Job Details

Located in the heart of scenic San Luis Obispo County, Cuesta College has provided comprehensive associate degree offerings, certificates, and community programs to the region since 1964. Committed to being an inclusive institution that inspires a diverse student population to achieve their educational goals, we are proud to be designated as an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education. Cuesta College is committed to racial and socioeconomic diversity that reflects our student population; we strive to hire candidates that share the value of commitment to diversity and inclusion. As part of the Cuesta College team, you can expect to be part of a collaborative community of faculty, classified staff, administrators, students, and community partners advancing educational excellence with intentional support services leading to student success and completion.

The Human Resources Specialist will be assigned to one of the following areas of focus:
 
GENERALIST

• Prepare, maintain and follow through to completion a variety of personnel related information, statistics and documentation such as contracts, collective bargaining agreements, recruitment details, required departmental reports, college reports, evaluation notification/documenting, and benefits related items;
• Determine, prepare and process correct fringe benefit packages for new employees; meet with new and current employees on benefit and retirement questions and act as a liaison between the employee and the insurance providers; prepare employment materials and validate all new hire documentation has been completed and logged in to database as required;
• Track longevity, part-time steps for faculty, faculty loads and compensation, and banking pay-out requests;
• Oversee all salary tables and post updated and Board approved versions on the website, validate salary roll-overs and process all retro changes to any/all salary schedules;
• Identify and adjust all employee changes, including benefits and retirement deductions for payroll processing;
• Determine correct salary placement on appropriate salary schedules and prepare employments contracts for all employee classifications;
• Process all resignations, terminations, and retirements and validate information is processed through the Board and exit procedures are followed;
• Review, enter and monitor employee voluntary deductions.  Recalculate deduction withholdings that are based on semester contracts for adjunct faculty. Adjust as necessary;

 
LEAVES/COMPLIANCE

• District's first point of contact in the event of a work-related injury; provide required claim forms and refer injured workers to designated providers for evaluation and treatment;
• Serve as liaison to all District personnel regarding extended employees leaves (e.g. FMLA, 5-month differential, catastrophic, worker's compensation) in accordance with state and federal regulations and guidelines;
• Coordinate with medical providers, managers, the Safety Compliance Coordinator, and other designated entities to discuss injuries, leaves, return to work, and assist with the interactive discussion process for ADA/FEHA for accommodation requests;
• Track and monitor all leaves for payroll processing and eligibility pursuant to state and federal law;
• Assist the Vice President to conduct timely, objective and thorough investigations of allegations and complaints of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct; conduct interviews and gathers/documents exhibits; recommends solutions, both formal and informal, to complaints/investigations;
• Write comprehensive investigation reports with findings of facts and recommendations;
• In collaboration with the Student Support Resolution Coordinator identify informal resolutions to student complaints allowed by federal and state law, District policy and procedure and Collective Bargaining Agreements;
• Develop and plan for programs, services, education and assessment of Title IX program and prevention efforts, including sexual misconduct prevention training for students, faculty and staff;
• Develop and maintain case management database to organize, manage, analyze, and track incidents;

 
RECRUITMENT/RETENTION

• Coordinate all employee recruitment and selection activities for management, faculty, classified, confidential and temporary positions;
• Innovate the District's recruitment efforts to encourage well-qualified and diverse pools of applicants;
• Facilitate hiring process for recruitments to ensure that all steps are completed, and required training is provided;
• Coordinate all aspects of the screening and interview process according to the District's policies and procedures, collective bargaining, and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations (pursuant to Title 5, California Code of Regulations);
• Post positions and maintain the appropriate data in the District's applicant tracking system; train others, as necessary, to utilize the applicant tracking system;
• Perform research and conduct surveys to determine appropriate advertising strategies and maintain a network of advertising vendors to contact for recruitment activities as necessary;
• Collect data to assist in development and maintenance of job information to create and develop legally defensible position for job descriptions as necessary or required to comply with District standards and legal regulations;
• Maintain recruitment records and EEO diversity statistics and assists in completing required reports;
• Conduct confidential reference checks for individuals, companies, organizations and public agencies as needed while using tact, discretion and analytical ability, to assist in determining potential applicants' suitability for employment;
• Develop relationships with other institutions in support of the District's recruitment efforts;
• Arrange for District attendance at recruitment fairs; attend recruitment fairs, conferences, workshops as needed or required;

 
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (IN ADDITION TO FOCUS AREA)

• Serve as a representative of Human Resources in providing services to the college in the areas of academic and classified employment matters, on-boarding and recruitment, health benefits, retirement and reporting in all areas of compliance;
• Coordinate the development of orientation and onboarding process for all new employees;
• When requested by the Vice President of Human Resources and Labor Relations, serve on the negotiating team as a note taker; coordinate meeting minutes with the Vice President and distribute as required; create and maintain MOU's and validate the most current documentation is available;
• Assist with the revision of job descriptions, reclassifications, and salary recommendations;
• Collaborate with various District personnel, departments, as well as, community partners, and other external agencies;
• Coordinate employee tuberculosis testing and fingerprinting requirements in accordance with District policy and procedures, and state law;
• Act as back up to each area of focus as identified in this job description;
• Process technical duties related to reclassifications, seniority rosters, Faculty Service Area (FSA) assignments, and assist the Vice President with any Requests for Information (RFI's) requested by the bargaining units or outside agencies;
• Assist in the preparation of reports as required including retrieving, compiling and organizing information and data;
• Participate in the development and revision of District policies, procedures, and collective bargaining; Prepare weekly/monthly reports as requested;
• Prepare employments contracts for staff, determining correct salary placement on salary schedule, prepare employment contracts for Faculty, PT Faculty, Division Chair placements, determine longevity placement for all levels of District workforce;
• Participate in various District committees as required;
• Process payments for various entities (e.g. vendors, voluntary deduction companies, legal) and resolve any remittance or billing discrepancies;
• Coordinate seminars, trainings and/or benefit related events;
• Work with upper level management on special assignments when requested;
• Serve as Deputy Title IX Coordinator in the absence of the VP of HR and Labor Relations;
• Assist in the day-to-day activities of the office to assure efficient and effective office operations; and
• Perform other related duties as required.

Education and Experience:
Required

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Human Resources, Business Management, Business Administration, Public Administration or related field and two (2) years' experience in Human Resources, or;
• Associate's degree from an accredited institution with at least five (5) years of increasingly responsible Human Resources experience.

 
License and Certificates (current within the last year or must be continuously current):
Required

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License, upon hire; and

 
Preferred

• Ability to obtain, a Notary License, upon hire.
• Certification in one or more of the following: SHRM, Mediation, and/or Workplace Investigations

 
Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and techniques of human resources in a public agency setting, including recruitment and selection and equal employment opportunity; job analysis and classification; compensation analysis and administration; interpretation of laws, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Methods, practices, terminology and procedures used in working with various employee groups of the college, and human resources administration;
• State and Federal laws, codes and regulations concerning Human Resources and Benefits administration;
• Inner workings of how HR, Payroll and Benefits works together;
• Research methods, report writing and proof-reading techniques;
• Technical aspects of processing new employees and maintenance of employee's files;
• Interpersonal and telephone skills using tact, patience, courtesy and professionalism;
• Recordkeeping techniques;
• Educational payroll, retirement systems, group health plans and applicable laws and regulations;
• Correct usage of English, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary;
• Current technologies, personal computer, and associated office software such as word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database software;
• District's organization, policies, procedures, and other applicable regulations;
• Use of new or additional equipment brought about by new technology that may be incorporated in with the level of responsibility and complexity of the tasks required;
• Mathematical computations with speed and accuracy; and
• Data entry and retrieval techniques;

 
Ability to:

• Conduct complex research projects on a wide variety of Human Resources topics;
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, procedures and other written materials;
• Interpret, explain, and ensure compliance with District policies and procedures, complex laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances;
• Establish, maintain and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the performance of duties;
• Ability to alphabetize and file accurately;
• Understand scope of authority in making independent decisions;
• Determine appropriate action within clearly defined guidelines;
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner, organize own work, set priorities and meet critical deadlines;
• Complete work with constant interruptions;
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software application programs;
• Ability to analyze transcripts for required degrees, upper graduate level coursework and other related requirements;
• Compose correspondence and written materials independently;
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive and privileged information;
• Prepare and maintain a variety of manual and automated personnel files and records; and
• Demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of staff and students as well as   staff and students with physical and learning disabilities; and
• Pass exam to drive District Golf Carts.

 
Physical ability to:

• Read and comprehend printed matter, text and data on computer monitors;
• Communicate intelligibly and effectively via speech, telephone, written correspondence, and/or email;
• Sit or stand for extended periods of time, reach, push, pull; occasionally stoop, kneel, and bend;
• Lift and/or carry up to 25 pounds; and
• Exert manual dexterity sufficient for keyboard and other office equipment operation. 

Cuesta College's current insurance rates can be viewed on our Insurance/Benefits website: http://www.cuesta.edu/departments/nonacademics/benefits-insurance/Classified_Management_Medical.html

Employees who work half-time or more are entitled to receive fringe benefits.  The fringe allocation is money from the District to help cover the cost of insurance.  Employees working half-time or more are eligible to participate in the District's medical, dental and vision insurance.
 
The District fringe benefit contribution can be found on the Insurance/Benefits website: http://www.cuesta.edu/departments/nonacademics/benefits-insurance/fringe.html
 
Employees with a work assignment of 50% to 74% of full time will receive one-half of the above stated fringe allocation. 
 
If your insurance rate exceeds your fringe allocation, the balance will be deducted from your monthly payroll check.  If the insurance plans selected cost less than the fringe allocation, any excess amount will be returned to the District.  For more information about how fringe benefits are determined please refer to the collective bargaining agreement between SLO Community College District and Cuesta College Classified United Employees (CCCUE) or the Board of Trustees policy regarding management employees.

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