Human Resource Director

City of New Berlin Department of Community Development; New Berlin (WI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of New Berlin seeks an experienced HR Director to lead the Human Resources Department, directing employment services, labor relations, benefits, information systems, and training programs.

You will supervise recruitment, compensation, budgets, and policy interpretation, coordinate with city departments and the Mayor’s office, and ensure compliance with federal and state laws while advancing staff development and safety initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business/public administration, HR or related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work in HR or labor relations.
• Master's degree may substitute for one year of experience.
• SHRM or SPHR certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Directs and administers City recruitment, selection, and employment functions.
• Directs classification and compensation systems and evaluates program changes.
• Oversees employee benefits function, including design and evaluation of benefits.
• Interprets policies, collective bargaining agreements, and labor laws.
• Leads collective bargaining, bargaining committee, and strategic negotiations.
• Advises department heads on practices, legal requirements and policy interpretation.
• Manages annual HR budget and departmental financial plans.
• Participates in Mayor's management team and risk management programs.
• Liaises with Police and Fire Commission; oversees Safety and Wellness program.
• Serves as EEO/ADA Coordinator for compliance and corrective actions.
• Selects, trains, assigns, and reviews staff; handles personnel issues.
• Performs other professional HR duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

HR leadership

Recruitment

Labor relations

Benefits administration

Policy interpretation

Budget management

Communication

Training and development

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/public administration/HR

Master's degree preferred

SHRM/SPHR certifications preferred

Job description

Position Summary

Responsible for providing leadership in formulating, implementing and directing operations for the City’s Human Resource Department. The HR Director is responsible for advanced supervisory and advanced professional work involving the administration of employment services, labor relations, employee benefits, human resources, information systems, and training functions.

• Directs and administers City recruitment, selection, and employment functions.
• Directs and administers City classification and compensation systems; and evaluates, recommends, and implements program changes.
• Directs and administers the employee benefits function including the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of new and existing benefits.
• Administers, applies, and interprets policies, procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and federal and state human resource and labor statutes, rules, and regulations.
• Directs the City’s collective bargaining function; develops and recommends parameters and strategies; leads the City’s Bargaining Committee.
• Advises department heads, managers, and supervisors of appropriate practices, legal requirements, and the application and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements and City policies and procedures.
• Creates, maintains and analyzes the yearly Human Resource budget. Prepares and administers departmental financial plans and resources.
• Participates in the efforts of the Mayor’s management team.
• Oversees the City’s risk management liability programs, to include property, liability and worker’s compensation functions.
• Oversees requests for new positions and makes appropriate recommendations to requesting departments, Finance and Mayor.
• Directs the city’s litigation proceedings in conjunction with legal counsel including appeals, grievances, arbitration, discrimination charges, worker’s compensation hearings and unemployment compensation hearings.
• Liaison to the Police and Fire Commission.
• Oversees the administration of the City’s Safety and Wellness Program.
• Serves as the City's EEO and ADA Coordinator for compliance with federal and state equal employment laws and regulations and the Americans with Disabilities Act; advises department heads, managers, and supervisors of their obligations; responds to complaints; and facilitates efforts to correct areas of non-compliance.
• Selects, trains, assigns, and reviews work, evaluates employees and handles any personnel problems of the staff as required.
• Performs all other professional Human Resource duties as assigned or required.

Position Summary

Responsible for providing leadership in formulating, implementing and directing operations for the City’s Human Resource Department. The HR Director is responsible for advanced supervisory and advanced professional work involving the administration of employment services, labor relations, employee benefits, human resources, information systems, and training functions.

• Directs and administers City recruitment, selection, and employment functions.
• Directs and administers City classification and compensation systems; and evaluates, recommends, and implements program changes.
• Directs and administers the employee benefits function including the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of new and existing benefits.
• Administers, applies, and interprets policies, procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and federal and state human resource and labor statutes, rules, and regulations.
• Directs the City’s collective bargaining function; develops and recommends parameters and strategies; leads the City’s Bargaining Committee.
• Advises department heads, managers, and supervisors of appropriate practices, legal requirements, and the application and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements and City policies and procedures.
• Creates, maintains and analyzes the yearly Human Resource budget. Prepares and administers departmental financial plans and resources.
• Participates in the efforts of the Mayor’s management team.
• Oversees the City’s risk management liability programs, to include property, liability and worker’s compensation functions.
• Oversees requests for new positions and makes appropriate recommendations to requesting departments, Finance and Mayor.
• Directs the city’s litigation proceedings in conjunction with legal counsel including appeals, grievances, arbitration, discrimination charges, worker’s compensation hearings and unemployment compensation hearings.
• Liaison to the Police and Fire Commission.
• Oversees the administration of the City’s Safety and Wellness Program.
• Serves as the City's EEO and ADA Coordinator for compliance with federal and state equal employment laws and regulations and the Americans with Disabilities Act; advises department heads, managers, and supervisors of their obligations; responds to complaints; and facilitates efforts to correct areas of non-compliance.
• Selects, trains, assigns, and reviews work, evaluates employees and handles any personnel problems of the staff as required.
• Performs all other professional Human Resource duties as assigned or required.

Essential Duties

• Directs and administers City recruitment, selection, and employment functions.
• Directs and administers City classification and compensation systems; and evaluates, recommends, and implements program changes.
• Directs and administers the employee benefits function including the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of new and existing benefits.
• Administers, applies, and interprets policies, procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and federal and state human resource and labor statutes, rules, and regulations.
• Directs the City’s collective bargaining function; develops and recommends parameters and strategies; leads the City’s Bargaining Committee.
• Advises department heads, managers, and supervisors of appropriate practices, legal requirements, and the application and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements and City policies and procedures.
• Creates, maintains and analyzes the yearly Human Resource budget. Prepares and administers departmental financial plans and resources.
• Participates in the efforts of the Mayor’s management team.
• Oversees the City’s risk management liability programs, to include property, liability and worker’s compensation functions.
• Oversees requests for new positions and makes appropriate recommendations to requesting departments, Finance and Mayor.
• Directs the city’s litigation proceedings in conjunction with legal counsel including appeals, grievances, arbitration, discrimination charges, worker’s compensation hearings and unemployment compensation hearings.
• Liaison to the Police and Fire Commission.
• Oversees the administration of the City’s Safety and Wellness Program.
• Serves as the City's EEO and ADA Coordinator for compliance with federal and state equal employment laws and regulations and the Americans with Disabilities Act; advises department heads, managers, and supervisors of their obligations; responds to complaints; and facilitates efforts to correct areas of non-compliance.
• Selects, trains, assigns, and reviews work, evaluates employees and handles any personnel problems of the staff as required.
• Performs all other professional Human Resource duties as assigned or required.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the modern principles and practices used in Human Resources administration and leadership.
• Thorough knowledge of principles of recruitment, selection, onboarding, engagement, employee retention including interviewing, test development, validity, and job-relatedness.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and procedures used in conducting job analysis and classification and compensation studies.
• Thorough knowledge of compensation and performance management systems.
• Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of labor relations, employee relations, and human resources management.
• Thorough knowledge of modern principles and practices of employee benefits and insurance programs and emerging trends.
• Thorough knowledge of federal and state labor and human resources laws and regulations and of recent legal developments.
• Thorough knowledge of City Human Resource policies and procedures.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state laws, and administrative regulations and procedures regarding the development and administration of employee benefit and insurance programs.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the various duties, responsibilities, requirements, and qualifications of various levels of job classifications.
• Comprehensive knowledge of management and supervisory practices and principles.
• Ability to direct human resource programs, provide effective leadership to human resources staff, and handle complex administrative situations.
• Ability to research and analyze complex information; objectively evaluate alternatives; and make appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to plan and manage projects and to plan, organize and direct the work of others.
• Ability to analyze benefit systems and develop benefit policies and practices that are competitive in the marketplace.
• Ability to keep accurate and detailed records and prepare and present comprehensive reports and recommendations.
• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize multiple work assignments and projects.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, departments, union representatives, elected officials, committees, commissions, attorneys, other governmental agencies, and the public.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, and to present ideas and concepts to individuals, boards, and committees.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor's degree in business or public administration, industrial or labor relations, human resources management, or a closely related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in human resource or labor relations administration, preferably in the public sector.
• Master's degree from a recognized college or university in an area listed above may be substituted for one (1) year of work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business or public administration, industrial or labor relations, human resources management, or a closely related field.
• Experience in a Municipal Human Resource Department
• SHRM and/or SPHR Certifications

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE

Benefits 2026

• Please note that these descriptions are general statements, and all benefits will be determined by the applicable plan documents in effect. Benefits are subject to