Human Resources Specialist (pos#0079556) Print Apply Human Resources Specialist (pos#0079556) Salary See Position Description Location UH Hilo, Hilo, HI Job Type Full-Time Permanent Job Number 2026-01214 Department University of Hawai'i at Hilo Division Administrative Affairs - Human Resources Opening Date 06/05/2026 Closing Date 6/30/2026 11:59
PM Hawaii Position Number:
0079556
Description Title:
Human Resources Specialist Position Number:
0079556
Hiring Unit:
Administrative Affairs, Human Resources Location:
UH Hilo Date Posted:
June 5, 2026
Closing Date:
June 30, 2026
Band:
B Salary :
salary schedules and placement information
Full Time/Part Time:
Full-time Month:
11-month
Temporary/Permanent:
Permanent Other Conditions:
Excluded from collective bargaining. Appointment to begin approximately August 2026, pending position clearance and availability of funding.
Position Overview:
The University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) is a public liberal arts and sciences university on the Island of Hawaii, recognized for its integration of cultural immersion and place-based research that leverages the island's extraordinary geological, biological, and cultural diversity. A comprehensive, regional campus within the ten-campus University of Hawaii System, UH Hilo offers high-quality undergraduate and select postgraduate education, with distinctive strengths in areas such as marine science, geology, astronomy, and Hawaiian language revitalization, while advancing research, scholarship, and creative activity that support community needs, environmental stewardship, Indigenous knowledge systems, and workforce development for the State of Hawaii. The UH Hilo Division of Administrative Affairs serves as the central administrative and operational backbone of the campus, providing executive leadership and non-academic affairs program management. This division is responsible for critical functions including budget formulation, fiscal management, human resources, facilities planning and construction, physical plant operations, information technology, campus security, and environmental safety and health. As a team and business partner, the UH Hilo Human Resources Office plays an integral role in fulfilling the mission of the University of Hawaii (UH) through productive collaborations with stakeholders in our campus community and the University of Hawaii System Office of Human Resources to recruit, develop, and retain a highly skilled, diverse, and sustainable workforce, in alignment with overall strategic priorities to ensure student success for the campus and UH System. This Human Resources Specialist position complements a team of human resources professionals with shared responsibilities in all functional areas of human resources including, but not limited to, position management, classification and recruitment, pay and benefits administration, personnel and organizational development, employee engagement, and employee and labor relations. The incumbent will be primarily responsible for promoting continued growth throughout the employment cycle by planning, developing, and executing employee engagement and professional development initiatives to enhance the employee experience for our campus community. Duties and Responsibilities (
- denotes essential functions)
- Provides excellent customer service in the administration of all assigned human resources (HR) functions as a key team member of the Human Resources Office for the UH Hilo campus and its satellite locations.
- Independently performs complex assignments encompassing a wide range of professional HR management responsibilities to ensure compliance, consistency, and best practices, while reinforcing and advancing a productive employee relations environment.
- Serves as point-of-contact for assigned areas of responsibility. Provides guidance, resources, and training for HR-related matters to supervisors and employees.
- Develops the employee experience to encourage a positive workplace culture and sense of belonging, including coordinating new employee onboarding and orientation programming and sustainable employee engagement initiatives throughout the employee life cycle, in alignment with the UH Hilo strategic plan.
- Coordinates the planning and implementation of professional development and training programs to support employee retention and organizational growth.
- Administers surveys and develops metrics to assess the progress and effectiveness of employee development efforts and continued engagement. Gathers feedback on improvements and implements changes as needed to support successful outcomes.
- Advises supervisors and employees on the performance review and evaluation process. Identifies and addresses individual and departmental training needs.
- Manages the HR website to ensure content is up-to-date and valuable employment tools and resources are readily available to our campus community and prospective employees.
- Assists HR Director in monitoring and ensuring campus-wide compliance with regulatory training requirements (e.g. Conflict of Interest, State Ethics, Title IX, etc.). Advises supervisors and employees on requirements for timely follow-up and completion.
- Monitors, facilitates, and executes various position and personnel actions in accordance with State and Federal regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and UH policies and administrative procedures, utilizing a human resources information management system (e.g. PeopleSoft) and other personnel, payroll, and financial database systems and platforms.
- Maintains and audits official position and personnel files and all related employment records in compliance with State and Federal regulations, collective bargaining agreements, UH policies and administrative procedures, and the State of Hawaii General Records Schedule for the retention and disposition of personnel records.
- Participates in training and professional development to maintain currency in regulatory requirements, emerging trends, best practices, and professional standards related to HR management in higher education, the State of Hawaii, and University of Hawaii System.
- Keeps abreast of State and Federal regulations, UH policies and administrative procedures, and collective bargaining agreements.
Assists HR Director with research, interpretation, and ensuring consistent implementation as issues may arise. Coordinates with campus stakeholders and external training resources to promote continuous improvement and workplace collaboration. Researches, responds to, and proactively resolves employee inquiries and concerns regarding benefits, compensation, terms of employment, and other employment matters. Advises HR Director or designee of difficult and unusual issues and provides recommendations. Assists HR Director with assessing employee and labor relations issues, and problem-solving to encourage resolutions at the lowest possible level. May be assigned to conduct or assist with fact-finding investigations. Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Possession of a baccalaureate degree in any field and 3 year(s) of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for one or more functional areas of human resources such as position classification; pay administration; recruitment and examination; personnel and organizational development; employee and labor relations; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated. Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of human resources administration and/or learning and development planning as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles and methodologies. Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and theories and systems associated with human resources administration and/or learning and development planning. Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of the problems and the resolution of the problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner. Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals. Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, apply word processing software (e.g. Microsoft Word, Google Docs, etc.), and other relevant software and applications to effectively perform work. If applicable, for supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations. Strong organizational skills while managing and prioritizing multiple projects. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; accountability to high standards of professional excellence. Demonstrated ability to exercise tact, diplomacy, maintain confidentiality, and apply sound judgment and discretion in a variety of situations. Demonstrated ability to embrace, learn, and apply new and existing technology to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
Desirable Qualifications:
Demonstrated experience in successfully coordinating employee engagement initiatives. Demonstrated experience in professional development programming, including curricula planning, coordinating and conducting training, creating resource materials through various media, and developing and compiling surveys and metrics. Professional work experience in human resources administration in a public employer jurisdiction within the State of Hawaii and/or post-secondary education setting. Working knowledge of UH policies, procedures, and organizational structure. Experience in employee and/or labor relations. Strong organizational and project management skills. Positive attitude and growth mindset.
To Apply:
Click on the "Apply" button on the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach each required document.
A complete application must include:
1. Cover letter explaining how each minimum and desirable qualification is met 2. Current resume 3. The names and addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of three [3] current professional references 4. Transcript(s) showing degrees and course work appropriate to the position (copies are acceptable; however, original official transcripts will be required prior to employment. Please do not include any self-identifying photos. Please redact references to Social Security number and birth date on transcript copies. Copy of diplomas will NOT be accepted. Documents issued from an institution outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from an agency having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc., verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. Expense of the evaluation shall be borne by the applicant. All requested documents/information become the property of the University. All minimum qualifications must be met by the closing date. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Failure to submit all required documents and reference information shall deem an application to be incomplete.
Note:
If you have not applied for a position before using NeoGov, you will need to create an account.
Inquiries:
Lorena Kauhi, lorenadk@hawaii.edu EEO, Clery Act, ADA The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/ Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks. In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/ , or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office. In accordance with Article 10 of the unit 08 collective bargaining agreement, bargaining unit members receive priority consideration for APT job vacancies. As a result, external or non BU 08 applicants may not be considered for some APT vacancies. BU 08 members with re-employment rights or priority status are responsible for informing the hiring unit of their status.
Accommodation Request:
The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/ Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled Employer University of Hawaii Department University of Hawai'i at Hilo Address 200 W. Kawili Street Hilo, Hawaii, 96720 Website http://workatuh.hawaii.edu Apply Please verify your email address Verify Email Career Opportunities at the University of Hawai'i Account Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Your Privacy Choices Accessibility Statement Copyright © 2026 Do not sell my personal information × For California residents, and to the extent NEOGOV sells your personal information as the term "sell" is defined under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information by us to third parties at any time. This setting only applies to registered account holders that have opted-in for an Access Membership. If you wish to opt-out click follow these steps: Log into your Job Seeker Profile Click your name in the upper right-hand corner Select Account Settings Select the Preferences section Click the Edit button next to Access Membership Switch Toggle to off Click Save If you do not have a registered account this setting does not apply, however, you can review your right on our privacy policy . If you require further assistance, please email privacy@neogov.com × Accessibility Statement At Governmentjobs.com, Inc. d/b/a NEOGOV, we recognize the importance of making our products and services accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities, and are continually working to improve the experience for all users. Commitment to Accessibility We are committed to following best practices, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, to the extent feasible, however, we do not warrant compliance with these standards or any other accessibility standards. We are continually enhancing our platforms to ensure greater accessibility, and we actively seek out opportunities to improve accessibility features. Ongoing Enhancements Accessibility is an ongoing effort, and we are regularly updating our technology, services, and content to address accessibility barriers. Our team is dedicated to identifying areas for improvement and making enhancements that allow all users, regardless of their abilities, to fully engage with our services. Feedback and Assistance We value feedback from our users. If you encounter any accessibility barriers while using our services or have suggestions on how we can improve, please reach out to us at accessibility@neogov.com. We will make every effort to resolve any concerns and consider alternative options where possible. Thank you for choosing NEOGOV. We remain dedicated to improving accessibility and creating an inclusive experience for all.
