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HR Operations Specialist

HR Operations Specialist

  • JR10009874
  • Hybrid
  • Madison, Wisconsin
  • Human Resources
  • Full time
  • Opening at: Apr 5 2026 - 11:00pm CDT
  • Closing at: Apr 20 2026 - 11:00pm CDT
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Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

HR Generalist

Job Summary:

Join the College of Letters & Science HR team in this exciting HR Operations Specialist role with a unique opportunity to make a positive impact through operational excellence and data analysis.

Under general supervision provided by the HR Manager for Staff Programs - Compensation, Workforce Relations, & Performance Management, the HR Specialist provides day-to-day operational support in the functional areas of classification, compensation, and performance management for L&S staff positions.  This role handles compensation and job change approvals, supports process development and improvement, maintains performance management compliance functions and processes, and uses data to inform determinations.  This role also helps solidify operational best practices for L&S units in accordance with campus and college policies, procedures and guidelines.  This position requires high attention to detail, a solid analytical focus, and a process-driven mindset.

Tasks:

  • Serve as an L&S subject matter expert (SME) for compensation and job change related requests (One Time Payments, Period Activity Pay, FTE changes, etc.)

  • Track performance management compliance and completion rates and communicate with supervisors, departments, and HR staff regarding performance management policies and procedures

  • Analyze employment-related data, prepare required reports, and make determinations for requested salary and/or job title changes

  • Support staff compensation and performance management program development, maintenance, and continuous improvement

  • Support college and campus-wide salary adjustment initiatives and/or activities

  • Prepare or maintain employment records related to events, such as termination, leaves, job title changes or promotions, salary adjustments

  • Assist with some workforce relations activities, such as serving as notetaker and/or providing logistical support for workplace investigations, and employment related decisions

Key Job Responsibilities:

  • Contributes to the development, implementation, interpretation, and revision of work unit Human Resources policies and procedures according to institutional and legal rules and regulations

  • Represents unit/program at institutional workshops, informational meetings, and training sessions

  • Executes and audits work transactions and changes adhering to established policies and procedures to meet anticipated deadlines

  • Receives, responds to, and resolves employee questions and problems

  • Provides consultation, performs analytics, and/or maintains personnel files, communications, and materials for work unit through various mediums

  • Schedules logistics and secures resources regarding the resolution of performance management and workforce relations issues

Department:

College of Letters & Science, Administration – Human Resources

The College of Letters and Science (L&S) is the heart of UW-Madison and home to a tremendous breadth and depth of departments and degree-granting programs in the humanities; natural, physical, and mathematical sciences; social sciences; and the computing, data, and information sciences. As a centralized service unit, L&S Human Resources provides comprehensive HR support to more than 60 departments. We serve a diverse community of staff, faculty, and students, offering guidance and expertise across the full spectrum of HR functions—including payroll and benefits, performance management, compensation, staffing, and more. Our team of experienced generalists and specialists is committed to delivering clear, timely communication and both tactical and strategic solutions. We continually evolve our practices based on feedback and the changing needs and priorities of the college.

Compensation:

The expected salary range for this position is $58,000 up to $70,000 for highly experienced candidates. Actual pay within this range will depend on experience and qualifications. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf.

Required Qualifications:

  • At least two years of Human Resources experience

  • Experience with monitoring HR policy compliance

  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and priorities

  • Demonstrated knowledge of, and ability to interpret and apply Human Resources program concepts and frameworks

  • Demonstrated ability to analyze information and provide data-informed recommendations using programs such as Microsoft Excel

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience working with compensation and/or performance management program administration within a public sector or higher education workforce

  • Demonstrated knowledge and ability using Human Resources Information Systems (e.g., Workday, PeopleSoft, etc.)

  • Experience with improving processes, procedures, and process documentation

  • Experience with auditing and approving the work of others for policy adherence and alignment with best practices

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience preferred

How to Apply:

Click the "Apply" button to start the application process. 
 
To be considered for this recruitment, you must upload: 
 
-Resume  
-Cover Letter 
 
The materials should address your experience relating to the qualifications referenced above.  Please provide specific examples where you have demonstrated the ability to analyze information and provide data-informed recommendations using programs such as Microsoft Excel, as well as demonstrated knowledge, interpretation, and application of HR policy.  
 
There is only one attachment field; please upload all application materials here. All listed application materials must be submitted for your application to be considered. Please submit only the materials specified; additional materials will not be reviewed. 
 
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

Contact Information:

Maria Antezana, maria.antezana@wisc.edu ​

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. 
 
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). 
 
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.

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