Human Resources Specialist (Liaison)

Deadline: April 24, 2026, or once 300 applications have been received

Employment type: Full-time

Federal position? No

Salary: $85,447 - $111,087 per year

Location: Edgewater, Maryland

Work model: Onsite

Application link: https://trustcareers.si.edu/en/postings/81b8bc39-f503-43a1-b45d-94365ff13c2c

About SERC

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is a research center of the Smithsonian Institution, located in Edgewater, Maryland, on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The center sits approximately 10 miles south of Annapolis, 40 miles east of Washington DC, and 40 miles south of Baltimore. SERC's 2,654-acre campus is a living laboratory for long-term ecosystem research on forests, farmland, wetlands, shorelines and estuaries. The SERC campus contains a laboratory and office complex, as well as education and waterfront facilities, dormitories for interns and guest housing for visitors.

Role and Responsibilities:

The position will serve as the SERC Human Resources officer and chief HR liaison with the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources by performing human resources administration functions and analyses, serving as head timekeeper, conducting orientation for new employees, helping to train supervisors and assisting SERC leadership with personnel matters. This position is responsible for overseeing both federal and non-federal (trust) hiring processes, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and compliance across categories of employment.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Advise SERC leadership on workforce planning, personnel matters and organizational initiatives
• Provide regular reporting to SERC leadership on HR processes and metrics
• Attend and participate in trainings and meetings with the central Smithsonian Officer of Human Resources
• Represent SERC on Smithsonian-wide efforts to improve HR policies and practices
• Make improvements in efficiency, communications and support for all HR processes across SERC
• Help to ensure compliance with federal law, Smithsonian policy and SERC's research mission
• Ensure HR systems accuracy, consistent policy application and functional database integrity across the unit
• Manage recruitment activities, development of position descriptions, and onboarding for both federal and non-federal (trust) positions
• Submit requests for personnel actions, recruitments, promotions, awards, change in appointment, etc. to central Smithsonian Office of Human Resources
• Partner with hiring managers to provide smooth and efficient hiring, providing technical advice on staffing strategies for scientific and technical positions
• Deliver training, briefings, and communications on HR policies for staff and supervisors
• Monitor employee training compliance and performance appraisals by supervisors, updating SERC leadership on metrics
• Serve as liaison with the Smithsonian’s Office of Global Affairs for visa-related issues for international personnel
• Advise managers and employees on visa eligibility, restrictions and compliance requirements.
• Oversee HR recordkeeping and ensure confidentiality, data security and regulatory compliance.
• Use workforce data and HR analytics to inform decision-making on staffing, retention, compensation and organizational effectiveness.
• Engage with colleagues in the Smithsonian’s Office of General Counsel and Office of Human Resources to help ensure SERC maintains compliance and engagement with federal laws, Smithsonian directives, and other related policies and procedures
• Maintain accurate records of time worked by employees
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Candidates must possess specialized experience in similar positions, such as demonstrated skill in implementing HR policies and procedures across multiple areas, such as recruitment, position classification and employee relations,

• Knowledge of HR principles, concepts and regulations across classification, recruitment, employee relations, compensation, performance management, training and HR systems
• Understanding of or ability to learn about scientific research operations, with the ability to align HR policies and practices to support SERC research goals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain, advocate, and implement new practices or policies
• Ability to establish and sustain collegial relationships and trust with all employees

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

How to apply:

Visit the job posting on the Smithsonian Trust Careers website: https://trustcareers.si.edu/en/postings/81b8bc39-f503-43a1-b45d-94365ff13c2c

Contact:

Brian Coyle (CoyleB@si.edu)

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact CoyleB@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeo.