Payroll and Human Resources Coordinator
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Why join the Harvard Graduate School of Education?
The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) is a diverse community of learners, teachers, and employees who are passionate about changing the world through education and striving for maximum impact in the field of education.
Many choose to work at the Harvard Graduate School of Education because they believe in our mission and are excited by our vision for the future. We have a reputation as a great place to work, for our excellent leadership, and we are a strong community that values diversity. For more information about HGSE, its programs, research, and faculty, please visit: www.gse.harvard.edu.
Job Description
Job Summary:
The Payroll and Human Resources Coordinator plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth operation of payroll and HR functions at HGSE. This position blends technical payroll expertise with high-touch HR support, contributing to employee satisfaction and operational excellence. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, customer-focused, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. This position requires an on campus presence most days.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:
Payroll Administration
- Accurately process weekly and bi-weekly payrolls for staff, students, and temporary employees.
- Initiate and manage hiring actions and employee life cycle changes in the HRIS system.
- Conduct weekly audits of time and labor data to ensure compliance with university policies and federal regulations.
- Prepare and submit employment and payroll forms, collaborating with HR leadership on payroll activities.
- Reconcile submitted hours with schedules for students and temporary payrolls.
- Assist with time reporting and absence management, including training, adjustments, and approvals.
HRIS & Data Management
- Enter and maintain accurate employee data in the HRIS system.
- Run payroll registers and assist with biweekly payroll tasks.
- Maintain personnel files and support records retention efforts.
Employee Support & Coordination
- Serve as a primary contact for payroll, time, labor, and absence inquiries.
- Coordinate onboarding and off-boarding activities, including scheduling meetings, managing documentation, and conducting exit surveys.
- Support new hire orientations and access arrangements.
- Manage correspondence and coordination for Teaching Fellows (TF), Teaching Assistants (TA), and Research Assistants (RA), ensuring timely processing and compliance.
HR Operations & Customer Service
- Deliver exceptional customer service by greeting visitors, triaging calls, and providing accurate HR-related information.
- Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive data with discretion.
- Draft HR-related correspondence and monitor appointment dates, coordinating with departments and finance teams for extensions.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
- Minimum 3 years related administrative experience
- Ability to work overtime as needed
Any candidate wishing to be considered must supply a cover letter in addition to their resume showing that they meet the required basic qualifications. Please attach cover letter and resume as one document.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Must be committed to providing the highest level of customer service and responsiveness.
- Ability to handle highly confidential information with discretion and sensitivity exercising good judgment required.
- Demonstrated intermediate level skills with MS Office (Word, Excel, PPT) and ability to generate reports and present data in useable formats.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrated experience working in a fast paced, high volume, deadline oriented, and customer focused environment.
- Requires accuracy with detailed work and attention to detail.
- Ability to be flexible and adapt as priorities and deadlines shift and to assist other team members during peak periods.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise judgment in selecting and applying established procedures correctly, and determine when to refer problems to the supervisor.
- Interest in or experience working in human resources a plus.
- Prior experience with HRIS system such as PeopleSoft a plus.
Additional Information
- Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
- Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable):
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
Work Format Details
This is a position that is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options available. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Salary Grade and Ranges
This position is salary grade level 054. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.
Benefits
Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Generous paid time off including parental leave
- Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
- Retirement plans with university contributions
- Wellbeing and mental health resources
- Support for families and caregivers
- Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
- Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks
Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.
EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement
Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.
Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.