THECB - HR Specialist V (Employment & Benefits Specialist)

Job application must be completely filled out.

General Description: 
Performs complex human resources (HR) work in a fast-paced environment of the HR department of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Work involves planning and coordinating activities and programs related to staffing, recruitment, and selection of employees. Serves as the agency's wellness coordinator and benefits specialist. Work requires reviewing, preparing, and maintaining confidential information. Work is performed under limited supervision with moderate latitude in the use of initiative and independent judgment. This position reports to the Director of Human Resources. 

General Duties and Responsibilities:
Works with hiring managers on employee recruitment and selection processes for the agency. Maintains accurate and up-to-date information of application processing to ensure hiring procedures are followed; maintains all recruitment and selection information in the web-based applicant tracking system.
Manages recruiting process from job posting to job offer, including but not limited to, advertising the position, screening applications, ensuring the hiring manager follows all processes and procedures, and sending the job offer letter to the final candidate.
Provides recommendations on applicant knowledge and skills assessments and facilitates the administration of the assessments to applicants.
Serves as the agency's coordinator for the Optional Retirement Program (ORP). Keeps abreast of benefit changes and informs THECB staff as needed. 
Acts as the agency's benefit specialist; ensure employee benefits for the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) and the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) are handled in a timely and accurate manner.
Presents benefit information to new hires at new employee orientation and to THECB staff members at annual enrollment and other benefits training sessions.
Schedules and attends job fairs to promote the THECB and source candidates for employment opportunities and summer internships. 
Serves as the agency wellness program coordinator. Provides health and wellness information to employees and schedules on-site wellness activities.
Participates in the development of/revision to personnel policies, procedures, and related documents in the assigned areas. 
Cross trains in other human resources disciplines.
Ensures compliance with relevant federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. 
Provides HR-related information for the agency's quarterly newsletter.
Performs routine records maintenance.
Provides back-up and assistance to other human resources staff and programs, shares the duty of answering the HR Department's main telephone lines, and ensures continuity of human resources services during staff absences and peak periods.
May update databases and prepare ad-hoc reports.
May prepare fiscal notes, legislative analysis, and other HR-related assistance during the legislative session. 
Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills or Abilities:
Knowledge of all state and federal laws and regulations governing human resources practices.  
Knowledge of the principles and practices of human resources.
Knowledge of programs such as employment, benefits, and retirement, and the laws regulating the activities of such programs.
Skill in using: personal computer; general office software, including Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access; and HR-related software and databases. 
Skill in using Excel to track, collect, and analyze data.
Skill in planning, organizing, and prioritizing assignments and tasks.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in all work-related situations.
Ability to read, interpret, and correctly apply federal and state human resources statutes.  
Ability to communicate information in a clear, organized, concise, professional, and courteous way, in both spoken and written forms, to individuals with diverse social, ethnic, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
Ability to plan, organize, effectively manage, and complete multiple priorities and projects concurrently, and to keep management abreast of issues.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of personnel records and all HR-related information.
Ability to work under pressure and successfully meet objectives and periodic, milestone, and final deadlines.
Ability to consistently make good use of time and also be considerate of co-workers time.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships both internally and externally.

Required In-Office Days:
This position is authorized for a hybrid telework schedule. Employees are required to work in the office two (2) days per week, with the remaining three days eligible for telework. Specific in-office days may be determined by the department to meet business needs.

Military Crosswalk: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_HumanResourcesandTrainingandDevelopment.pdf
 

Qualifications
Required Minimum Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. 
Three years of recent, progressively responsible human resources experience. 
Six additional months of full-time work experience may substitute for 15 semester credit hours of the required education, up to four years.

Preferred:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in human resources management, business, public administration, organizational development, or related field.
Experience working with the state of Texas ERS benefits program.
Experience using the state of Texas Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS) Recruit or other online applicant tracking system.
Experience working in a government setting.
Professional Human Resources certification.

Physical Requirements and/or Working Conditions:
Work is performed in a standard office environment and requires:
Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance;
Frequent use of personal computer, copiers, printers, and telephones;
Frequent sitting;
Frequently working under deadlines, as a team member, and in direct contact with others.

Workforce:
Must be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge of customer service deliverables.
Show flexibility and adaptability toward changes in assignments and work schedules, working extended hours as necessary.
Adhere to the organization's internal management policies and procedures.
Contribute to the agency's performance measures and mission.

Application Requirements:
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is an Equal Opportunity Employer. A State of Texas application is required to apply. For more information on how to apply for this position, go to the Coordinating Board's employment opportunities website at https://www.highered.texas.gov/careers/.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board participates in E-Verify for each new employees Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. For questions, please call the HR Department at 512-427-6190. For vocal and/or hearing assistance call 7-1-1.

Notes to Applicant:
If you require any reasonable accommodation for the interview process, please inform the hiring representative who calls to schedule your interview. This position has been designated as a security sensitive position. A criminal background investigation will be conducted on the final candidate for this position.

Your job application must be completely filled out. Your application must contain dates of employment, job titles, name of employer and a description of duties performed in a way that demonstrates you meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Resumes do not take the place of the requirement to include this information on the application. If this information is not submitted, your application may be rejected because it is incomplete.

Veterans Information: THECB is committed to hiring Veterans. To receive Veteran's Preference, a copy of the FORM DD214 -member #4, must be attached when submitting your application.

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: THECB does not discriminate on the basis, of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services.

Job offer and continuation of employment with THECB is contingent upon:
Proof of education and experience listed on the application.
Eligibility/authorization to work in the U.S.
Satisfactory results from a pre-employment criminal history background check.
Compliance with the Selective Service Law for males ages 18-25. Please be advised that under Texas law, names and other information concerning applicants or nominees may be subject to disclosure upon request.

THECB does not allow dual employment with other state of Texas agencies or institutions.
Skills assessment may be conducted at time of interview.
Salary for this position will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.
 

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.