Assistant Director of Human Resources

Department

PSD Administration: HR

About the Department

The Physical Sciences Division (PSD) has a rich history of advancing and defining new fields of discovery in the physical sciences and mathematics, and this tradition of innovation continues today. Our inquiry and impact spans from the edge of the observable universe to human-computer interaction, from biophysical materials science to the geologic record of seawater composition, from gravitational waves to geometric flows, and beyond. The division includes the academic departments of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geophysical Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics. In addition, PSD includes a number of interdisciplinary research institutes and centers, including the Enrico Fermi Institute, the James Franck Institute, the Kavli Center for Cosmological Physics, the Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation, and the Data Science Institute. Many of our scientists have joint appointments at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory as well as joint affiliations with other Chicago-based research institutions such as the Toyota Technological Institute of Chicago, Adler Planetarium, The Museum of Science and Industry, and the Field Museum. Our students build connections with world-leading scientists, collaborate across disciplines, and enjoy the dynamic Chicago and University communities.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Assistant Director of Human Resources serves as a strategic thought leader for Human Resources across the Physical Sciences Division, providing in-depth knowledge and expertise to divisional and departmental leaders. Leads the PSD’s efforts to improve communication, training and processes and communicate with relevant stakeholders. Collaborates with divisional and departmental leaders to provide strategic advice and support for organizational goals, talent acquisition, learning and development, performance management, compensation, benefits, and employee and labor relations.

Responsibilities

• Uses in-depth knowledge and expertise in Employee- Labor relations (ELR) to take the lead on investigations, working closely with the University’s Employee Labor Relations team.  Serves as a resource to other members of the HR team to advise on ELR issues. 

• Oversees the implementation and compliance for PSD’s annual performance review process, ensuring that the process runs smoothly and working with the HR team to ensure that PSD’s managers understand the process, timeline and complete goal setting and reviews in a timely manner.

• Reviews and approves all staff offer letters that are prepared by members of the HR team.

• Serves as a back up to the Director of Human Resources, assisting the team and divisional leaders with questions and approvals.

• Assists with training team members as needed.

• Serves as the lead on leaves and medical accommodations, working closely with the University’s Leave Administration team and ELR to ensure that appropriate documentation has occurred.

• Serves as the lead on HR projects as assigned including planning, training and implementation.

• Works with the Director of Human Resources to develop and improve training resources for departmental administrative staff and HR staff including creating a sharepoint, creating training materials, and developing other resources for staff.

• Creates structured training materials that can be deployed more broadly for the HR team and used to onboard new team members.

• Provides HR generalist support to assigned units, including but not limited to managing the staff hiring processes, including developing job descriptions for staff position, assisting with phone screening candidate and reference checking, creating offer letters, and onboarding new employees.

• Maintains appropriate human resources data and records, solving a range of problems using best practices.

• Counsels employees on the University of Chicago’s benefits and when needed, refers staff members to experts within the University.

• Serves as a resource to the HR team and supervisors across the Division on ELR matters including but not limited to advising on furlough, layoff, termination and corrective action requests.

• Provides guidance to supervisors on PSD employees that are members of the union to ensure that appropriate procedures for managing these employees are followed, including understanding the union contracts and procedures for corrective action, employee complaint and termination.

• Guides staff hiring processes, including developing job descriptions, interviewing and reference checking, handling employment offers, and con