Assistant Director of Human Resources

City of Baytown; Baytown (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Baytown seeks an Assistant Director of Human Resources to advise the Director on employee relations, compliance, and organizational risk. The role leads the employee relations function, ensuring proper policy application and workplace practices while guiding executive leadership on complex personnel matters.

The position oversees investigations, leave administration, workers' compensation, and Civil Service matters, collaborating across HR to advance department priorities and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources or related field required.
• Seven years of progressively responsible HR experience with employee relations and compliance.
• Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.

Responsibilities

• Act as principal advisor on employee relations, workforce compliance, and organizational risk.
• Provide executive leadership over employee relations, policy application, and workplace practices.
• Oversee workers' compensation, leave administration, accommodations, and Civil Service administration.
• Respond to external claims and inquiries, coordinate documentation, and engage legal counsel as needed.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and interpret requirements for leadership.

Skills

Employee relations

Compliance

Investigation skills

Policy interpretation

Conflict resolution

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in HR / Organizational Development

Master's Degree in HR

Job description

Assistant Director of Human Resources

The Assistant Director of Human Resources serves as the Director's principal advisor on employee relations, workforce compliance, and organizational risk. This position provides executive leadership over the City's employee relations function, ensuring consistent application of employment laws, policies, and workplace practices while advising executive leadership on complex personnel matters.

The Assistant Director oversees employee relations, workplace investigations, leave administration, accommodations, workers' compensation, and Civil Service administration, while partnering across Human Resources to provide leadership, share expertise, strengthen collaboration, and support the department's overall priorities and effectiveness.

In the Director's absence, this position serves as the delegated HR executive and provides continuity of operations for the department.

• Serves as the City’s lead advisor for escalated employee relations matters, including complex investigations, disciplinary review, and conflict resolution. Ensures consistent application of policy, employment law, and organization standards.
• Provides strategic consultation to executive leadership, directors, and supervisors regarding employment law, personnel policies, organizational risk, disciplinary actions, separations, and other complex workforce issues.
• Supervises staff responsible for workers’ compensation, leave administration, and workplace accommodations. Provides leadership and support to assigned staff, including hiring, training, coaching, performance management, and disciplinary actions. Provides direction on complex or high-risk cases and ensures effective resolution of issues.
• Responds to external employment-related claims and inquiries, including EEOC charges, Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) unemployment claims, and related matters. Coordinates documentation, prepares responses, and partners with legal counsel as needed.
• Ensures organizational compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws by interpreting requirements, advising leadership, and supporting consistent application of policies and practices.
• Participates in Civil Service processes, including hearings, appeals, and policy interpretation, while ensuring compliance with Chapter 143 requirements and serving as a trusted strategic HR partner to Civil Service groups through proactive guidance, collaboration, and support.
• Provides leadership and support across Human Resources by sharing expertise, serving as a resource to HR staff, supporting cross-functional collaboration, and helping advance department priorities and initiatives.
• Acts on behalf of the Director of Human Resources as delegated by providing executive oversight of assigned Human Resources operations and representing the department on organizational initiatives, executive meetings, and other cross-functional projects.
• Completes special projects and performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Human Resources.

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or institution in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Training and Development, or a related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible professional human resources experience, including employee relations and compliance, with demonstrated progression into broader leadership responsibilities.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record. Must possess and maintain the appropriate driver's license required to perform the essential functions of the position.

OR

• An equivalent combination of education, experience, certification and/or licenses sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

Preferred:

• Master's Degree from an accredited college or institution in Human Resources, Management, Training and Development, or a related field.
• Municipal experience.
• Professional certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP)

Knowledge of employment law, including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, and Civil Service requirements. Knowledge of employee relations practices, investigations, and conflict resolution techniques. General understanding of workers’ compensation, leave administration, and compliance programs. Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of public sector human resources, including employee relations, compensation, classification, benefits, talent acquisition, performance management, learning and development, leave administration, and organizational development. Ability to interpret and apply laws, policies, and regulations in a consistent and practical manner. Ability to manage complex and sensitive employee situations with sound judgment and discretion. Ability to step into high-risk or escalated issues and provide clear direction. Ability to advise executive leadership on complex employment matters. Ability to evaluate organizational risk and recommend practical solutions. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to advise leadership and influence outcomes. Ability to represent the Human Resources Director in meetings and organizational initiatives. Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple responsibilities. Ability to maintain confidentiality and build trust across departments.

This position will provide service and support to all City of Baytown departments including public safety. As a result, additional security clearances and background checks will be completed as part of the selection process.

Here at the City of Baytown, in recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you bring. We strive to provide a workplace where differences are honored, with a workforce that reflects the diversity of the people we serve.

Attendance is an essential function of this position. The City reserves the right to require an employee in this position to work more than 40 hours a week. This position provides services or performs duties for the benefit of the general public during emergency situations. These may include services or duties different from those performed in the usual course and scope of your job. In the event of an evacuation, the incumbent in this position may be required to remain to perform needed services.

Overall Position Strength Demands

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.