People Experience and Operations Manager

The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) has a career opportunity for a People Experience and Operations Manager.  

The Scope

AGB is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and supportive workplace environment.  We value our employees and believe in providing them with a comprehensive benefits package and a stellar employment experience.  To this end, we have created this new position for a dynamic and experienced HR generalist with benefits administration experience.  We are seeking an experienced and meticulous HR professional known for delivering high-quality work and contributing to a positive employee relations culture.  This role is pivotal in ensuring operational excellence and enhancing the overall employee experience.  The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in HR practices, a strong service orientation, and the ability to manage competing priorities with precision and professionalism. The People Experience and Operations Manager will be solutions-focused and detail-driven with the disciplines to maintain compliance, streamline processes, and emulate emotional intelligence in support of our workforce.

The Duties

(The duties and responsibilities listed are only a summary of the typical functions of the job and not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible responsibilities, tasks, and duties.  Employees must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodations).

Talent Acquisition and Employee Experience (40%)

·      Partner and confer with hiring managers to craft and update job descriptions that clearly outline duties and requirements.

·      Develop and post job advertisements to attract top-tier candidates, leveraging platforms such as LinkedIn, Monster, and other profession-specific job boards.

·      Screen resumes, create qualified candidate pools, and coordinate interviews and background verifications.

·      Manage onboarding processes, ensuring seamless transition for new hires, including equipment ordering and training coordination.

·      Plan staff engagement initiatives, including stay interviews, team outings, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.

·      Support positive employee relations in all interactions with employees, managers and leaders.

·      Implement and oversee employee-focused programs, such as the annual performance and merit review process, progressive discipline, and offboarding and terminations.

·      Plan, curate and deliver training and development initiatives to enhance organizational capability-building.  

·      Oversee leave-of-absence processes and maintain accurate tracking.

·      Manage the staff intranet portal, ensuring up-to-date, accessible information for all employees.

Benefits Administration (25%)

·      Serve as the organizational expert on all employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement plans.

·      Interpret and maintain compliance with summary plan documents for all benefit offerings.

·      Facilitate benefits enrollments for new hires, manage open enrollment, and prepare employee communications regarding benefits updates and changes.

·      Troubleshoot employee benefit issues, liaising with carriers to ensure timely resolution.

·      Conduct regular audits of employee enrollments to maintain and ensure data accuracy.

·      Administer benefits changes such as terminations, reinstatements, and billing adjustments.

·      Experience managing fully and/or self-funded health plans is required.

Payroll and Accounting Support (20%)

·      Serve as back-up to payroll processing, demonstrating expertise in HRIS platforms (ADP experience is strongly preferred).

·      Reconcile carrier invoices monthly, ensuring all adjustments are accurate and timely. 

·      Audit billing processes, updating salary-based benefits annually (e.g., life insurance, retirement plans, etc.).

·      Address discrepancies promptly and maintain compliance with payroll and benefits processes.

Administrative Excellence (15%)

·      Maintain complete, accurate, and compliant personnel records in both physical and electronic formats.

·      Generate routine and custom employee reports to inform data-driven decisions.

·      Take on additional duties as required and within scope of this role.

The Requirements

·      Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or a related field; HR certification is a plus.

·      A minimum of five (5) years of progressive HR generalist experience, including the areas outlined above.

·      Unwavering attention to detail and an innate drive for error-free deliverables.

·      Advance knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and HRIS platforms.

·      Knowledge of technology tools to enhance efficiency in managing HR accountabilities.  

·      Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to developed polished, and professional presentations.

·      Comprehensive knowledge of labor laws and compliance requirements.

·      High emotional intelligence, professional presence, and the ability to handle sensitive matters discreetly.

·      Proven ability to prioritize effectively, think critically, and troubleshoot complex problems.  

·      A commitment to excellence in service delivery and employee support.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AGB is an equal opportunity employer and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Organization

At the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), we believe in the power of higher education to transform lives, strengthen inclusive democracy, and support a thriving society. We believe that strong higher education starts with great governing boards. AGB provides advocacy, leading practices, educational resources, expert support, and renowned programs that advance board excellence for 40,000 AGB members from more than 2,000 institutions and foundations. For more than 100 years, AGB has been the trusted authority for board members, chief executives, board professionals, and key administrators on higher education governance and leadership. Learn more at www.AGB.org.

Hybrid Workplace

AGB is a hybrid workplace. Employees are expected to spend a minimum of two (2) days per week in our headquarter office in downtown Washington D.C.  Applicants should reside in the District of Columbia, Virginia, or Maryland and within a reasonable commuting distance to downtown Washington D.C. 

To Apply:

We don’t use machines to read resumes: we do that ourselves. Please take the time to prepare a well-written cover letter that also serves as a writing sample, highlighting your written communication skills.  

Interested and qualified candidates should apply. If you are interested in the role and organization and meet most but not all the qualifications listed above, please apply. Indicate in your cover letter the areas where you may not meet the qualifications and your ideas of how to acquire those missing skills.  A great cover letter format includes two columns:  what the employer requires and information on what you bring as a candidate.  This is a suggestion but not required.

If you are interested in joining our great team, please send your cover letter and resume to:

Larry L. Robertson

SVP, Chief People Officer

AGB

1666 K. Street NW – Suite 1200

Washington, DC 20006 or

Employment@agb.org