Job Details

Human Resources Senior Professional

Position Number: 6771939
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Human Resources

Human Resources Senior Professional

Requisition Number: 68970
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 14-Dec-2025
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Human Resources Senior Professional independently manages and advises on a variety of complex HR and payroll processes for faculty, staff, researchers, and temporary employees, serving as a primary resource for the department on HR policy, compliance, and operations. This position will provide operational support, guidance, and training to the department regarding recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and leave management. This position is also responsible for supporting payroll, managing faculty affairs and employee relations, coordinating the visa processes for international scholars, and maintaining personnel records for the various employee groups, including faculty, research faculty, staff, students, and temporary staff. The role will work closely with the Operations Manager, and Director of Finance, Business, and Building Operations on various tasks, including annual merit, faculty affairs, and performance management, and coordinates closely with the finance team on budget planning, salary projections, and research funding appointments, often navigating multi-faceted employment scenarios. As a trusted advisor, this position provides guidance to department leadership, staff, and less-experienced HR team members, offering solutions to complex employment situations and ensuring consistency with institutional policies and standard methodologies.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder is internationally recognized for its specialized research and education into the study of matter, energy, and the interaction between them. Significant areas of research involve environmental and atmospheric chemistry with a considerable focus on renewable energy. Topics range from biological routes to solar energy harvesting to novel materials for direct conversion of sunlight into electricity and fuel.

At the heart of these significant initiatives, is our administrative team where their innovations, collaborations, and contributions directly impact the success of our faculty, staff, and students. To learn more about our department and our team, please visit our website.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

HR Operations and Administration

Serve as the department's primary HR advisor, interpreting and applying university, state, and federal policies to guide managers, faculty, and staff through complex hiring, onboarding, compensation, reappointment, separation, and personnel processes.
Independently manage and assess all HR-related actions and workflows, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant processing across multiple employment categories and funding sources.
Act as the department's key liaison to campus HR offices, including the HR Service Center and Arts & Sciences HR, collaborating regularly to resolve complex or non-standard personnel situations.
Provide high-level guidance to managers and supervisors on performance management, goal setting, annual merit processes, and corrective action procedures; ensure proper documentation is maintained for compliance and institutional reporting.
Analyze and audit personnel data on an ongoing basis to verify the accuracy of employment records, position details, supervisor assignments, appointment dates, and funding allocations.
Oversee compliance tracking and reporting related to required trainings, federal and university regulations, and college mandates; independently develop reporting tools to assess department-wide compliance.
Develop and refine internal HR business processes, standard operating procedures, and training resources to promote consistent application of policies and improve overall operational efficiency.
Manage and maintain personnel records and electronic filing systems to ensure timely record retention and audit-readiness in accordance with university, state, and federal guidelines.
Lead departmental HR communications, delivering timely policy updates, process changes, and compliance guidance to faculty, leadership, and administrative staff.
Supervise, train, and serve as a resource for other administrative staff who support HR functions, ensuring consistent knowledge transfer and cross-training across the department.
Collaborate with department leadership to anticipate staffing needs, advise on employment classifications, and develop staffing strategies aligned with department goals and budget constraints.
Provide advanced support for travel arrangements, Concur processing, and other special projects that require integration of HR, financial, and administrative expertise.
Represent the department in HR Liaison meetings, HRSC meetings, and divisional HR forums, communicating critical updates to leadership and ensuring departmental alignment with evolving policies.

Employee Relations and Support

Serves as the department's lead advisor and subject matter expert for all faculty, staff, research, student, and temporary hiring processes, interpreting complex HR policies and employment regulations to guide hiring managers through each stage.
Independently manages all employment transactions, collaborating with the College of Arts & Sciences HR, the Human Resources Service Center, Research Faculty HR, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), and other campus partners to resolve unique and non-standard hiring situations.
Coordinates and troubleshoots onboarding processes for employees, proactively identifying and addressing issues related to system access, background checks, benefits eligibility, immigration status, and compliance with university policies.
Manages faculty affairs processes for comprehensive review, reappointment, promotion, tenure, and post-tenure review.
Analyzes and advises on employment eligibility for international hires, providing specialized guidance to faculty and hiring managers on work authorization, visa sponsorship, and labor certification processes in coordination with ISSS.
Reviews and resolves complex employment scenarios related to funding sources, position types, and appointment structures, maintaining compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements.
Delivers training for new employees and supervisors on HR systems (e.g., MyLeave, HCM), payroll processes, time tracking, leave reporting, and university due dates, adapting guidance to the unique needs of each position type.
Provides guidance and support to supervisors regarding personnel-related issues and concerns with discretion and confidentiality.
Acts as a primary liaison to the College of Arts & Sciences HR Office, Employee Services, Campus HR, and divisional leadership, representing the department in the resolution of complex onboarding, payroll, and employment compliance matters.
Ensures organizational compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
Directs more sensitive issues (e.g., ADA accommodations, Title VI, Title IX) to the appropriate University body and supports implementation of recommended actions.
Maintains onboarding tools, training materials, and process documentation to streamline department-wide hiring and onboarding activities.
Continuously evaluates, refines, and improves departmental onboarding and hiring processes to enhance efficiency, compliance, and candidate experience while minimizing processing delays.

Payroll Support

Independently reviews and analyzes payroll registers, personnel rosters, and funding distributions to ensure payroll accuracy, proactively identifying and resolving complex discrepancies.
Serves as a key resource and advisor to departmental leadership, Finance, and Graduate Program staff on payroll processes, compliance requirements, and funding allocations, offering guidance on policy interpretation and non-standard payroll issues.
Manages leave tracking and compliance by monitoring accrual balances, identifying irregularities, and collaborating with employees, supervisors, and HR partners to ensure timely and accurate leave reporting.
Creates monthly audits of timesheets and payroll transactions, applying in-depth knowledge of campus payroll systems to troubleshoot and resolve sensitive or complex time reporting errors.
Evaluates existing payroll and time tracking procedures; develops, implements, and refines process improvements to strengthen internal controls, enhance accuracy, and guarantee adherence with university, state, and federal regulations.

Other/Projects

Other duties as assigned that support the department's HR and payroll operations.
Contribute to other departmental projects and initiatives as assigned to advance departmental goals and student success.

What You Should Know

Hybrid Schedule: At least 2-3 days a week on campus per campus and college policies and guidelines.
This can be subject to change based on the business needs of the department.
Standard Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Monday - Friday
Employee may be expected to be on campus Monday-Friday during onboarding, training, and/or professional development events/meetings.

What We Can Offer

The starting salary for this position is $67,600-$70,000.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be proactive. Be supportive. Be Boulder.

What We Require

BA/BS degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
3+ year of experience in human resources, including talent management, employee relations, compensation and benefits, and compliance.

What You Will Need

Demonstrated problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Strong Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and target dates.
Written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex policies and procedures.
High degree of professionalism and ability to maintain confidentiality and work with sensitive information.
Demonstrated expertise in resolving complex employee relations issues and building engagement strategies.
Ability to establish and maintain positive and cooperative working relationships within the department and with outside units.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook).

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

A current resume.
A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.

We may request references at a later time. Please apply by December 14th, 2025 for consideration. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Human-Resources-Senior-Professional/68970