Human Resources Director

Join our City of Oak Harbor team to help build a legacy of commitment to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion in our vibrant waterfront community.

The Human Resources (HR) Director is a working manager position and is responsible for the overall direction, leadership, management, supervision, and administration of the HR Department. Advise the Mayor, City Council, and Department Directors. Participate as a member of the Management Team during negotiations and administration of labor contracts. Investigate grievances and grounds for discipline. Provide expertise on compensation and benefits administration, safety and health, recruitment and employment, and employee training and development. Advise and assist staff with federal, state, and local law compliance and HR policies and procedures. Foster a positive work environment, healthy organizational culture and cultivate effective working relationships.  
 

Work activities involve multiple skills and may include, but are not limited to, any of the following depending on area of assignment, business needs, emergency services, special projects, and seasonal factors:

• Participate as a member of the City’s Leadership Team, providing strategic input on decisions with significant organization-wide impact. Recommend, develop, and implement proposals for new/revised programs. Consult with legal counsel to ensure policies and programs comply with federal/state law.
• Attend City Council meetings and workshops. Provide ongoing communications regarding HR matters, and serve as a resource to the Mayor, Council, and Department Directors.
• Review federal, state, and local legislation to determine impact on personnel issues, policies, and strategies. Keep management informed of personnel requirements as applicable.
• Direct and supervise HR staff; develop and evaluate performance. Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships and teamwork with the executive team, department heads, supervisors, employees, public officials, business representatives and the public using good judgment, tact, and courtesy.
• In collaboration with City management, investigate and evaluate human relations and work-related problems to determine effective remediation techniques and recommend employee disciplinary actions consistent with City policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Investigate discrimination complaints. Prepare the City’s response to complaints filed with external agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Serve as contract administrator for the City’s collective bargaining agreements; participate as a member of the Management Team.  Assist in maintaining satisfactory labor-management relations, interpret collective bargaining agreements, ensure consistency in enforcement, administer grievance procedures and assist/advise/research all operational levels on labor relations activities/matters.
• Lead the development and implementation of strategic citywide succession and workforce planning initiatives.
• Administer the City’s recruiting and employment processes. Provide leadership, direction, and support to City departments to attract, retain and develop quality employees in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and City codes, regulations and policies.
• Monitor the administration of the benefits programs. Manage Labor and Industries Workers’ Compensation program. Maintain Workers’ Compensation records/claims including return-to-work programs and efforts. Prepare necessary reports including the annual Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Report. Advise City departments of claim status as needed. Serve as the Retrospective Rating Program liaison.
• Administer Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and advise staff on leave laws.
• Provide guidance in Safety and Risk Management.
• Monitor the timely completion of performance reviews for all City departments. Review evaluations for consistency and effectiveness. Make recommendations for change/review. Assist managers and supervisors  with reviews, if needed.
• Oversee citywide training and staff development. Foster educational opportunities and identify training needs. Develop and conduct training programs and/or contract with outside providers for programs.
• Maintain confidential personnel and medical files. Establish, create, and maintain department records, forms, and reports.
• Develop human resources budget. Monitor and control HR expenditures in accordance with City budget policies.
• Serve as a member of the Safety Committee, Employee Advisory Committee and other groups or committees. May serve as Secretary/Examiner to the Civil Service Commission.

• Attend various workshops, continuing education meetings, seminars, and conferences.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

• HR staff.
   

• Public sector HR management functions, including benefits administration, workers’ compensation, return to work/light duty, safety, general liability, etc., including a knowledge of local, state and federal legislation, regulations and court decisions impacting personnel activities.
• Job analysis relative to classification, compensation and organizational review.
• Employee relations and labor negotiations.
• Industrial safety and workers’ compensation administration.
• Civil Service laws. Interpret and apply Civil Service Rules and Regulations.
• Principles and practices of Risk Management.

• Project management, time management and leadership.
• Writing, English, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Maintaining effective and persuasive communication, both in person and in writing, with diverse audiences, including sometimes stressful situations. Recognize and respond to nonverbal communication (body language and eye contact).
• Developing, updating, implementing, interpreting, and monitoring HR functions in a nondiscriminatory manner to reflect changes in economic, management and legislative programs.
• Using a personal computer and a broad variety of associated software and other standard office equipment.

• Compose complex documents and the ability to research, organize and compile data into meaningful reports. Prepare oral and written presentations and reports outlining findings and recommendations for policies, procedures, etc.
• Provide facilitation skills in sensitive, emotional and/or hostile situations. Be approachable and nonjudgmental when discussing employee concerns.
• Quickly gain and maintain knowledge through journals, seminars, and professional association membership.
• Quickly acquire a thorough knowledge of Mayor, Council and department working relationships as well as the City’s administrative procedures, mission and vision and to present policy and technical information to senior management and Council.
• Represent the City’s HR programs and assist in negotiations with a variety of people with differing interests.
• Effectively manage and supervise the work activities of staff in a manner conducive to proficient performance and high morale.
• Establish, implement, and enforce safeguards regarding confidentiality and privacy of sensitive information.
• Develop HR programs and policies based on new requirements.
• Learn and readily apply new specialized data systems.
• Conduct labor relations activities/research.
• Quickly acquire a thorough knowledge of Mayor, Council and department working relationships as well as the City’s administrative procedures, mission and vision and to present policy and technical information to senior management and council.
• Represent the City’s HR programs and assist in negotiations with a variety of people with differing interests.
• Effectively manage and supervise the work activities of staff in a manner conducive to proficient performance and high morale.
• Establish, implement, and enforce safeguards regarding confidentiality and privacy of sensitive information.
• Develop HR programs and policies based on new requirements.
• Learn and readily apply new specialized data systems.
• Conduct labor relations activities/research.

An equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential job functions may be considered.

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, industrial and labor relations, psychology, business, or public administration, organizational development, or closely related field.
• Eight (8) years of professional HR experience
• Five (5) years of senior management-level experience in a local government or other public sector agency.
• Experience working in a labor union environment, including negotiations and contract administration in a public sector environment.
• Experience developing and managing progressive programs in all areas of HR in a public sector environment.
• Experience with employee medical benefit plan design and administration.
• Valid state driver's license and ability to provide a driver’s abstract showing a good driving record.  
• Complete a comprehensive criminal background screening prior to hire.

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Certified Professional in Human Resources.

The physical demands and characteristics of the work environment described here are representative of those occurring in the performance of the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
 
Work is performed in an office, Council, or meeting room environment with frequent interruptions. Work requires reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, the ability to communicate information and ideas so others understand, ability to observe details at a close range, ability to operate a personal computer, telephone and other equipment, as well as the ability to remain stationary for extended periods of time and access all areas of the facility including stairs. Attendance at weekend and evening meetings is sometimes required, with travel required to other City locations or out-of-town meetings and conferences.

Safety Statement:
We expect employees to ensure compliance with all applicable safety practices and policies, including those established by OSHA/Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) regulations and the City’s Accident Prevention Program (APP). This includes, but is not limited to, actively identifying, and correcting potential hazards that may affect employee and public safety, including those identified by co-workers. Leading by example to promote a positive culture of workplace safety through everyday action, emphasizing safe completion of work throughout all aspects of developing and carrying out work plans.

The City of Oak Harbor is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability or any other status protected by law.