HR People Business Partner

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

At Bethel, our employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To do that well, our employees need a People & Culture HR partner who walks alongside them with wisdom, discernment, and professional excellence. If you find your professional joy in coaching managers, navigating complex relational dynamics with biblical grace, and championing a healthy workplace, this role offers a rare opportunity to align your deep HR expertise with your Christian faith.

Bethel’s mission is to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. Bethel’s employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To carry out this mission, Bethel uses the foundation of our guiding documents, the Affirmation of Faith, Community Covenant, and Key Policies. Bethel expects all employees to actively participate in creating our Christ-centered community by agreeing with and abiding by our core beliefs in the Affirmation of Faith and supporting all other beliefs as Biblical, responsible, and thoughtful approaches while avoiding dissension and divisiveness. Employees teach and mentor students and help one another uphold our Community Covenant commitments.  As a result of these expectations, all University employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to carry out its mission and foster Bethel’s Christ-centered covenant community.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. 

• Work closely with supervisors and employees to improve work relationships.
• Responsible for talent acquisition process within designated departments, including recruiting, screening applicants, guiding hiring manager interview process, and making job offers.
• Partners closely with department managers to help them with candidate selection.
• Provides recommendation for compensation adjustments.
• Partners with supervisors to build morale and increase team effectiveness.
• Establishes regular touchpoints with managers to drive efforts to build upon our culture, values, and overall employee experience.

• Oversees the performance management process.
• Manages and resolves complex employee relations and performance issues.
• Supports supervisors with employee offboarding.
• Ensures compliance with employment laws and best practices.
• Maintains professional working knowledge of the application of FMLA, ADA, disability, workers’ compensation, and other related laws to ensure compliance.

• Partners with Director and AVP of People and Culture to create and maintain employment policies.
• Coordinates with internal and external partners to ensure organization stays compliant with state and federal laws.

• Provides insight on organizational development needs. Uses Best Christian Workplace (BCW) data to help managers focus on key culture drivers.
• Partners with colleagues in OPC (Human Resources) to create training and development opportunities to meet those needs.
• Regular facilitator in manager and employee training and development offerings.

• Must be able to handle multiple tasks and work well in pressure situations.
• Must be proficient in Google and/or Microsoft Office products.
• Experience using an HRIS system.
• Ability to handle confidential information in a mature and professional manner.
• Proven coaching skills.
• Knowledge of mediation techniques.
• Must have excellent integrity.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and be detail-oriented.

Experience

• 3+ years of experience in a business partner role or HR generalist role with a focus on employee relations.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business or a related field.

Typical days and hours vary throughout the week (Sunday – Saturday) during the school year. The expectation is to work specific schedules and hours as identified and communicated by management and to meet the needs of the students. Evening and weekend work may be required most weeks. This is a 40-hour-per-week, 12-month-per-year position.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers and smartphones.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The job requires traversing the Bethel Campus on a regular basis and use a laptop daily.