About Us:

Located in Georgetown, Texas, Southwestern University is an independent, four-year undergraduate institution offers a top-ranked integrated arts and sciences curriculum that incorporates the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, and natural sciences.

At Southwestern University, we are committed to fostering an environment where every individual feels respected, valued, and empowered. We believe that a thriving community is built on the strength of varying perspectives and experiences, and we strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. Our actions are guided by a commitment to fairness, openness, and the belief that our differences are what make us stronger as a whole.

Position Overview:

Southwestern University has an immediate opening for a Human Resources (HR) Generalist III. This position will report to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources. The Human Resources (HR) Generalist III plays a pivotal role in supporting the University’s talent lifecycle, with primary responsibility for full-cycle recruiting, onboarding, and new employee orientation for both staff and faculty positions. This position partners with hiring managers, academic leaders, and administrative departments to implement effective recruitment strategies, facilitate timely hiring, and deliver a consistent, high-quality employee induction experience that supports institutional goals and compliance requirements.

In addition to recruiting and onboarding, the HR Generalist III provides broad-based Human Resources support, including, employee training initiatives, policy and procedure support, HR data integrity, and participation in strategic HR initiatives and special projects as needed. This role also serves as the primary HR contact for immigration-related matters, maintaining relationships with external immigration attorneys, preparing documentation for H1-B and permanent residency visa applications, posting required notices, and ensuring timely, clear communication with hiring departments and visa applicants. This is a full-time exempt position eligible for our comprehensive benefits program.

The HR Generalist III contributes to continuous process improvement, workforce planning, and the delivery of equitable, compliant, and employee-centered HR practices across the University.

Essential Duties:

Recruitment & Talent Acquisition

• Coordinate full-cycle recruitment for staff and faculty positions, including drafting and posting job advertisements, managing applications/resumes in the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), maintaining search files, sending applicant notifications, and processing ad invoices.
• Pre-screen applications/resumes, conduct initial telephone interviews, coordinate interview schedules, consult with hiring managers on the selection process, and conduct reference checks as needed.
• Collaborate with various hiring stakeholders across campus to ensure effective recruitment strategies, timely hiring processes, and compliance with University policies and regulations.
• Assist the Associate Vice President for Human Resources (AVPHR) in developing and delivering search-related training to hiring managers and search committees.

Onboarding & Employee Orientation

• Prepare offer letters, new hire packets, and orientation schedules; complete I-9 forms, manage I-9 files and supporting documents in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and manage E-Verify processes.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve a comprehensive new employee orientation/onboarding program for staff and faculty.
• Maintain the New Employee Orientation (NEO) website in collaboration with the Benefits Coordinator.

Immigration & Compliance

• Maintain strong relationships with our immigration attorney to support University’s employment-based visa needs.
• Prepare supporting documentation for H1-B and permanent residency applications for attorney review and submission to U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services.
• Post and document all required notices and communicate clearly and promptly with hiring departments and visa applicants.

Employee Lifecycle & HR Operations

• Coordinate annual staff performance evaluation processes, including distributing job descriptions and evaluation forms, tracking completions, following up with supervisors, routing for approvals, and filing completed evaluations in personnel files.
• Manage all aspects of the Personnel Action Request (PAR) process, including drafting letters, submitting requests for approval, and distributing New Hire/Termination reports.
• Enter and maintain personnel, salary, leave plans, and payroll information into our online system, Colleague, to support payroll processing.
• Serve as a backup support on Employee Relations (ER) cases as needed, assisting in investigations, documentation, and follow-up actions.

Strategic & Special Projects

• Partner with AVPHR on supervisory training, particularly related to search/recruitment processes.
• Coordinate with Information Technology and Compensation Analyst and Lead HR Generalist to identify system changes needed due to policy or procedural updates.
• Participate in University committees as assigned and contribute to HR initiatives, workforce planning, and continuous process improvement.
• Support special projects and other HR-related tasks as requested.

Additional Duties:

• Serve as a backup for HR desk operations to ensure continuity of services.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support Human Resources functions and University objectives.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with five (5) years of progressive HR experience, or ten (10) years of related experience in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• Strong understanding of HR policies, processes and data, including eligibility and enrollment rules, regulatory requirements, policy interpretation, and application, etc.
• Knowledge of employment and benefit-related laws and regulations, including ERISA, Title VII, Workers’ Compensation, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to work with computer software programs including Microsoft Suite and Google Suite.
• Experience using mainframe system (such as Ellucian).
• Familiarity with new employee orientation and onboarding.
• Adept at evaluating and improving hiring operations to enhance efficiency.
• Ability to make sound procedural decisions and judgments.
• Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports.
• Ability to investigate and analyze information/problems, discern relevant facts from available information and draw conclusions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to create, compose, and edit correspondence and other written materials.
• Expert multi-tasker with ability to be flexible, adjust to fluctuating priorities and produce timely and reliable work product.
• Excellent time management, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• Ability to respect the confidential nature of the work.
• Demonstrated strong work ethic.
• Have knowledge, understanding and acceptance of cultural differences and the diversity within the campus and community.
• Ability to reason logically, exercise independent judgment and make sound decisions.
• Ability to attend work consistently and maintain a regular work schedule.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree and three (3) plus years of experience in employee recruitment/onboarding and/or HR generalist/specialist positions.
• Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Society of Human Resources – Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification or working towards a certification.
• Ability to create content and update the HR employment website using HTML, Google Sites, and CMS such as Live Whale.
• Prior experience in higher education, education-related or other non-profit organization.

Starting annual salary: $60,000. The final offer for the successful candidate will be commensurate with experience and may exceed the starting salary.

Benefits:

Southwestern University offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health and welfare insurance (medical, dental, and vision), life and AD&D insurance, long-term disability coverage, generous contributions to a 403(b) retirement account, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), various paid time-off options, undergraduate tuition assistance for you and your dependents, access to athletic facilities, free parking, and discounted meal rates, along with other benefits designed to support your well-being and work-life balance.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and the name and contact information of three (3) professional references through Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/179289. Email and paper applications will not be accepted. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background check. In compliance with immigration laws, proof of work authorization in the United States will be required when employment begins. Southwestern University is an E-Verify employer.

Southwestern University is an equal-opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at hr@southwestern.edu.

Jeanne Clery Statement: Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report— Southwestern University Annual Safety and Fire Report is available online at https://www.southwestern.edu/life-at-southwestern/safety-security/annual-security-reports/ containing mandated information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, required statistics, and other related information for the past three calendar years. To obtain a paper copy of the report, please call 512-863-1435.