Human Resource Coordinator, Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics in Cockrell School of Engineering
Description
Job Posting Title
Human Resource Coordinator, Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics in Cockrell School of Engineering
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Hiring Department
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
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Position Open To
All Applicants
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Weekly Scheduled Hours
40
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FLSA Status
Exempt from FLSA
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Earliest Start Date
Immediately
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Position Duration
Expected to Continue
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Location
UT MAIN CAMPUS
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Job Details
General Notes
As a top-10 engineering school with the No. 1 program in Texas, the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has been a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education for over a century. With 11 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs, over 20 research centers and a faculty community that boasts one of the highest number of National Academy of Engineering members among U.S. universities, Texas Engineering has launched some of the nation’s most accomplished leaders and pioneered world-changing solutions in virtually every industry, from space exploration to energy to health care. Situated in the heart of Austin — named “America’s Coolest City” by Expedia and “The Best Place to Live in the U.S.” by U.S. News and World Report — the Cockrell School embodies the city’s innovative spirit. Major companies with Austin campuses, such as Dell, National Instruments, Apple, IBM, Samsung, Google and many others, continue to recruit Cockrell School students at a remarkable rate, launching thousands of successful careers and developing Texas Engineers into industry leaders. UT Austin, recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Large Employers , provides outstanding employee benefits and total rewards packages that include:
- Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
- Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
- Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
- Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with 8.25% employer matching funds
- Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
- Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
- Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
- Tuition assistance
- Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
- Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card
- Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card
About Us
As the new space age emerges, the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin has the exciting opportunity to establish ourselves as the nucleus for technology development for new space and as the hub for the next generation of computational methods and data analytics for aerospace. This role has a high impact on our ability to support our cutting-edge research and efforts in areas such as space engineering/science, aviation, robotics, computation, mechanics and more. At UT Aerospace, where our academic programs rank among the top 10 in the nation, the sky is not the limit!
Purpose
The Human Resources Coordinator position provides comprehensive human resources and administrative support for the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics (ASE/EM), with primary responsibility for the accurate and timely processing of employee appointments (including student employees, research staff, and visiting scholars), visa coordination, onboarding and separations, timekeeping, and graduate student scholarship and tuition benefit documentation. The role serves as departmental liaison to the Dean’s Office, Payroll Office, Human Resources, and other University offices, and ensures departmental compliance with university, state, and federal policies through the preparation of compliance reports and the maintenance of complete and accurate personnel records. In addition, the position provides administrative support to the Department Director by assisting with departmental operations, coordinating staff recruitment activities, and supporting projects requiring independent judgment, discretion, and a high level of confidentiality. This role offers an excellent opportunity for a candidate looking to build a career in human resources at UT Austin, providing hands-on exposure to the full range of HR functions — from appointments, onboarding, and compliance to high-level administrative support — within a dynamic, research-driven academic department.
Responsibilities
- Process HR Appointments – Create new visiting scholar, post-doctoral fellow, undergraduate, and graduate student employee appointments, as well as appointments for research staff and unpaid visiting researchers. Process costing changes as needed for all appointments, ensuring accuracy and adherence to university payroll deadlines.
- Visa Coordination – Work with faculty and departmental administrative staff to coordinate visas for international employees and visiting scholars. Coordinate with Texas Global to obtain necessary visa paperwork through myIO, ensuring all steps are completed so that visas are received in a timely manner.
- New Employee Onboarding – Coordinate and complete the onboarding process for new employees, including processing background checks, I-9 paperwork, and informing new employees of applicable HR policies such as timekeeping, payroll deadlines, and benefits enrollment deadlines. Monitor onboarding activity to ensure all necessary actions are taken.
- Process Employee Separations – Coordinate out-processing for separating employees, including providing guidance on retirement paperwork needed, processing payouts at separation, and terminating appointments in Workday.
- Process Scholarship and Tuition Reduction Benefit Documents – Process scholarship and tuition documents each semester for graduate students, to include tuition vouchers and international fees. Coordinate with research centers and other departments as necessary to ensure all ASE/EM students receive tuition and scholarship support, as applicable.
- Compliance – Run monthly compliance reports related to onboarding, time & leave, payouts at separation, work authorizations, etc. to ensure the department remains in compliance with all HR policies. Maintain centralized department personnel files ensuring their accuracy and completeness.
- Timekeeping – Serve as the department’s primary point of contact for timekeeping questions and issues. Review and approve timesheets for department staff and research personnel, monitor timesheets on a monthly basis, send reminders as appropriate, and process leave balance payouts as required by university policy.
- Administrative Support – Provide support to the Director in all aspects of administration. Assist with departmental operations, coordination of staff recruitment efforts, and various projects that require exercising a high degree of initiative and judgment.
- Perform other relatefunctions as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and two years of experience in human resources, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
- Working knowledge of foundational human resources management concepts and practices.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of work assignments in a fast-paced and dynamic environment while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.
- Proven ability to exercise tact, diplomacy, discretion, and sound judgment when handling sensitive and confidential matters.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal skills and a professional demeanor, and the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Demonstrated attention to detail and follow-