Human Resources Manager

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of People Operations and Experience (POE) at Rutgers University Foundation (RUF), the Director of People Operations and Experience will be responsible for managing tactical human resources and payroll functions. The position oversees the administration of total rewards, payroll, HRIS maintenance and enhancements, leave of absence management, performance management, reporting, audits, compliance, and data analytics for Rutgers University Foundation.

Who We Are

People Operations & Experience is at the center of Rutgers University Foundation, dedicated to fostering a dynamic, supportive, and engaging workplace. We take a holistic approach to the employee experience, from recruitment and onboarding to professional development and beyond, striving to support the mission of every member at RUF to further the mission of Rutgers University. Our team is committed to tackling challenges together and we always keep an open door. We work hard and believe in our mission, but we also know that laughter, camaraderie, and teamwork make us stronger. Collaboration is at the core of our work; we celebrate each other's successes, problem-solve together, and always lend a helping hand. This is truly the cornerstone that contributes to the meaningful work that we do at RUF. If you're looking for a team that values continuous growth and professional development, we’re the right fit for you.

Who You Are

You are a collaborative human resources professional who thrives on a team where hard work and laughter are equally valued. You’re passionate about the employee experience and understand the importance of fostering a workplace where individuals feel supported at every stage of their journey. You are a generalist who enjoys rolling up your sleeves to conquer HR operations responsibilities. You stay curious and informed, keeping up with industry trends to drive innovation and continuous improvement. A great candidate believes in the power of teamwork, open communication, shared success, and is eager to contribute to a culture that values both excellence and authenticity. If you love working with a team that’s as dedicated to professional growth as it is to building strong relationships, you’ll be a great fit.

Essential Functions

• Oversees administration of employee benefits including open enrollment/life events, employee inquiries, and carrier file feeds. Serve as the point of contact between RUF, carriers, and the broker.  With the AVP and broker, manages annual renewals, plan marketing, and plan changes. 
• Maintains HRIS (UKG Pro). Researches and implements system enhancements.  Conducts regular data audits to ensure data validity.  Oversees, and serves as backup for, onboarding/offboarding administration.
• Leads initiatives to automate processes, reduce cycle times, address employee pain points, and drive measurable improvements to the employee experience.
• Prepares annual EEO-1 reports.
• In conjunction with third party provider, manages leave of absence programs. Serves as the internal subject matter expert on FMLA and state leave programs. 
• Supervises payroll function, including serving as a payroll backup.
• Maintains knowledge of and ensures compliance with state and federal regulations, including FMLA, NJFLI, ADA, ACA, COBRA, FLSA, HIPAA, and ERISA.
• Oversees reconciliation and payment of fringe benefits and department expenses.
• Liaises with the university on matters related to university-paid employees, tuition remission, and work study programs.
• Prepares reports for Finance.
• Provides manager and employee guidance on POE policies.
• Participates in, and analyzes results of, compensation surveys.
• Collaborates with the Director of Employee Experience to develop, plan and execute short-term and long-term health and wellness strategies.
• Develops SOPs and cross-trains team members to ensure continuity in all responsible areas.
• Other duties as assigned

Competency Aptitudes

Leadership

• Lead a comprehensive strategy for a department/project/program
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully manage and lead a team in a way that maximizes potential of each team member

Autonomy

• Manage an implementation team and projects/program with moderate supervision from leadership
• Set goals, manage budgets, and meet deadlines for themselves and the team
• Contribute to initiatives or projects that span multiple organizations or units

Complexity

• Partner with other peer directors and department leads across the organization
• Effectively up managing your supervisor and University partners across the enterprise
• Impact organization-wide outcomes by influencing at all levels to include RUF executive leadership
• Able to devise and execute increasingly complex projects
• Set department/project/program direction and approach in partnership with leadership
• Lead operations for a department/program

Strategy

• Define and oversee strategy for department/project/program
• Demonstrate the ability to set priorities and determine strategy for department/project/program, including staffing and budgets

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree and/or 6+ years of professional experience in human resources and payroll.  In depth knowledge of employment laws and regulations.  HRIS maintenance and enhancement experience, UKG PRO preferred.

Working Conditions

This position requires clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines with little physical effort. This position may occasionally require some early mornings and late evenings to accommodate meetings, travel, events, and employee schedules.

Workplace Arrangements

This is classified as an office-centric hybrid position. Colleagues working under an office-centric hybrid arrangement have a primary workstation in a university or foundation location and are in the office between one and five days a week. The frequency with which they are present in the office depends on their role and function and the interdependency of other functions.

 Equal Employment Opportunity

It is Foundation policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants. The Foundation prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and/or local laws. Equal employment opportunity applies to hiring, placement, transfer, promotion, demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, layoff, or termination.