Description
***To view the position brochure, please click on the link below***
https://issuu.com/cityofweatherford/docs/human_resources_director_brochure
Job Summary:
Under the administrative direction of the Assistant City Manager/CFO, the Director of Human Resources & Risk Management directs and manages all human resources and risk management functions of the City. The Director provides strategic HR leadership, ensures compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations, oversees the City’s comprehensive risk management program, and serves as a trusted advisor to City leadership and department directors on all personnel and risk-related matters.
This role manages the HR department while providing mentoring and professional development opportunities for HR staff. The position requires extensive knowledge of public sector human resources, employment law, risk management, and municipal operations. The Director is expected to operate with a high degree of independence, initiative, and ethical judgment, and must communicate effectively with diverse audiences including elected officials, department heads, employees, and the public.
Roles & Responsibilities:
Serves as a strategic HR partner to City leadership, proactively identifying workforce trends, organizational needs, and opportunities for improvement; represents the HR and Risk Management function in City leadership meetings, retreats, and cross-departmental initiatives.
Develops, recommends, and administers City-wide personnel policies, ensuring they are current, legally compliant, consistently applied, and clearly communicated to supervisors, department directors, and employees.
Leads and manages the Human Resources Department, including setting performance expectations, providing regular feedback, conducting performance evaluations of the Assistant Director, and holding staff accountable to departmental standards; supports succession planning and organizational development efforts.
Oversees and directs all phases of the recruitment and selection process for City positions, ensuring efficient, fair, and legally defensible hiring practices; partners with department directors to forecast workforce needs and develop effective sourcing strategies; ensures all employment requisitions are processed accurately, within established timelines, and with verified budgetary authority prior to posting.
Develops and maintains a library of current, legally compliant job descriptions for all City positions; conducts periodic classification and compensation reviews to ensure internal equity and market competitiveness; researches and recommends position reclassifications as needed.
Provides guidance, coaching, and direction to supervisors and department directors on employee relations matters including performance management, corrective action, disciplinary procedures, and termination; investigates employee complaints, grievances, and workplace conduct concerns in a timely, thorough, and impartial manner; documents findings and recommends appropriate action.
Counsels employees on HR matters including benefits, leave, TMRS, and workplace concerns; makes referrals to appropriate resources as needed.
Ensures FMLA, ADA accommodation, and leave management processes are administered consistently and in compliance with applicable law; provides guidance to supervisors and serves as final HR authority on leave-related determinations.
Maintains current, comprehensive knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, COBRA, EEOC, Title VII, ADEA, Texas Local Government Code, and Texas Labor Code; monitors legislative changes and implements required policy or procedural updates; works closely with City legal counsel on employment-related matters, investigations, and litigation support.
Administers employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, TMRS, deferred compensation (457b), flexible spending, and supplemental coverages; serves as primary City liaison to benefit carriers; manages open enrollment, plan changes, and claims dispute resolution; ensures timely issuance of COBRA notifications and other required benefit communications; participates in periodic salary and benefit surveys to inform planning recommendations to City leadership.
Directs the City’s employee training and development function, including oversight of supervisory and leadership development programs, new employee onboarding, and City-wide training initiatives; ensures training efforts are aligned with organizational needs and compliance requirements.
Plans, directs, and administers the City’s comprehensive risk management program including property, casualty, liability, workers’ compensation, and safety programs; serves as the City’s primary liaison to insurance carriers, brokers, and third-party administrators; manages the bidding, procurement, and renewal of all insurance coverages.
Oversees the administration of workers’ compensation claims and return-to-work programs; ensures timely reporting, cost containment, and compliance with applicable regulations; coordinates with departments on modified duty assignments; monitors and investigates property damage, liability, and casualty incidents involving City property, vehicles, or personnel; coordinates with legal counsel on claims resolution and litigation support.
Develops and administers City-wide safety programs and training initiatives; partners with departments to identify, evaluate, and mitigate operational safety risks; prepares reports and recommendations for City leadership on risk trends and claims experience.
Serves as the City’s ADA Coordinator for employment-related matters, ensuring reasonable accommodation processes are administered consistently and in compliance with federal law.
Maintains accurate compensation records and ensures HR-initiated pay actions are properly authorized and transmitted to Finance/Payroll for processing; coordinates with Finance on accurate implementation of pay changes.
Provides strategic oversight of the City’s HR systems platform (currently MUNIS); ensures system integrity, appropriate access controls, and that HR, benefits, recruiting, and talent management modules support departmental and City-wide needs.
Ensures HR reporting functions including EEO-4 and other required regulatory reports are completed accurately and on time.
Oversees the unemployment claims process; ensures timely and accurate completion of claims and coordinates the City’s response to appeals hearings.
Oversees public records requests related to HR and risk matters, working with the City Attorney as needed.
Prepares, presents, and administers the annual Human Resources and Risk Management Department budget, ensuring responsible stewardship of allocated resources.
Coordinates new employee orientation to ensure a professional, informative, and welcoming onboarding experience.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field from an accredited institution; Master’s Degree in a related field preferred.
Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, with at least three (3) years in a management or supervisory HR role; municipal or public sector experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience in employee relations, HR policy administration, recruitment, benefits administration, employment law compliance, and risk management.
Professional HR certification preferred: SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR; risk management certification (ARM, PRIMA) also preferred.
Experience in Texas municipal government HR, including familiarity with TMRS, Texas Local Government Code, and the Texas Workforce Commission preferred.
Demonstrated experience with Tyler Technologies MUNIS HR systems or similar integrated HR/ERP systems preferred.
Any combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
Extensive knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations including FLSA, ADA, FMLA, HIPAA, COBRA, Title VII, ADEA, EEOC guidelines, Texas Local Government Code, and Texas Labor Code; ability to apply legal requirements to real-world HR situations and monitor legislative changes affecting City operations.
Extensive knowledge of municipal human resources practices and procedures including recruitment and selection, classification and compensation, employee relations, grievance and appeal procedures, performance management, and leave administration.
Extensive knowledge of municipal retirement systems (TMRS), deferred compensation programs, self-funded and level-funded health benefit plan administration, workers’ compensation regulations, and employee benefits programs.
Knowledge of public entity risk management principles including property, casualty, liability, and workers’ compensation programs; experience with self-insured or pooled coverage structures preferred.
Strong knowledge of municipal compensation and classification systems; ability to develop, analyze, and refine position classifications and pay structures.
Demonstrated ability to advise, coach, and influence senior leaders, department directors, and supervisors on complex HR and employee relations matters; ability to conduct workplace investigations and manage sensitive, confidential personnel matters with discretion, fairness, and professionalism.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to prepare clear, well-organized policies, reports, correspondence, and presentations; ability to explain complex HR and risk concepts to diverse audiences including elected officials, department heads, and employees.
Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; ability to interpret data, identify trends, and recommend actionable solutions.
Proficiency in HR systems platforms including Tyler Technologies MUNIS; proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; ability to adapt to new technology systems.
Knowledge of modern supervisory and leadership techniques; ability to build high-performing teams, provide mentoring and professional development, and hold staff accountable to clear performance expectations.
Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with competing deadlines; strong project management skills.
High degree of integrity, ethical judgment, and commitment to fair and consistent treatment of all employees.
Ability to establish and maintain satisfactory working relationships with the City Manager, Assistant City Managers, City Council members, department directors, employees, and the public.
