Deputy Human Resources Director

An Overview

The City of Alexandria is seeking a dynamic and experienced Deputy Director of Human Resources to lead two critical areas: Benefits and Learning & Development. This senior leadership role partners closely with the HR Director to ensure the City’s benefits programs are fiscally sustainable, competitive, and legally compliant, while also building a robust learning culture that supports employee retention, skill growth, and leadership development.

The Deputy Director will oversee a team of professional, technical, and administrative staff, guiding daily operations and long-term strategies that directly impact the employee experience. This is an opportunity to join a high-expectation, service-oriented HR department that is modernizing systems, improving service delivery, and strengthening trust with employees and leadership.

The Opportunity

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the City’s group health, prescription drug, dental, vision, life, disability, and wellness programs to ensure competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and equity.
• Analyze utilization, claims, and cost data to identify trends, guide plan design recommendations, and ensure compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and other applicable regulations.
• Oversee annual benefits renewals and open enrollment, including development of clear, accessible employee communications and year-round education on benefits programs.
• Negotiate and manage vendor contracts for all benefit plans, monitor service-level performance, resolve escalated issues, and ensure accurate, timely vendor payments.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve citywide training programs for employees at all levels, incorporating adult learning principles, needs assessment, instructional design, and program evaluation.
• Oversee the City’s Learning Management System (LMS), including administration, reporting, and integration with other HR systems, as well as procurement and management of external training vendors.
• Design and lead leadership development programs, supervisory training, and succession planning initiatives to strengthen organizational capacity and retention.
• Establish and track performance metrics for both benefits and learning programs, prepare reports for HR leadership and City Council, and use data to drive program improvements.
• Provide coaching and professional development to staff, setting clear expectations for accountability, responsiveness, and customer service, and fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Serve on the Senior Management Group (SMG), collaborating with peers, consultants, and partner agencies to align HR initiatives with citywide goals and adopt best practices in benefits and workforce development.

Essential Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

The Department of Human Resources is a team of professionals dedicated to recruiting, developing, and retaining a high-quality workforce capable of delivering exceptional public service. We are committed to equity, transparency, and customer-focused HR practices that support both organizational performance and employee well-being.

Bachelor's Degree; five years of management experience in Human Resources; or an equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities

Ideal Candidate

A values-driven leader Human Resources leader with progressive supervisory responsibility for managers or large teams and a track record of advancing equity, transparency, and customer service. This candidate models integrity and ethical stewardship in all decisions.

Preference will be given to applicants who possess:

• Professional certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, IPMA-SCP, or a highly preferred benefits designation such as Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) or Group Benefits Associate (GBA).
• Demonstrated expertise managing large-scale benefits programs in a public-sector or municipal environment, including analysis of utilization and cost data to guide plan design decisions.
• Experience negotiating and managing vendor contracts for group health, prescription drug, and ancillary benefit plans, with skill in monitoring performance, resolving service issues, and ensuring fiscal accountability.
• Strong understanding of benefits compliance, including ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and other applicable laws, with the ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical, accessible policies and processes.
• Proven ability to design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive learning and development programs informed by adult learning principles, including needs assessment, instructional design, and program evaluation.
• Experience with Learning Management Systems (LMS) administration, vendor selection and oversight for training content providers, and coordination of citywide training initiatives, leadership academies, and succession planning efforts.
• Track record of advancing equity, accessibility, and customer service in both benefits and learning programs, with strong communication skills to convey complex concepts to employees, managers, and elected officials.