Fire Workforce Specialist

City of Bend, OR; Bend (OR); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Bend is seeking a detail-oriented Human Resources Program Specialist to manage timekeeping, payroll, onboarding, and workforce data across the department. You will develop reports, respond to questions, and support staffing processes to help leadership make informed decisions.

Successful candidates will demonstrate strong analytical skills, confidentiality, and the ability to work with multiple systems and stakeholders in a fast-paced public safety environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level or equivalent education preferred.
• 2 years’ experience in a similar HR/workforce admin role.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Manage employee timekeeping, pay, leave, and scheduling information in accordance with policies and labor agreements.
• Research and resolve workforce, payroll, leave, and personnel questions for employees, supervisors, and leadership.
• Coordinate onboarding, personnel changes, and updates across workforce systems.
• Develop and maintain workforce reports and metrics to support planning and decision-making.
• Monitor staffing trends and identify opportunities for process improvements.
• Maintain and support workforce management and HRIS systems.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Associate’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Bend Fire & Rescue relies on accurate workforce information, effective staffing processes, and strong operational support to provide emergency services to the community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This position serves as a key resource for workforce administration, timekeeping, personnel processes, reporting, and staffing support. On any given day, you might troubleshoot a complex payroll inquiry, onboard a new employee, build reports for department leaders, research labor agreement questions, or analyze staffing data to help support operational decisions. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with both people and data. You’ll need to be equally comfortable analyzing complex information, collaborating with employees and department leaders, asking thoughtful questions, and working through challenging situations to find practical solutions.

This position works closely with Fire leadership, Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, and employees throughout the organization. It serves as a bridge between people, processes, and systems, ensuring workforce information is accurate, employees are supported, and department leaders have the information they need to make informed decisions. We’re looking for someone who takes ownership of their work, anticipates needs, and isn’t afraid to speak up when something needs attention. Success in this role requires exceptional attention to detail, sound judgment, strong interpersonal skills, and the confidence to identify issues, recommend improvements, and advocate for the resources or information needed to be successful.

The position offers opportunities to support the continued evolution of workforce systems, timekeeping processes, reporting tools, onboarding programs, and operational business processes. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to make meaningful improvements that impact employees across the department while helping ensure Bend Fire & Rescue remains ready to serve the community. If you are someone who notices when something doesn’t add up, enjoys untangling complicated issues, builds strong working relationships, and takes pride in making things work better, you’ll find meaningful opportunities to contribute in this role.

Classification Framework: Human Resources Program Specialist

The following duties are a sample of major duties performed in the role and not intended to be an exhaustive list.

• Manage employee timekeeping processes and help ensure pay, leave, and scheduling information is accurate and compliant with policies, labor agreements, and FLSA requirements.
• Serve as a resource for employees, supervisors, and department leadership by researching and resolving workforce, scheduling, payroll, leave, and personnel-related questions.
• Coordinate employee onboarding, personnel changes, and workforce system updates, including accurate and timely entry of information into applicable systems, throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain reports, systems, and workforce metrics that support department planning and decision-making.
• Monitor staffing, schedule and time entry, leave usage, and workforce trends, and identify opportunities for improvement while understanding complex FLSA requirements.
• Maintain and support workforce management, scheduling, timekeeping, and personnel information systems.
• Build effective working relationships with Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, and Fire leadership to ensure workforce processes are accurate, efficient, and consistent.
• Analyze data, identify issues, and recommend and help implement process improvements that enhance service, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
• Support recruitment, promotional processes, employee records management, and other workforce administration activities.
• Prepare information, presentations, and reports for leadership, special projects, budget discussions, and workforce planning efforts.

We're looking for someone who is an analytical and detail-oriented professional who enjoys solving workforce and operational challenges. They are comfortable working with complex personnel, payroll, and staffing information while maintaining a high level of accuracy, professionalism, and confidentiality. They can work independently, build strong relationships with stakeholders, and use data and sound judgment to support informed decision-making.

The Ideal candidate has the ability to:

• Build strong working relationships and serve as a trusted resource for employees, supervisors, department leadership, Human Resources, Payroll, and other organizational partners.
• Analyze, interpret, and apply complex policies, labor agreement provisions, payroll requirements, FLSA regulations, and workforce processes while exercising sound judgment.
• Research issues, identify trends, evaluate options, and make recommendations that support operational and workforce-related decision-making.
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive personnel, payroll, medical, labor relations, and employee information.
• Manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining accuracy, attention to detail, and a high level of customer service.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with individuals at all levels of the organization, initiate conversations, ask thoughtful questions, and explain complex information clearly and professionally.
• Work independently with minimal supervision, proactively identify and address issues, communicate needs, and take ownership of work through completion.
• Administer, maintain, and troubleshoot workforce, payroll, scheduling, HRIS, and other personnel-related systems while ensuring data accuracy and integrity.
• Coordinate personnel transactions, onboarding activities, employee data management, and workforce system updates across multiple business systems.
• Interpret, organize, analyze, and report workforce, staffing, payroll, leave, and operational data to support planning and decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, enhance system functionality, and increase operational efficiency through collaboration and innovation.
• Work effectively in a fast-paced public safety environment where priorities, deadlines, and operational needs frequently shift.
• Balance employee, operational, and organizational needs while maintaining professionalism, objectivity, and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Learn new systems, regulations, and business processes quickly and adapt to evolving workforce administration needs.
• Demonstrate a high level of attention to detail.
• Maintain a working knowledge of software programs such as Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint), other interactive computer applications, and commonly used office equipment.
• Ability to work with a multicultural workforce, promote an equitable workplace environment, and apply equitable program practices to diverse and complex City services.
• Remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for extended periods of time, occasionally stand, walk, stoop, or kneel for extended periods of time.
• Work is generally performed in an office setting with travel required to off-site locations.
• Ability to occasionally travel locally and regionally.

Candidates who meet the listed minimum qualifications, including an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered for an interview. Please ensure your application includes information about your education, relevant paid and unpaid work experience, and applicable licenses and certifications.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities as outlined in this job description.
• 2 years’ experience in a similar position and/or performing similar tasks.

Required Certifications or Licenses:

• Current and valid driver's license per City policies outlined in the Employee Handbook.

Ability Requirements:

• Ability to communicate effectively and interact professionally with coworkers, supervisors, the public, and other stakeholders to exchange information and provide or receive work direction.
• Manage a high volume of tasks simultaneously, including organizing and prioritizing both personal workload and the work of others.
• Work independently with minimum direction while also working as part of a team and collaborating with others.
• Demonstrate a high level of attention to detail.
• Maintain a working knowledge of software programs such as Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint), other interactive computer applications, and commonly used office equipment.
• Ability to work with a multicultural workforce, promote an equitable workplace environment, and apply equitable program practices to diverse and complex City services.
• Remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for extended periods of time, occasionally stand, walk, stoop, or kneel for extended periods of time.
• Work is generally performed in an office setting with travel required to off-site locations.
• Ability to occasionally travel locally and regionally.

Veterans’ Preference:

Applications seeking Veteran’s Preference as a qualified veteran or disabled veteran must attach appropriate documentation to their application. For more information click here.

Equity Statement:

The City of Bend remains committed to building a workforce that advances diversity and inclusion within our community and all we do. We recognize that not everyone starts from the same place, and that gender, race, ability, sexual orientation, and other identities face different barriers. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to creating an inclusive, safe, and respectful workplace where employees can thrive without these barriers. A more extended version of the City of Bend’s Organizational Equity Statement is available upon request.

Benefits:

• The City of Bend offers an excellent competitive benefits package for Employees and Dependents for health and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and a robust paid leave program. Details are available on the benefits tab of the job posting.

Starting Compensation:

• Starting compensation is determined based on a pay equity analysis considering the candidate’s education, applicable work experience, and internal equity. Please include all relevant information on your application.

Application Deadline:

Applications must be received by Friday, November 20, 2026 (11/20/2026) 12:00 PM (noon) Pacific Time to be considered for this selection process.