HR Generalist

About the role

*Important Note: Only those currently serving as a permanent Principal Administrative Associate will be considered. *

The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to strengthening New York City's vibrant cultural life by providing funding and support to New York City's cultural community, including the 39 institutions that comprise the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) and more than 1,100 non-profit cultural organizations that receive annual support.

This constituency represents a diverse array of organizations - including performing arts groups, museums, theaters, zoos, botanical gardens, visual arts and film centers, community-based organizations, and arts education programs - that are central to the life of communities in every corner of New York City.

DCLA also manages a significant portfolio of cultural capital projects; provides free donated materials and supplies for arts programs and arts educators through its Materials for the Arts program; provides capacity building and technical assistance support to cultural groups; and commissions works of permanent public art through the City's Public Art Program.

The Department of Cultural Affairs seeks to hire an experienced, talented, and highly motivated individual to serve as a Human Resources (HR) Generalist. The HR Generalist will be responsible for a variety of confidential, sensitive, and time-critical administrative and human resources functions for DCLA.

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining confidentiality and exercising sound judgment. The HR Generalist will work collaboratively with employees, managers, agency leadership, and external stakeholders to support the effective administration of human resources programs, policies, and procedures.

Typical tasks will include, but are not limited to, the following

• Assist with the administration of assigned human resources functions, including recruitment, onboarding, classification reviews, leave and benefits administration, and coordination of employee training and professional development programs.
• Process and implement personnel and payroll transactions for new hires, rehires, transfers from other agencies, and current employees in accordance with citywide requirements, applicable policies, and procedures, utilizing City HRIS systems, including NYCAPS, PMS, PRISE, and CHRMS.
• Manage and support recruitment activities, including posting vacancies in NYCAPS and external recruitment platforms, monitoring applicant activity, and facilitating the onboarding of selected candidates in NYCAPS.
• Assist with conducting pre-employment screening interviews, reference checks, and background investigations for prospective employees.
• Conduct new employee orientations and collaborate with hiring managers to facilitate a smooth onboarding process and support the successful transition of new employees into the workplace.
• Coordinate and administer the agency's annual employee performance evaluation program, including monitoring completion, maintaining records, and following up with supervisors and managers as needed.
• Administer civil service hiring pools in accordance with agency staffing needs, civil service rules, and applicable citywide requirements; monitor list actions and appointments to ensure that all required personnel actions are completed accurately and within prescribed timeframes.
• Maintain and regularly update agency HR reports, recruitment trackers, and other HR tracking systems related to staffing, recruitment, retention, and personnel activities.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, spreadsheets, and other HR-related documentation, and assist with complex, confidential, and time-sensitive special projects and assignments.
• Monitor and maintain the HR portal to ensure that policies, forms, procedures, resources, and other employee-facing information remain accurate, current, and accessible.
• Liaise and collaborate with other City agencies on human resources, personnel, recruitment, and administrative matters, as needed.
• Respond to employee inquiries and concerns regarding HR policies, procedures, benefits, leave, payroll, recruitment, and other personnel-related matters, providing timely assistance and referring issues to the appropriate resource when necessary.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support and advance the work and objectives of the Human Resources and Administration Department.

Preferred Skills

The preferred candidate will have a working knowledge of NYC Personnel Rules and Regulations, citywide policies and procedures, and Citywide human resources and personnel systems, including NYCAPS, PMS, CHRMS, PRISE, and CityTime.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to effectively manage and prioritize multiple assignments and competing deadlines while exercising patience, sound judgment, discretion, and the highest level of confidentiality when handling sensitive personnel matters. Strong attention to detail and the ability to adapt to changing priorities are essential.

The candidate must be able to work independently with minimal supervision while also contributing effectively as a member of a collaborative team. Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills are required, as is the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, managers, and internal and external stakeholders. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, is also required.

Additional Information

• Cover letter and resume required
• All appointments are subject to OMB approval

Qualifications & Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience, one year of which must have been in an administrative capacity or supervising staff performing clerical/administrative work of more than moderate difficulty; or
• An associate degree or 60 semester credits from an accredited college and three years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience described in "1" above; or
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a state's department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and four years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience as described in "1" above; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2", or "3" above. However, all candidates must possess the one year of administrative or supervisory experience as described in "1" above. Education above the high school level may be substituted for the general clerical/administrative experience (but not for the one year of administrative or supervisory experience described in "1" above) at a rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for 6 months of experience up to a maximum of 3 year.