Job Summary

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks a Manager, Human Resources Operations to join Human Resources.

The Manager, Human Resources Operations leverages comprehensive HR knowledge and industry best practices to manage and ensure institutional compliance across a range of HR operations. This role oversees compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations including those related to employee immigration status, I-9 documentation, and work authorization verification systems. The Manager leads the visa sponsorship process for faculty and staff, manages compliance requirements across multiple states, and contributes to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of HR operational policies and procedures to ensure alignment with evolving compliance standards and organizational needs.

The successful candidate will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

Essential Functions:

Visa and Immigration Support:

• Oversee the visa sponsorship program for employees, including H-1B, TN, O-1, and other work-related visas.

• Ensure timely and accurate filing of visa petitions and related documents, working with external immigration counsel as needed.

• Provide support to employees regarding visa applications, renewals, and status changes.

• Leveraging the HRIS system, maintain a tracking system for visa expiration dates and ensure timely follow-up on renewals and extensions.

• Advise management, employees, and HR staff on compliance with immigration laws and regulations.

• Recommend best practices to streamline operations and compliance with visa and immigration support through policy, procedure or other methods.

Employment Authorization and Onboarding Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight of employment authorization processes to ensure institutional compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, including but not limited to Form I-9 requirements.

• Serve as a key resource for HR and Student Employment staff on employment eligibility protocols, offering training and guidance to ensure alignment with USCIS regulations and RISD policies.

• Conduct periodic audits and maintain appropriate documentation to support compliance with employment authorization requirements, including proper completion, retention, re-verification, and purging of I-9 forms in accordance with federal guidelines.

• Oversee background check administration and the full onboarding experience, ensuring that all pre-employment requirements are completed accurately and efficiently, while fostering a compliant, timely, and welcoming entry for new hires across the institution.

Multi-State Compliance:

• Monitor and manage compliance with state-specific labor laws. Collaborate with HR colleagues, Controller and General Counsel to identify and address multi-state tax and legal issues.

• Coordinate with the Controller's area for tax regulations, and HR colleagues for employee benefits requirements as new states/locations are considered.

• Stay informed of changes to state laws regarding wages, paid leave, unemployment, and other employment-related regulations. Notify employees in accordance with local, state and federal law.

• Ensure RISD's HR practices are compliant in all states where employees are located.

• Manage RISD's hybrid and remote work requests, ensure up-to-date agreements are in place for employees working with approved agreements on the established cycle. Effectively communicate requirements for updating agreements and identify/resolve arrangements with outstanding agreements.

Policy and Process Development:

• Collaborate with HR leadership to develop and update operational policies and procedures to support compliance, efficiency, and consistency.

• Partner with other HR functional areas (e.g., talent acquisition, benefits, employee relations) to ensure integrated and compliant HR practices.

• Document HR processes for employee onboarding, I-9 management, visa applications, and compliance-related functions.

• Work with internal stakeholders to implement consistent and compliant HR processes throughout the organization.

• Maintain retention schedule for HR and ensure documents are purged in accordance with established timelines. Align operational procedures to facilitate compliance with established schedules.

• Track regulatory changes and proactively educate HR staff and stakeholders on compliance updates.

Audit and Reporting

• Oversee internal audits related to I-9 and employment documentation; implement corrective action plans as needed.

• Generate and analyze compliance and workforce data reports to support strategic planning and ensure adherence to reporting requirements.

• Respond to internal and external audits, including those conducted by regulatory agencies.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field or equivalent combination of education and/or professional experience.

• HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR, etc.) preferred.

• Five years' experience with increasing levels of autonomy and proactive engagement with advising directly on a range of general HR, operations, compliance, or related fields.

• Proven experience with I-9 management, visa sponsorship, and multi-state compliance.

• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local labor laws and immigration regulations.

• Experience working with HRIS systems, high level of functionality in the use of Microsoft Office programs

• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills, and verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex legal matters to non-legal stakeholders.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and HRIS systems.

• Demonstrated ability to influence others, develop effective partnerships across disparate groups, facilitate decisions, and drive projects to completion.

• Ability to interpret and prioritize requests for information and follow up as needed.

• Demonstrated ability to work in a high-impact, deadline-oriented environment where initiative, attention to detail, accuracy and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously is required.

• An ability to relate well to diverse populations and to help foster a community environment.

Union:

No

Work Schedule:

35hours per week; 12 months per year

Employment Status:

Full-time; Exempt; Regular

Grade:

EX550

Work Modality

Hybrid Eligible

Documents Needed to Apply:

Resume (Required)

Cover Letter (Required)

Salary Grade Structure

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please upload all required documents.

The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.

RISD recognizes diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to its learning community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.