DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:  This is a professional and administrative position responsible for public personnel administration within a school district environment. Work requires a high degree of independent judgment in analyzing problems and developing solutions to address concerns of instructional, non-instructional, and administrative personnel in conformance with law, rules, and regulations. Extensive contact is required with third-party administrators, the New York State State Education Department (SED), the local Civil Service personnel department, as well as school employees, labor unions, and retirees. The role involves managing and administering a variety of employee benefits, tenure tracking, certification verification, labor contracts, and other personnel matters of consequence. The Principal level requires an increased level of independence and the ability to take on difficult, complex, and confidential school human resources assignments. Work is performed under general supervision of the Superintendent of Schools, Assistant Superintendent, or human resource administrator. Supervision may be exercised over a small number of technical or clerical personnel. Performs related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:  (Illustrative only)

• Provides advice and responds to inquiries from school administrators, Board of Education members, district employees, union representatives, and job candidates regarding the interpretation and implementation of New York State Civil Service Law, local Civil Service Rules, New York State Education Law, and district policies;
• Manages employee benefit programs including health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), Section 125 flexible spending accounts, and ACA compliance;
• Audits and maintains civil service records, payroll certifications, personnel files, and applications to ensure total compliance with Civil Service Law and school district policies;
• Oversees the tracking and processing of teacher and administrator certifications through the NYSED TEACH system, ensuring all instructional staff hold valid credentials;
• Tracks probationary periods, tenure eligibility dates, and seniority lists for both instructional and non-instructional staff in accordance with Education Law and collective bargaining agreements;
• Coordinates the recruitment, interviewing, screening, and onboarding of instructional, substitute, and civil service staff, making formal hiring recommendations to district leadership;
• Manages the Certification of Eligibles process with the local Civil Service personnel department to fill competitive class vacancies within the school district;
• Advises school staff on contract interpretations, grievance procedures, and leaves of absence (FMLA, Paid Family Leave, workers' compensation, and disability);
• Conducts research, compiles data, and prepares mandatory state and federal reports, including Basic Education Data System (BEDS) data, civil service payroll certifications, and equal employment opportunity reports;
• Coordinates and conducts new employee orientations, substitute teacher trainings, and exit interviews;
• Researches, collects, and analyzes wage, salary, and fringe benefit data to assist management in preparing for labor contract negotiations with teacher, clerical, custodial, and transportation bargaining units;
• Participates directly in labor contract negotiations, which may include sitting at the bargaining table representing school district management;
• Maintains student safety compliance records, ensuring all new hires clear required New York State Education Department fingerprinting and background checks;
• Utilizes specialized school management software, human resources information systems (HRIS), and automated substitute placement systems (e.g., Frontline/Aesop) to execute work;
• Handles highly confidential and sensitive personnel matters, including assisting with disciplinary investigations or contract grievances;
• Performs a variety of related activities as required.

Typical Work Activities are intended only as illustrations of possible types of work that might be appropriately assigned to an incumbent of this title. Work activities that do not appear above are not excluded as appropriate work assignments, as long as they can be reasonably understood to be within the logical limits of the job.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of public personnel administration within a public school system; thorough knowledge of New York State Civil Service Law, local Civil Service Rules, and New York State Education Law as they apply to school district hiring, tenure, and retention; thorough knowledge of employee benefits administration, including NYS TRS and NYS ERS retirement systems; good knowledge of instructional certification requirements, TEACH system navigation, and school fingerprinting clearance mandates; good knowledge of collective bargaining dynamics and contract administration across multiple school units (teachers, aides, clerical, facilities); skill in researching, analyzing, and assessing labor market data, salary trends, and benefits structures ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school boards, superintendents, principals, union officials, and district staff; ability to communicate complex legal, contractual, and procedural information clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to handle sensitive employee relations issues with a high degree of integrity, tact, discretion, and sound professional judgment; positive customer service approach oriented toward supporting school staff and administrative objectives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Either

1. Master’s degree and three (3) years of upper-level office work experience which must have included human resources processes administration, the processing personnel transactions, employee benefits transactions, or payroll records, and/or civil service examination administration or scheduling; or
2. Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of upper-level office work experience, three (3) years of which must have included human resources processes administration, the processing of personnel transactions, employee benefits transactions, or payroll records, and/or civil service examination administration or scheduling; or
3. Associate degree or sixty (60) credits of post-secondary education and seven (7) years of upper-level office work experience, five (5) years of which must have included human resources processes administration, the processing of personnel transactions, employee benefits transactions, or payroll records, and/or civil service examination administration or scheduling.

PLEASE NOTE: Education beyond the secondary level must be from an institution accredited or recognized by the Board of Regents of the New York State Department of Education as a post secondary, degree-granting institution.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS:  In accordance with the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) legislation, Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, and by the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, candidates for appointment in school districts must obtain clearance for employment from the State Education Department prior to employment based upon a fingerprint and criminal history background check.

7/26

Competitive Class