HR Manager - Benefits, Compliance, and HRIS

Position Classification: Full-Time, Exempt; This position is designated as confidential and is not represented by a collective bargaining unit.
 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Benefits Administration

•     Partner with the Director, Total Rewards to manage employee benefits programs, including health and welfare, the retirement (403(b)) program, and workers’ compensation.

•     Manage, advise, and oversee the Institute’s leave of absence and disability programs (e.g., FMLA, CFRA, long-term disability leave, and workers’ comp leaves), including communication with finance/payroll, supervisors, physicians’ offices, and other relevant parties.

•     In partnership with the Director, Total Rewards, and the Health Benefits Committee, in accordance with the CU-UAW Collective Bargaining Agreement, evaluate and provide insight into plan design changes and auxiliary benefits to enhance a robust benefits package.

•     Liaise and partner with vendors (e.g., benefits/insurance brokers and third-party administrators) to address issues and recommend changes as needed; support the Director in the annual open enrollment process.

•     Support the administration of the 403(b) Plan, including compliance and requirements, and assist with the annual plan audit.

•     Oversee response to benefits-related inquiries, including the Benefits@ email, escalating complex issues with insurance carriers and brokers as needed.

HRIS Management

•     Provide maintenance and ongoing administration of the Institute’s Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) and related applications, ensuring data integrity, accuracy, and compliance.

•     Maintain employee job, pay, position, and organizational data with accuracy and compliance; manage data entry, validation, and routine data integrity audits across HR systems.

•     Oversee onboarding workflows within the HRIS, including background checks, documentation tracking, and I-9/E-Verify compliance.

•     Provide regular staffing reports and departmental data outreach to ensure accurate personnel-related data.

•     Troubleshoot and resolve HRIS-related issues, coordinating with IT and system vendors as needed.

•     Serve as a thought partner with HR leadership on HRIS strategy, system upgrades, and data integrity, and lead related process improvement efforts.

Student Employment & Federal Work-Study (FWS) Oversight

•     Oversee and direct the student employment process in conjunction with the HR Coordinator, ensuring consistent policies, timely processing, and a positive experience for student employees and their supervisors.

•     Provide oversight of the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program, including award allocation, compliance with federal regulations, and coordination with the Financial Aid Office on funding and eligibility.

•     Direct FWS-related reporting requirements, ensuring accurate and timely submission of required federal, state, and institutional reports.

•     Establish and monitor policies and procedures for student employment and FWS hiring, timekeeping, and eligibility tracking, and provide guidance to the HR Coordinator and campus supervisors on complex or exception cases.

•     Serve as the escalation point for student employment and FWS issues raised by the HR Coordinator, Financial Aid, or academic/administrative departments.

•     Partner with Financial Aid and Payroll to reconcile FWS award usage, budgets, and year-end reporting.

Compliance

•     Manage ACA reporting requirements and ensure filings are compliant and accurate.

•     Monitor legislative updates in federal and California employment law, including FMLA, CFRA, FLSA, OSHA, ADAAA, NLRB, Title VII, and USERRA, and update policies and practices accordingly.

•     Ensure compensation and benefit plans comply with current laws and regulations, including COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, and the EEOC.

•     Direct personnel file compliance, ensuring recordkeeping meets retention and privacy requirements, partnering with the HR Coordinator on the maintenance and routing of personnel files.

•     Complete requests for records, reports, and other documentation required by federal, state, local, and provider rules, regulations, and policies.

•     Support internal and external compliance audits, including the annual 403(b) plan audit and other HR-related regulatory reviews.

•     Partner with the HR Coordinator on the day-to-day execution of benefits, leave, and compliance support tasks, providing subject-matter guidance as needed.

•     Perform other duties as assigned.

SKILLS / ABILITIES

•     Working knowledge of HRIS platforms and employee data management (e.g., Paycom, Ellucian Colleague).

•     Strong knowledge of federal and California employment laws and regulations affecting benefits, leaves, and personnel records.

•     Proficiency in Excel and data management programs and Google Suite.

•     Strong attention to detail and commitment to data integrity and accuracy.

•     Ability to manage multiple priorities, demonstrate strong time management, and adapt to changing needs.

•     Effective relationship-building skills with a proven track record of establishing trust, collaboration, and credibility with leadership, external constituents, and employees.

•     Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

EDUCATION

•     Bachelor’s degree required.

•     SHRM, CCP, CBP, or HRIS-related certification (e.g., PHR) preferred.

EXPERIENCE

•     A minimum of five years of experience in benefits administration, HRIS, and/or HR compliance, and/or seven years of combined HR generalist experience, is required.

•     Higher education experience is a plus.