Human Resources Specialist - Chicago

Position Overview

The Human Resources Specialist is located at our Illinois Veterans’ Home. This position serves under the direction of the Human Resources Director and coordinates all activities of staff assigned to the Human Resources department. In addition, the Human Resources Specialist will play a vital role in the mission of creating and maintaining a positive atmosphere within the HR section. This unique opportunity offers an exceptional benefit package to include health insurance, including eye care and dental, deferred compensation, life insurance and retirement.  If you desire to become a valued member of a hard-working and respected team and are up for a challenge or a change in your career, please take this opportunity to apply for this gratifying position. 

Job Responsibilities

1. Serves as full-line supervisor
2. Provides journey level work in a professional capacity performing complex, specialized duties in human resources administration activities
3. Guides, counsels, and assists facility employees regarding group insurance, retirement system benefits, deferred compensation, upward mobility, and workers compensation benefits by conducting information and individual meetings for new and existing employees to educate and update on personnel and benefit changes as they occur
4. Advises and assists Home managerial staff with interpretation of CMS and DVA Personnel Rules, pay plan, examinations, hiring procedures and labor contracts  
5. Assembles payroll data i.e. overtime/dockage reports, employee authorized deductions, CMS generated increases, into report form to submit to Central Office and enters data into automated payroll system 
6. Prepares various reports related to Agency and home activities such as OSHA, EEO, monthly/quarterly headcount, affirmative action, collective bargaining transaction reports, overtime, shift differential
7. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

1. Knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college
2. Two (2) years of professional human resources experience

Preferred Qualifications

1. Two (2) years of experience working with the Personnel Code, Rules, Position Classification Plan, Pay Plans, Collective Bargaining Contracts, Federal Merit Standards, Equal Employment Opportunity Act and Civil Rights Act, and guidelines derived therefrom, and departmental policies, procedures, and processes
2. Two (2) years’ experience with collective bargaining contracts and their application to various aspects of Human Resources
3. Two (2) years’ professional HR experience, including experience with the following activities: Recruitment and Hiring, Payroll and Timekeeping, FMLA/LOA/ADA, and HR Transactions
4. Two (2) years professional supervisory experience including utilizing the principles of progressive discipline
5. Two (2) years’ utilizing personal computers and various electronic applications including the Microsoft Suite, Microsoft Teams, Personnel Examination and Eligibility Records System (PEERS), and IMSH
6. Two (2) years’ experience using professional oral and written communication skills as well as writing grammatically correct correspondence and reports that contain conceptualizations, facts, and descriptive and quantitative inclusions
7. Ability to read, assimilate and recall with a high degree of proficiency facts and figures

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires ability to pass a background check
2. Requires ability to pass a drug screen and pre-employment physical
3. Requires ability to meet all agency vaccine/health-related policies and guidance
4. Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be required to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime
5. Requires ability to become interview certified within two (2) months of employment