HR Generalist in ROCHESTER, New York at Roberts Wesleyan University

Description: Position Summary
The Human Resources Generalist (HRG) serves as the primary frontline ambassador and customer service lead for the Office of Human Resources at Roberts Wesleyan University. Dedicated to elevating the everyday employee experience, this role provides compassionate, responsive, and clear support to faculty, staff, and student workers. As an essential operational partner, the Generalist conducts quality assurance audits on decentralized HR data entries, performs vital pre-payroll bi-weekly audits, and directly administers the university’s employee benefits and leave of absence programs. Grounded in Roberts' mission, the HR Generalist ensures that every operational interaction reflects a culture of hospitality and excellence, helping staff and faculty thrive.
Key Responsibilities
Employee Experience & Customer Service Excellence

• Primary HR Interface: Serve as the first point of contact for employee inquiries across faculty, staff, and student worker populations, delivering welcoming, knowledgeable, and timely customer service.
• Employee Lifecycle Support: Assist employees through key career moments, from initial onboarding and benefits enrollment to life event changes, leave requests, and offboarding.
• Faith-Integrated Service: Operationalize Roberts' Christian mission by fostering a culture of hospitality, empathy, and grace in all day-to-day employee interactions.

Data Stewardship

• Transaction Quality Assurance: Review and approve decentralized HR data entries submitted at the point of origin across campus units (e.g., job changes, rate adjustments, student hires), ensuring accuracy, policy compliance, and proper documentation before final processing.
• Bi-Weekly Payroll Audit: Perform rigorous, routine audits and control checks on bi-weekly payroll data prior to processing, validating wage changes, deductions, leave hours, and data integrity in partnership with Payroll.
• HRIS Records Management: Maintain confidential employee files and system records in compliance with federal, state, and university record retention standards.

Benefits & Leave Administration

• Benefits Delivery: Responsible for day-to-day administration of health, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, and tuition waiver programs. Guide new hires through enrollment and lead the annual Open Enrollment process.
• Leave Management: Manage end-to-end administration of all employee leaves (FMLA, PFL, Workers' Compensation, disability, and personal leaves), ensuring compassionate communication, accurate tracking, and legal compliance.
• Vendor & Carrier Liaison: Partner with third-party benefits vendors and ensure timely payment of invoices.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Experience: Minimum of 1-3 years of progressive HR experience, with demonstrated hands-on experience in benefits administration, leave management, or core HR operational processes.
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally across a complex organization.

Core Competencies

• Customer Service Orientation: Strong interpersonal skills with a proven track record of delivering compassionate, student- and employee-centered service.
• Attention to Detail & Analytical Skills: High degree of accuracy in auditing payroll files, reviewing system data transactions, and maintaining compliance standards.
• Mission Alignment: Active commitment to the Christian mission and educational values of Roberts Wesleyan University.
• HR Systems Literacy: Proficiency with HRIS platforms (e.g., Paylocity) and data reporting and analysis.
• Regulatory Compliance: Working knowledge of benefits and leave regulations, including FMLA, ADA, ERISA, and COBRA.