What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Human Resources Business Partner position at Harris County?
Harris County Public Library (HCPL) - History
The Harris County Public Library (HCPL) system, established in 1921, began as a collection of small libraries located in stores, post offices, and private homes. Over the years, it has grown into a robust network comprising 26 branch libraries, two technology service centers, and two partner locations that provide collection and circulation services. HCPL serves the communities of unincorporated Harris County and cities without independent library systems.
In 2024, HCPL received the prestigious National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honor awarded to libraries in the United States. Bestowed annually by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), this award recognizes institutions that deliver exceptional service to their communities. The library was recognized for innovative initiatives like HCPL Connected, Enhanced Library Cards, and its Mobile Outreach Librarian program.
HCPL is also recognized as one of the best places to work, offering a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. Its dedication to employee well-being, diversity, and community impact makes HCPL more than just a workplace—it’s where individuals can grow, inspire, and contribute to meaningful change.
What you will do at Harris County Public Library:
The Senior Human Resources Business Partner leads day-to-day departmental operations, overseeing staff and managing key HR projects. The role carries significant responsibilities, including managing the full-cycle recruiting, hiring, and onboarding processes, as well as overseeing payroll processing and development of HR policies and procedures. The Senior Human Resources Business Partner position will collaborate closely with the Division Director of Human Resources to implement policies, drive continuous improvement, and align HR strategies with organizational goals. The incumbent is expected to have strong organizational and critical thinking skills with the ability to maneuver sensitive and confidential situations.The Senior HR Business Partner requires strong organizational and critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to navigate sensitive and confidential situations. Additionally, the HR Manager must demonstrate excellent collaboration and communication abilities, as well as the technical and business acumen necessary to support the HR function effectively.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Supervises and coordinates the work of department staff, ensuring efficient operation and task completion
- Prepares and manages work schedules, prioritizes tasks, and assigns duties to staff
- Monitors work quality, establishes clear work rules, and enforces performance standards
- Maintains a safe and healthy work environment, ensuring compliance with safety protocols
- Initiates and implements training and motivation of subordinates to make full use of individual capabilities and to meet changing system demands
- Initiates and implements training programs to motivate staff, fully utilize individual capabilities, and adapt to evolving system demands
- Serves as a key partner and works closely with the Division Director of Human Resources to align strategies and initiatives
- Collaborates on the development and execution of HR policies, programs, and projects to met organizational goals
- Provide strategic input and support to drive continuous improvement and foster a cohesive, high-performing HR function
- Oversees and directs daily HR operations, ensuring timely and effective resolution of HR inquiries and operational challenges while providing guidance and support to department staff
- Manages the full-cycle recruitment process in partnership with hiring managers and the HRRM Talent Acquisition Team
- Collaborates on recruitment strategies, solutions, and talent integration to attract, hire, onboard, and retain top talent
- Manages the employee on-boarding and off-boarding processes, ensuring timely completion of all required background checks and screenings
- Leads the bi-weekly payroll process using PeopleSoft (STARS), ensuring all deadlines are met, and troubleshoots issues in coordination with Central Payroll
- Generates and reviews timekeeping-related reports to ensure compliance with current Harris County Policies and Procedures
- Administers employee leaves, including Family Medical Leave (FMLA), Paid Family Leave (PFL), and Worker's Compensation (WC)
- Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations (e.g., Title VII, FLSA, EEO, ADA) and adheres to best practices.
- Proactively develops, maintains, and implements HR-related policies and procedures
- Maintains confidential HR personnel records and files, ensuring compliance with regulatory and privacy laws
- Identifies and assesses training needs, coordinating both mandatory and optional staff training programs as well as career development opportunities
- Trains staff on department and County HR processes, systems, and policies
- Develop creative strategies to enhance employee engagement and foster a positive work environment.
- Coordinates with staffing agencies to manage temporary and contractual staff as needed
- Attends and actively participates in all mandated training, work groups, and staff development and training activities to continuously enhance skills and professional knowledge
- Performs other HR-related duties as needed, including tasks involved in responding to emergency events, including natural disasters
- Performs other duties and tasks as assigned
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
- Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or a related field from an accredited university or college
- Five (5) years of related office experience working in a large matrixed organization, performing complex administrative duties
- Three (3) years of demonstrated work experience in Human Resources
- Three (3) years of office supervisory experience
- Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, NeoGov, PeopleSoft, and use of other standard office equipment and software
Additional Requirements:
- Unofficial copies of transcripts are required along with the application
- Available and reliable transportation for work-related duties.
- Extensive knowledge of Human Resources functions, including recruitment, employee onboarding and off-boarding, compensation, employee relations, safety, engagement, and training and development
- Thorough understanding of government regulations, compliance guidelines, and professional best practices as they apply to federal, state, and local employment laws (e.g., Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Workers Compensation)
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong abilities in writing, presentation, and effective delivery of information to diverse audiences
- Proficiency with HRIS systems management and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Visio) with advanced Excel skills
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information, make independent decisions, and exercise sound judgment
- Manage multiple tasks and prioritize workload effectively to meet deadlines
- Accepted office business practices, rules, regulations, and policies, including governmental legislative and legal procedures
- Capability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County departments, administrative offices, the public, and internal staff
- Experience working in a creative, fast-paced environment that emphasizes excellence, teamwork, and adaptability to ambiguity
- Strategic, critical, and creative thinking skills, with the ability to problem-solve, multitask, and manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high organizational standards
- Demonstrated time and project management skills, including the ability to adjust to changing circumstances and meet deadlines
- Commitment to ethical behavior, exercising honesty, integrity, respect, and fairness in all responsibilities
- High level of discretion and confidentiality with sensitive employee and financial information
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
- Proficiency with the Internet and Office 365
- Ability to exercise initiative, act with discretion, and use a personal mobile device for multifactor authentication
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Experience:- Experience in public sector Human Resources (preferred)
- Bilingual (preferred)
- Full-Time | Regular 40 hours a week.
- Hybrid schedule option
- Harris County travel for site visits. May require attendance at evening meetings, after-hour events, or off-site meetings.
- $43.30 Per Hour
- Paid Biweekly
Work Environment and Physical Demands:
- This job typically operates in a professional office environment with overhead lighting and long periods of screen time.
- Daily use of a computer, keyboard, copier, scanner, printer, calculator, phone (desk and cell).
- Daily use of software programs.
- Driving: Available and reliable transportation for work-related duties.
- Sitting for long periods; light physical activity that may include walking, standing, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and carrying.
- Ability to lift, carry, and exert up to 25 pounds. Occasionally lifts, carries, and exerts up to 40 pounds.
- This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
- Reports to Position: Division Director of Human Resources
Supervises Positions: Human Resources Business Partners
Work Location:
- Library Administration Building - 5749 South Loop East, Houston, TX 77033
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
Salary : $43
