains HR data; updates HRIS records; prepares, reviews, and routes documents; tracks action items and deadlines; and responds to routine HR inquiries with accuracy, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Leads recruitment and staffing processes, including position and requisition coordination, job posting support, candidate tracking, interview scheduling, onboarding and documentation, and related communications.
• Supports employee relations activities by receiving and documenting concerns, gathering relevant information, maintaining accurate records, tracking follow-up items, preserving confidentiality, and escalating complex, sensitive, or legally significant matters to senior HR staff and the Director.
• Aids in performance management activities, including tracking evaluation timelines, supporting documentation processes, coordinating communications, and helping departments follow established procedures.
• Conducts basic HR data review and analysis; prepares routine reports, spreadsheets, and summaries; identifies trends, discrepancies, or missing information; and supports recommendations for review by senior HR staff.
• Maintains personnel records, HR files, and employment-related documentation in accordance with applicable laws, records retention requirements, privacy standards, and HCPL and Harris County policies and procedures.
• Supports compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including Equal Employment Opportunity requirements, Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, workers’ compensation, wage and hour requirements, confidentiality, records retention, and related HCPL and Harris County policies.
• Assists HR leadership and department management with HR projects, operational priorities, process improvements, policy implementation, and special assignments.
• Participates in required training, work groups, meetings, and professional development activities to maintain current knowledge of HR practices, systems, policies, and compliance requirements.
• Performs other related duties as assigned, including support during emergency events, continuity of operations, or natural disasters, as required by departmental or County needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, or a closely related field.
• Three (3) years of related administrative, personnel, or HR support experience in a public sector, large organization, or matrixed work environment.
• Three (3) years of demonstrated full-time work experience in Human Resources supporting one or more HR functions, such as employee relations, recruitment and staffing, HR transactions, HRIS data maintenance, compliance tracking, payroll or benefits coordination, or HR program administration.
• Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, NeoGov, PeopleSoft, and the use of other standard office equipment and software.
• Ability to comply with County technology and security requirements, including use of a personal mobile device for multifactor authentication.

Other Requirements

• All applicants must register and take the HRT Clerical Skills Test and score a minimum of 80% with a typing speed of 30 wpm and 80% accuracy.
• Experience providing Human Resources support in a public sector, civil service, government, library, or a community service environment (preferred).
• Bilingual (preferred).

Preferences

• Experience: Experience providing Human Resources support in a public sector, civil service, government, library, or a community service environment (preferred)
• Language: Bilingual (preferred)