Human Resources Director

Job Posting/Position Title: Human Resources Director
Department/Location: Human Resources/City Hall
2025 Pay Range: $94,182 - $126,922 annually

Purpose
This is a director level position, responsible for directing the Human Resources functions within the Administration Department. The successful applicant will be able to proactively and cohesively lead the department’s many facets in alignment with the City’s core values, strategic plan, and best practices. Administers and coordinates a wide variety of human resources functions, including recruitment, employee and/or labor relations, compensation management, benefits administration, training, performance evaluation, workers compensation, personnel policies and maintenance of personnel records. It is a fundamental expectation that this position will work collaboratively with staff among all departments to human resource functions across the organization and develop effective and communicative working relationships.

Organizational Relationships
Communicates with: Internally - City Administrator, other department directors, City Council, Administrative Assistant; Externally - other Human Resource Professionals, League of MN City attorneys. 

 
Essential Functions
• Ability to identify unmet needs and proactively develop recommendations to maintain compliance with best practices, internal controls, and core values.
• Assist with overseeing the formulation of City personnel policies, goals and objectives in alignment with City Council goals.
• Provide a leadership style which promotes collaboration, innovation, and a spirit of teamwork that fosters individual and organizational growth.
• Coordinate new employee on-boarding and orientation; prepare new employee orientation packets.
• Encourage and promote individual staff development to ensure the highest quality of service and knowledge.
• Develop and maintain an effective, well-trained staff. Work with department directors to plan staffing needs and participate in the selection of personnel. Promote proper training and supervision of all employees to provide flexibility, broaden expertise and provide overall growth and career development.
• Actively participate as an integral, engaged, contributing member of the senior management team and serve as a team resource in areas of human resources.
• Manage the day-to-day human resource programs to include employee relations, recruitment, selection, orientation, compensation, records management, position descriptions and evaluation systems.
• Research and make recommendations for personnel policies and procedures in compliance with state and federal laws.
• Plan and direct administration of benefits programs; analyze existing benefits policies; recommend benefit plan changes.
• Responsible Authority for the Data Practices Act as it relates to personnel.
• Act as member of City’s Safety Committee, responsible for assisting departmental safety practices, programs and policies that are in compliance, including safety training.
• Manage the recruitment and selection process for City positions in conjunction with department directors including advertising, screening, interviewing, testing, applicant correspondence and background checks.
• Develop and revise job descriptions, establish minimum qualifications, evaluate classification and compensation issues and oversee or perform job evaluation work.
• Prepare and submit Pay Equity compliance reports and ensure the City meets all requirements.
• Serve as internal contact for questions concerning employment issues. Provide advice and coaching to employees and management on a variety of issues and approve personnel actions regarding promotion, performance management, discipline, grievances, etc.
• Conduct research, identify concerns and develop proposals and responses for union negotiations; assist the City Administrator in negotiating the labor agreements and interpret and administer the contracts.
• Review and analyze state and federal laws, rules and regulations related to employment and labor relations to determine actions necessary for compliance and to reduce liability.
• Oversee the development, updating and enforcement of personnel policies; ensure any changes are disseminated to all affected employees and provide training on policies as needed.
• Oversee employee leaves of absences, including FMLA, Parenting Leave, Military Leave, etc; advise employees on eligibility for continued benefits during the leaves and administer COBRA.
• Oversee the Workers’ Compensation program, including investigating and processing claims, and reviewing claims for trends; identify actions to reduce the number and severity of injuries and manage return to work issues.
• Oversee and manage the grievance and discipline process in conjunction with the City Administrator and advise management staff on these and other performance issues and concerns.
• Serve as the ADA Coordinator for Employment, Data Compliance Officer for Personnel and Labor Relations Data and HIPPA Privacy Officer for employee health plans.
• Administer the City’s drug and alcohol testing program; work with outside providers for referrals to substance abuse professionals and compliance with relevant laws and rules.
• Obtain market information periodically; analyze various salary surveys and may recommend adjustments to the salary schedule. Oversee the City’s data entry for the LMC salary surveys.
• Determine and recommend employee relations practices and personnel policies necessary to establish a positive employer-employee relationship and promote a high level of employee morale.
• Administer the City’s employee benefit program including employee insurance, time off, holidays, etc.; work with outside insurance agents and plan administrators to ensure contractual requirements are met and employee concerns are resolved.
• Manage the employee insurance renewal process and open enrollment meetings and conduct new employee orientation; oversee benefit enrollment and changes.
• Maintain employee records including personnel, medical/legal, training, safety, and other confidential materials; prepare correspondence including letters, spreadsheets, notices, postings, forms, etc.
• Determine FLSA status for all positions and assist in ensuring compliance with federal and state laws.
• Establish and maintain all permanent personnel files; approve all items entered and removed from the files.
• Perform other duties and assume other responsibilities as apparent or as delegated.

Other Duties and Responsibilities
• Conduct research and makes recommendations on city-wide personnel initiatives.
• Assume additional responsibilities as apparent or assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Thorough knowledge of personnel, labor/employee relations, policies, and practices including applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
• Working knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration and a working knowledge of these techniques as applied to governmental activities.
• Working knowledge of state, federal, and organization requirements.
• Ability to develop, mentor, and coach assigned personnel.

COMPETENCIES COMMON TO ALL CITY POSITIONS:
• Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge and comply with all departmental and applicable City policies.
• Demonstration, by personal example, of the service, excellence, and integrity expected from all staff in alignment with City’s core values.
• Develop respectful and cooperative working relationships with co-workers.
• Confer regularly with and keep immediate supervisor informed of all important matters
• Represent the City of Willmar in a professional manner to the general public, fellow co-workers, and outside contacts and constituencies.
• Ability to take initiative and develop ideas in solving problems presented.
• Experience working independently with strong self-motivation and time management skills.
• Possess unquestioned honesty and integrity and a high sense of personal and professional ethics.
• Ability to effectively communicate tactfully, professionally, and courteously, both orally and in writing.
• Able to speak professionally and effectively in public.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, public administration, business administration or related field
• A minimum of five years progressively responsible experience
• Three years professional experience in Human Resources/Labor Relations
• Considerable knowledge of computer applications to include word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software
• Valid driver’s license with Minnesota driving privileges
• Successful completion of pre-employment physical and drug screen
• Successful completion of comprehensive pre-employment background investigation
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Master’s degree in public administration, business administration or related field.
• Previous experience with public sector/municipal personnel administration.

WORKING CONDITIONS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, feel, operate objects, tools or keyboards, speak intelligibly, hear and read. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and reach hands and arms. The employee must frequently move, turn, lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Examples of lifting and carrying include, but are not limited to, paper, electronic equipment, books, and exhibit displays. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus and other visual activities. Uses fine motor skills.

Benefits Offered: Health, Life Insurance; Long term Disability, Health Savings Account Employer contributes $3000 single and $6000 family per year. PERA retirement, 457b. 15 days of Vacation, 96 hours of Earned Sick & Safe Leave, and 11 holidays per year. Various additional benefit plans available as well: dental, vision, accident, critical illness.

How to Apply: Please note that all applications and upload of resume and cover letters must be received online via the City's website at www.willmarmn.gov This position will be open until filled.

Salary : $94,182 - $126,922