HR Administration revamps role to promote growth for team members

In recognition of the continuing evolution of our HR team, we modified a position in HR Administration to create a new career path for our team members. The HR Leadership Associate, formally titled as the Executive Assistant, plays a pivotal role within our HR executive team. Their responsibilities include performing executive assistant functions supporting the development of excellent planning, organization and execution skills, participating in HR-wide strategic initiatives, managing dedicated project work (including creating and overseeing online collaborative environments), and co-leading HR team member development initiatives.

This role offers rotational experience across multiple HR units. It positions team members for growth within two to three years, potentially advancing to roles such as HR supervisor, manager or HR business partner.

The position requires the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree and four years of related experience. The position is scheduled to be open through midnight May 1. We encourage HR team members considering a next step to take a look at the posting.

Job posting

HR Training & Development has recently posted an opening for a Training Specialist Senior. This position will develop, deliver and assess the effectiveness of professional development training workshops and programs for the university end-user; consult with managers and departments on potential training needs for their areas, including performance related problems, and recommend solutions; work collaboratively with team members to plan curriculum development and schedule of classes; and fulfill other assigned administrative responsibilities like maintenance of virtual training rooms, marketing and promotion of classes, etc. This job closes March 5.

Job postings

HR Benefits has posted an opening for a Pharmacy Services Representative. This position develops and supports current business systems. Responsibilities include serving as first line representative with incoming calls for the KYRx Coalition; providing initial contact to KYRx Coalition individual members entering into Medicare PDP plans; and assisting in organizing KYRx Coalition Board meetings, preparation of meeting materials, keeping KYRx Coalition Board Minutes, and dissemination of the documents. This position is scheduled to be open until Dec. 19.

HR Employment has posted an opening for an Employment Consultant. This position proactively builds strong relationships with hiring officials and departments throughout the University of Kentucky, including UK HealthCare. This role provides guidance to hiring officials regarding job requirements, recruitment strategies, and hiring timelines to attract desired candidates. The Employment Consultant serves as a coach through training and consultation for hiring departments. This position is scheduled to be open until Dec. 17.

HR Employment has posted an opening for an Employment Specialist. This position will assist hiring departments with the essential steps of hiring regular full-time employees. This position will be responsible for providing guidance, advice, and best practices on the overall selection process. The position requires the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree and one year of experience. This position is scheduled to be open until Dec. 17.

Be prepared for winter weather

As we head into the winter months, it’s important to be prepared.

Make sure you talk with your supervisor about your Plan B designation on days when the university alters its operations. The three possible designations are:

• Designated employee: Regular on-site attendance is required when Plan B operations are in effect. 
• Designated employee via remote access: Employee may work remotely during Plan B operations. 
• Non-designated employee: Employee should not work unless specifically contacted by a supervisor and asked to do so.

In general, employees who work remotely at any point during a normal work week, including those work work a hybrid schedule, are designated via remote access. So, if the university is closed due to winter weather, the employee works remotely that day, regardless of whether it was a scheduled on-site or remote day.

You should also sign up to receive UK Alert. You can log into myUK and click the UK Alert tab under the UK Accounts and Services section of Employee Self Service to update your preferences.

You can also view our Walk Safe page to see which routes are cleared first during winter weather and view other trips on safely navigating campus.

Meet our new team member

Sebastian Calmes is a Wellness Specialist in UK HR Health and Wellness. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of the Cumberlands, where he is currently working on his MBA. Before coming to UK, Sebastian was a personal trainer, coach and wellness team member for the YMCA of Central Kentucky.  

Job postings

HR has recently posted several openings:

Employment has posted an opening for an Administrative Support Associate I. This position will be responsible for providing technical and administrative support to the Career Employment team. The position requires the equivalent of an associate’s degree and three years of related experience. The position is scheduled to be open through May 18.

STEPS Temporary Employment has posted an opening for an Administrative Services Assistant. This position will be part of a dedicated team and directly responsible for ensuring compliance standards are met. The position requires the equivalent of an associate’s degree and four years of related experience. The position is scheduled to be open through May 18.

Employment has posted an opening for an Executive Search Consultant. This position will be responsible for supporting the activities associated with the recruitment and selection of high-level positions engaged through the university’s executive search services. The position requires the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree and three years of related experience. The position is scheduled to be open through May 18.

STEPS Temporary Employment has posted an opening for a Staff Support Associate II. This position will contribute largely to Human Resources’ customer service reputation through assisting applicants, new employees, and hiring departments in-person as well as through the UK jobs email and Employment customer support phone line. The position requires the equivalent of a high school diploma and three years of related experience. The position is scheduled to be open through May 18.

Employment has posted an opening for a Staff Support Associate II. This position will serve as the pre-employment screening coordinator. The position requires the equivalent of a high school diploma and three years of related experience. The position is scheduled to be open through May 21.

Employee Relations has posted an opening for an Employee Relations Specialist Senior. This position will support the Human Resources goal of remaining a strategic member of the university community by educating and coaching employees, administrators, managers and supervisors on equitable application of policies and practices. The position requires the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree and five years of related experience. The position is scheduled to be open through May 28.

Meet our new team members

Joshua McFarland

Joshua McFarland is a STEPS employee in HR Records. Before coming to UK, he worked in construction. Joshua has worked for STEPS in the past in the Research area. He earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications with a minor in business from UK.

Caitlin Quinn

Caitlin Quinn is a STEPS employee in HR Employment. Caitlin previously worked as a high school agriculture educator before joining UK. She earned her bachelor’s degree in career and technical education and a minor in animal sciences from the University of Kentucky. She also holds a master’s degree in teacher leadership from the University of Cumberlands.   

Help us develop recommendations based on our UK@Work survey results

As mentioned at June’s division update meeting, we are seeking team members to develop recommendations on how we might continue to improve in the categories of stress, balance, and workload; retention; and innovation. Workgroup members will likely spend one to two hours per week working to develop the recommendations beginning in late July. Each workgroup will vary, but it’s expected that work will conclude for all three by the end of August.

We are also seeking chairs for each of the workgroups. Please submit your interest as either a workgroup member or chair by completing this form by July 25.

Members of the workgroup can expect support from HR administration in meeting scheduling/location, briefing on engagement survey results and focus group insights, answers to questions on budget limitation and business process, access to suggested action items from employee engagement experts, as well as action items suggested during the focus group process.

Additionally, chairs will be supported through biweekly meeting of the chairs with the AVP HR Operation and other subject matter experts as requested.

The expectation of each workgroup is to develop two to four action items, within the scope of HR’s authority, resource and capabilities, that will support ongoing improvement in the assigned category.

Use a background image in Teams or Zoom

When you’re on a Teams or Zoom meeting, we’d like HR team members to use a background image, especially if you may have activity behind you.

An earlier link in this post was incorrect, but Ward Suthon emailed three HR-branded backgrounds images as attachments.

The Stuckert Career Center also has a few backgrounds you can choose from.

Meet our new team member

Sandy McKinney

Sandy McKinney is in a new STEPS role with the HR analytics team. Sandy is a Lexingtonian with Georgetown roots. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Management from Lexington Community College. Prior to coming to UK, she worked for several long-term care facilities and for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky.

In her free time, McKinney enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, doing jigsaw puzzles and playing “find the hidden object” games.