HR Talent & Applicant Experience Specialist

Overview

• Job ID: 38001327
• Category: Human Resources
• Organization: Chancellor
• Department: Talent Acq & Diversity Outreach Dept
• Location: Remote/Hybrid
• Salary: $78,200 - $141,400
• Date Posted: 2026-09-20T12:00:00.000Z
• Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
• Schedule: 8AM - 5PM
• Full/Part Time: Full-time(100%)
• Other Information: Qalifies for Employee Referral Bonus: No; UC Internal Job: No

Position Information

The HR Talent & Applicant Experience Specialist provides front-line customer service and guidance to applicants, UCR staff and UC HR professionals on a wide range of HR topics. This role serves as the primary point of contact via email, phone and chat channels delivering accurate information on application status, background check processing, misconduct check processing, personnel file sharing, and consultation on related compliance and HR policies. The specialist researches and resolves complex inquiries in partnership with campus HR teams and external vendors, maintains detailed case records in the background and misconduct check systems, and meets established service level customer quality expectations. This position is a key partner in providing specialized recruiting services for complex and difficult to fill positions for the UCR campus. The position supports and contributes to university employee events such as facilitating the New Employee Orientation and is an integral committee member for the New Highlander Welcome. They direct UCR's job fair participation by researching event demographics, aligning events with hiring needs, representing campus-wide staff opportunities, and partnering with campus HR teams in the colleges to market these events-with local travel required. Please be advised that applicants are required to submit a cover letter and resume for full consideration. The full salary range for the HR Talent & Applicant Experience Specialist is $78,200.00 - $141,400.00 annually. However, the expected pay scale for this position is up to $105,000 annually. We base salary offers on a variety of considerations, such as education, licensure and certifications, experience, and other business and organizational needs. Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a UCR staff position. Currently, we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for staff. As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Requirements

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Experience

• 4 - 7 years of related experience.
• Related experience examples include, but are not limited to: higher education, public sector, and unionized environments.

Minimum Requirements

Must pass the DOJ/FBI background check. Ability to be a team player and excel in a decentralized hybrid working environment. Demonstrates core leadership competencies, including emotional intelligence, active listening, conflict resolution, team motivation, and structured problem-solving. Must be able to travel to local job fairs. Thorough knowledge of the recruitment, screening, interviewing and referral processes. Works with other areas of human resources as it relates to the employment function. Highly skilled in public speaking with ability to speak effectively and articulately in front of a large audience. Knowledge of HR processes and forms and knows organizational and departmental principles and procedures. Demonstrated ability to conduct complex analyses and develop recommendations. Thorough knowledge of organizational policies and procedures; knowledge of functional area and understands how work may impact other areas. Demonstrated abilities associated with problem identification; reasoning; ability to work with business units in developing ideas to solve staffing issues. Effective communication and interpersonal skills as well as those needed for conducting needs assessment, providing input on candidate selection and problem solving. Knowledge of employment law.

Preferred Qualifications

Must pass the DOJ/FBI background check. Ability to be a team player and excel in a decentralized hybrid working environment. Demonstrates core leadership competencies, including emotional intelligence, active listening, conflict resolution, team motivation, and structured problem-solving. Must be able to travel to local job fairs. Thorough knowledge of the recruitment, screening, interviewing and referral processes. Works with other areas of human resources as it relates to the employment function. Highly skilled in public speaking with ability to speak effectively and articulately in front of a large audience. Knowledge of HR processes and forms and knows organizational and departmental principles and procedures. Demonstrated ability to conduct complex analyses and develop recommendations. Thorough knowledge of organizational policies and procedures; knowledge of functional area and understands how work may impact other areas. Demonstrated abilities associated with problem identification; reasoning; ability to work with business units in developing ideas to solve staffing issues. Effective communication and interpersonal skills as well as those needed for conducting needs assessment, providing input on candidate selection and problem solving. Knowledge of employment law.

Additional Information

In the Heart of Inland Southern California, UC Riverside is located on nearly 1,200 acres near Box Springs Mountain in Southern California; the park-like campus provides convenient access to the vibrant and growing Inland region. The campus is a living laboratory for the exploration of issues critical to growing communities' air, water, energy, transportation, politics, the arts, history, and culture. UCR gives every student, faculty and staff member the resources to explore, engage, imagine and excel.

UC Riverside is recognized as one of the most ethnically diverse research universities in the country boasting several key rankings of which we are extremely proud.

• UC Riverside is proud to be ranked No. 12 among all U.S. universities, according to Money Magazine's 2020 rankings, and among the top 1 percent of universities worldwide, according to the 2019-20 Center for World University rankings.
• UC Riverside is the top university in the United States for social mobility. - U.S. News 2020
• UCR is a member of the University Innovation Alliance, the leading national coalition of public research universities committed to improving student success for low-income, first-generation, and students of color.
• Among top-tier universities, UC Riverside ranks No. 2 in financial aid. - Business Insider 2019
• Ranked No. 2 in the world for research, UCR's Department of Entomology maintains one of the largest collections of insect specimens the nation. - Center for World University Rankings
• UCR's distinguished faculty boasts 2 Nobel Laureates, and 13 members of the National Academies of Science and Medicine.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

For information about our generous employee benefits package, visit: Employee Benefits Overview

Certification Requirements

• SHRM (CP, SCP)
• HRCI (PHR, SPHR)
• AIRS (PRC, CDR, CIR)

Job Description Details

General Information

• Job Title: EMPLOYMENT REPR 3
• Job Code: 007748
• Grade: 22
• Department Head: Deborah Page
• Supervisor: Deborah Page

Generic Scope

Experienced professional who knows how to apply theory and put it into practice with in-depth understanding of the professional field; independently performs the full range of responsibilities within the function; possesses broad job knowledge; analyzes problems/issues of diverse scope and determines solutions.

Custom Scope

Experienced, seasoned professional who uses employment and staffing techniques and concepts for employment, sourcing programs, and policies for the organization. Employment and search efforts are diverse and complex in scope, where analyses of situations require a review of variety of factors. Identifies and presents qualified candidates for professional level positions. Normally receives general direction on all staffing and employment assignments. Exercises considerable judgment and discretion to determine appropriate action. Works with senior internal and external contacts.

Department Custom Scope

The HR Talent & Applicant Experience Specialist provides front-line customer service and guidance to applicants, UCR staff and UC HR professionals on a wide range of HR topics. This role serves as the primary point of contact via email, phone and chat channels delivering accurate information on application status, background check processing, misconduct check processing, personnel file sharing, and consultation on related compliance and HR policies. The specialist researches and resolves complex inquiries in partnership with campus HR teams and external vendors, maintains detailed case records in the background and misconduct check systems, and meets established service level customer quality expectations. This position is a key partner in providing specialized recruiting services for complex and difficult to fill positions for the UCR campus. The position supports and contributes to university employee events such as facilitating the New Employee Orientation and is an integral committee member for the New Highlander Welcome. They direct UCR's job fair participation by researching event demographics, aligning events with hiring needs, representing campus-wide staff opportunities, and partnering with campus HR teams in the colleges to market these events-with local travel required.

Key Responsibilities

• May work with external resources including temporary agencies, contract search and internet sourcing tools.
  • Lead contact for UC personnel file review, agency misconduct and background check process: With a clear understanding of confidentiality rules and laws related to these services manage the day-to-day operational process for screening finalists for employment internal to the UC as well as external information requests.
  • Manage workflow for screening programs for pre-offer and post-offers. This includes personnel file reviews, reference checks, background and misconduct checks. This will also include outside public agency requests (e.g., universities, school districts, state entities, etc.) that require review for validity and routing to appropriate UCR departments and / or offices.
  • Support campus HR Partners and UCR Central HR Employee Relations on the misconduct check and background check process including but not limited to materials collection and adjudication of cases.
  • Create, update and utilize knowledge documentation to answer questions consistently and quickly.
  • Maintain current knowledge of State and Federal background and misconduct check laws and regulations that apply to University of California and as appropriate other public sector outside agencies (e.g., school districts across the nation, etc.).
  (30%)
• Resolves a wide range of employment issues using skills as a seasoned, experienced employment professional with a full understanding of employment and recruiting practices and organization policies and procedures.
  • Applicant experience primary point of contact and lead:
    • Provide client support via telephone, email, and in person.
    • Provide consultation and assistance to applicants, former / current employees and those employers, and other areas defined by leadership.
    • Answer questions regarding applicant status and consult on ideal marketing strategies, creating long lists, creating short lists, chairing search committees etc.
    • Manage the job posting boards. Recruitments are posted and updated in a timely manner (e.g., salary range change that impacts posted pay scale, job codes and other classification attributes). Ensure the life cycle of the recruitments are completed in a timely manner and consult with department on best practices on managing them.
    • Manage and update the Talent Acquisition web pages for highlighted recruitments and departments, program offerings that showcase why UCR is great place to work and grow.
    • Assist employees with job transition opportunities (e.g., preferential rehire, layoff, utilization of the C-STOP service, etc.).
  (30%)
• Prioritizes work assignments, conducts research and data analysis and helps develop resulting recommendations on assigned projects.
  • Data Systems Support:
    • Provide guidance and consultation to UCR departments and outside agencies on matters relating to university hiring and background check processes, data and systems internal (e.g., HRMS, Looker, etc.) and external (True Screen) to UCR.
    • Recommend and implement process improvements.
    • Troubleshoot job posting board issues. This includes internal UC and external vendors that scrape our postings and provide specialized focused recruiting and sourcing through their applications (HRMS-Recruit, LinkedIn, Higher Ed, CalJOBS, etc.).
    • Assist with training in systems.
  (15%)
• Reporting and Auditing:
  • Manage the auditing and compliance with limited hour appointment criteria for union representation and policy classifications.
  • Collaborate with UCR ITS and Campus HR Partners to ensure reporting is accurate and resolve issues as needed.
  • Advise on next steps to recruit for positions that are shifting in appointment type status.
  (10%)
• Provides tools and training necessary to support a decentralized employment process.
  • Special Projects & Other Duties Assigned:
    • UCR Central HR is evolving as the campus discovers and embraces AI tools that are appropriate for our mission. This position is responsible for being a collaborative partner by engaging in creative ideation, discernment, campus collaboration, and adoption of tools that leverage first level service opportunities.
    • Other duties as assigned.
  (5%)
• Applies professional employment and staffing techniques and concepts in varied and diverse settings.
  • Campus engagement. Supports and contributes to university employee events: New Employee Orientation (8 a year), facilitate events and assist in coordination; New Highlander Welcome (2 a year) through active ideation and discernment with committee members from across the campus refine the staff events that build community and engagement.
  (5%)
• Engages in networking and outreach related activities to build and assess qualified applicants as needed.
  • Manage UCRs participation in local and virtual job fairs through research of event audiences and alignment with UCR staffing needs. Attend job fairs as the champion for all UCR staff employment opportunities and engage UCR campus HR Partners for collaboration and strategic marketing for these events that are near the UCR campus or held virtually.
  (5%)

UCR is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer with a commitment to workforce diversity.