Senior Business Partner Survey Operations at U of C NORC

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Provides human resources consultation and support to a designated business unit to define and execute HR strategies that enable accomplishment of business objectives. Contributes to the development of workforce plans and understands external customer trends and issues in the industry that could potentially impact business. Provides guidance to convert strategies into result-driven actions. Utilizes knowledge of various human resources functions to provide tactical support to line managers. Acts as liaison with other HR functions. Provides change management support as needed. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Must be able to travel. 

DEPARTMENT: NORC PEOPLE

The NORC People department supports NORC's mission and values by collaborating with research, operations, and administrative departments to recruit, develop, and retain top staff. Because NORC is a government contractor, the NORC People team plays a large role ensuring that all staff information and systems remain secure and that our organization is fully compliant with our policies. NORC People is responsible for talent acquisition, hiring, benefits administration, employee relations matters, and performance evaluation programs to ensure our organization is maintaining compliance while keeping employees’ best interests in mind.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Talent

• Assist and support hiring initiatives that include design, execution, and refinement of sourcing strategy to attract top-tier talent through various recruitment channels such as recruitment software, career sites, referrals, community engagement, and targeted advertising. 


• Support sourcing operations and team of sourcing specialists. Ensure the team's performance aligns with organizational goals, adhering to approved budgets and timelines. 

Culture 

• Ensure culture exemplifies NORC values and drives employer of choice status


• Actively develop and foster a positive employee relations climate, high employee engagement, team effectiveness and integration, and employer of choice status 


• Actively participate in department leadership meetings and strategy sessions 


• Develop and maintain a strong leadership team through coaching, mentoring and development at all levels


• Identify, communicate and problem-solve employee relations issues with the Director, Employee Relations


• Assist managers in collaboration with the Director, Employee Relations and supervisors with record keeping and documentation on employee relations issues and corrective action steps in disciplinary issues


• Maintain visibility and active presence within the team, providing daily support and communication

Functional Excellence

• Support day-to-day HR operations, including talent acquisition, onboarding, and offboarding.

• Provide valuable input into strategic decisions affecting the areas of responsibility, contributing to the development of the budget and resolving escalated operational issues requiring inter-departmental coordination


• Coach, counsel and direct leadership regarding company policies and employment law. Ensure fairness and consistency


• Provides training and communication on HR programs, benefits and processes

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REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business, or a related field


• 5 years of HR experience, including HR Business Partner roles


• Strong understanding of HR laws, regulations, and best practices


• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills


• Strong business acumen


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills


• Ability to build strong relationships and influence at all levels


• Proven success in talent acquisition, employee relations, and performance management


• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate


• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software

VALUED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience at a consulting or professional services firm


• Experience working with ADP and ATS programs/systems 


• HR Certifications  

COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge and Technical Skills: Possessing required job skills and knowledge such as analytical skills and data gathering, using technology, keeping up to date with current developments in own field, and demonstrating the ability to learn and apply new technical skills 


• Communication: Using good listening skills, choosing appropriate communication methods, speaking clearly and persuasively, writing informatively and with clarity, and displaying good presentation skills 


• Judgment: Demonstrating the ability to think intelligently and logically to make sound, accurate and reasoned decisions, make effective and timely decisions, and include appropriate people in the decision-making process


• Innovation: Displaying original thinking and creativity, making suggestions for improving work, and being resourceful


• Problem-Solving: Quickly identifying problems, developing alternative solutions, analyzing, diagnosing and resolving problems, using logic and reason to develop rational arguments for decisions, and escalating appropriately


• Initiative: Contributing to or carrying out new ideas, taking independent action and calculated risks to achieve goals, seeking responsibility, and acquiring and mastering both skills and knowledge 


• Business Acumen/Development: Using knowledge and understanding of NORC financial, marketing, administrative and operational data and industry information to make sound business judgments, setting organizational and/or personal priorities, and contributing to proposals


• Interpersonal Skills: Building rapport and relating well to all types of people, resolving conflicts constructively, acting cooperatively, and demonstrating empathy


• Agility: Agility is the ability, adapt, change quickly, and succeed in a rapidly changing, ambiguous environment

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SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The pay range for this position is $89,000 – $134,000. 

This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to:  

• Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment 

  
  


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  Dental and vision insurance  

  
  


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  A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program  

  
  


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  Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance 

  
  


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  Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

  
  

 NORC’s Approach to Equity and Transparency  

Pay and benefits transparency helps to reduce wage gaps. As part of our commitment to pay equity and salary transparency, NORC includes a salary range for each job opening along with information about eligible benefit offerings. At NORC, we take a comprehensive approach to setting salary ranges and reviewing raises and promotions, which is overseen by a formal Salary Review Committee (SRC). 

WHAT WE DO:

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

WHO WE ARE:

For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

EEO STATEMENT: 

NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the workforce. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other legally protected characteristics.