Human Resources and Civil Service Director
City of Lakeland
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Job summary
City of Lakeland is seeking a highly experienced Director of Human Resources to lead and manage the City’s centralized HR programs. You will serve as the chief HR officer, guiding recruitment, employee relations, compensation, benefits, wellness, and compliance for a municipal workforce.
The role requires a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 10 years in HR, including supervisory experience; a Master’s degree and professional HR certification are preferred.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in HR, Public Administration, Business Administration, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or related field.
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible HR experience, including 3+ years in a supervisory role.
- Experience with benefits administration, labor relations, workforce planning, and policy development is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Provide leadership and oversight for HR operations, ensuring compliance with laws and policies.
- Advise City leadership on workforce planning, structure, compensation, employee relations, and personnel policy matters.
- Communicate HR programs and procedures to city administration, departments, and unions.
- Direct employee and labor relations programs, investigations, and grievance processing.
- Oversee health benefits programs, including a self-insured plan and on-site wellness clinic.
Skills
Education
Job description
This is a highly responsible administrative and professional position in planning, directing, and managing the City’s centralized Human Resources (HR) programs and services. The Director serves as the City’s chief human resources officer and provides strategic guidance and leadership in recruitment, employee and labor relations, classification and compensation, employee development, administration of self-insured group health benefits, an on-site wellness clinic, and compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
Work involves frequent contact with department directors, City administration, employees, union representatives, and external partners. The incumbent exercises considerable independent judgment and initiative in administering a comprehensive HR program that supports the City’s workforce and service delivery goals. Work is subject to review through discussion and analysis of program effectiveness and accomplishments.
- Provides leadership and oversight for all human resources operations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, policies, and best practices in municipal government.
- Advises and supports City leadership on workforce planning, organizational structure, compensation, employee relations, and personnel policy matters.
- Interprets and communicates HR programs, policies, and procedures to City administration, department directors, employees, and their representatives, professional groups, and the public.
- Leads and manages employee and labor relations programs, including workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, and grievance processing.
- Directs and coordinates the City’s Equal Employment Opportunity programs, including plan development, monitoring, complaint investigations, and recordkeeping.
- Develops and oversees the City’s general training, employee engagement, leadership development, retention, and labor relations programs.
- Administers employee engagement and recognition programs, such as the Employee Suggestion Program, Service Awards, Educational Assistance, and City-sponsored employee activities.
- Supervises the preparation and dissemination of internal HR communications.
- Oversees human resources transactions and records, ensuring accuracy, security, and legal compliance.
- Serves as a member of the labor negotiations team and acts as liaison with the City’s employee association.
- Leads or supports initiatives related to change management, workforce modernization, and organizational development.
- Provides administrative support to implement policies and administrative decisions of the City’s Civil Service Board, including maintaining Board documents, statistical data, and attending all meetings of the Civil Service Board, its committees, and subcommittees.
- Oversees all City group medical insurance, including policy renewals, competitive bidding processes, specification development and evaluation, administration of self-insured programs, and coordination with health and medical professionals.
- Manages the operations and administration of the City’s on-site employee health clinic, including coordination of occupational health services, wellness initiatives, medical providers, and employee care programs.
- May be required to participate in and/or facilitate training to support departmental or City initiatives and requirements.
- May be required to work alternate hours as necessary for the efficient operation of the department.
- Position is designated as Mission Critical.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or a related field.
- Ten years of progressively responsible professional human resources experience, including at least three years in a supervisory or senior leadership role.
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
- Must possess and maintain a valid telephone number.
- Master’s degree is preferred.
- Professional certification in the field of Human Resources (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR, IPMA-SCP) is preferred.
- An incumbent in this position is required to file a financial disclosure statement with the State of Florida in accordance with Florida Statutes, Chapter 112, Part III. This filing must be completed within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter, no later than July 1 of each year in which the individual serves in this position.
- Public sector human resources practices, labor relations, and applicable federal and state employment laws.
- Structure, functions, and operations of municipal government.
- Compensation and classification systems, organizational development practices, and workforce analytics.
- Modern office technology, HRIS platforms, and data management best practices.
- Group health insurance practices and applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and compliance standards related to insurance programs.
- Employee health and wellness program administration, including occupational health clinic operations.
- Preparing and analyzing reports, research findings, and survey data for policy and decision-making.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for preparing reports, policies, presentations, and recommendations.
- Managing multiple projects, programs, and deadlines in a complex municipal environment.
- Leadership and supervisory skills in directing staff, consultants, medical providers, and third-party administrators.
- Conducting inspections, investigations, and compliance reviews.
- Lead, manage, and develop staff while fostering a high-performance and service-oriented culture.
- Build consensus, communicate complex ideas clearly, and maintain confidentiality and discretion in sensitive matters.
- Coordinate and manage multiple projects and initiatives simultaneously.
- Work collaboratively across departments and with community stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
- Inspire confidence, drive organizational change, and model professionalism and integrity.
- Plan, assign, evaluate, and support the professional development of Human Resources staff.
- Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and contractual provisions related to medical insurance.
- Analyze claims, insurance policies, and operational risks and provide sound recommendations as they relate to group health insurance.
- Supervise and evaluate staff, consultants, and service providers effectively.
- Prepare and present detailed reports, recommendations, and policy proposals to executive leadership and governing bodies.
- Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment in handling sensitive personnel, medical, and legal matters.
- Manage and oversee the operations of an employee occupational health clinic and related wellness initiatives.
- Sedentary work with occasional walking or standing, exerting up to 10 pounds of force regularly, and routine keyboard use.
- No significant exposure to environmental hazards.
- Normal visual acuity, field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of smell, depth perception, bright/dim light, and texture perception.
This job description outlines the general nature and level of work and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties or qualifications. Management reserves the right to modify or assign additional responsibilities as needed.
Annual leave is accumulated bi-weekly and based upon years of service as follows: Annual leave may be taken as earned by employees hired after January 1, 1989. Employees hired prior to that date use annual leave within the calendar year following the year the leave is earned. All employees may carry over up to a maximum of twenty (20) days at the end of the calendar year. Regular part-time employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue annual leave at the rate of four (4) hours per month.
Sick rate is accrued biweekly based upon years of service and standard hour classification. Eligible for use as soon as earned. Regular part-time employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue sick leave at the rate of four (4) hours per month.
- NOTE: REGULAR employees with a working day other than eight (8) hours, please contact your supervisor regarding these policies.
Allows employees to receive sick leave benefits in cases involving catastrophic or long-term illnesses or injuries after all personal leave time has been depleted. Regular full-time employees contribute eight (8) hours and Regular part-time employees contribute four (4) hours on an annual basis. Employees must have completed one full year of service on or before December 31st of the calendar year enrollment; and have accumulated at least forty (40) hours of sick time (twenty (20) hours for Regular part-time employees). Participation in this program is voluntary. For more information contact Amanda Kaiser at 834-8768
Federal legislation guarantees up to twelve (12) weeks per year off work under certain circumstances outlined in the policy manual. The employees must have been employed by the City for at least twelve (12) months and have at least 1,250 hours of service during the 12-month period before the requested leave. The City will continue its group life and health insurance for an employee on leave at the same level and under the same conditions that existed while the employee was working. For more information contact Dawn Justice at 834-6038.
Provision for retirement income requiring mandatory participation for full-time regular employees.
Plan C Employee 4.52%
Employer 15.54%
Executives, New Hires aged 52 and older, and Fire/Police Recruits
Employee 8.5% or 11% per election upon hire
Employer 15.54%
A voluntary plan that is invested in mutual funds. The Employees' Pension Board performs the due diligence on the mutual funds. Employees may reallocate their account at any time. Maximum contribution for 2026 is $24,500; employees age 50 or older can also add a "catch-up" amount of $8,000; employees age 60-63 can also add a "catch-up" amount of $11,250. Additionally, a match of up to 5% of salary is offered by the City in Plan C.
Twelve (12) holidays, includes one (1) personal floating holiday to be used at any time after three (3) months of employment and prior to the end of the calendar year.
Up to three (3) days off with pay due to death of an immediate family member (as defined in the policy manual). Up to four (4) hours off with pay may be obtained through supervisor approval to attend local funeral services of persons other than immediate family.
Employees required to serve on jury duty will be relieved of responsibility for their regular work shift or portion thereof and receive full pay while serving. All fees received for such service may be retained by the employee. Employees subpoenaed to any civil or criminal court proceeding, which employee is not personally or monetarily interested, shall be paid as if engaged in regular work activities.
Allows for up to 240 hours in any one calendar year for annual military training without loss of pay or benefits for any employee in some type of reserve status for the United States Armed Forces. (see policy manual for additional information).
Refer to Family & Medical Leave for those employees who qualify. Others may take up to three (3) months leave of absence available upon approval of the Department Head. Employees may opt to utilize any combination of paid (sick or annual leave) or unpaid leave.
Written requests are subject to approval by Department Head and City Manager or designee for less than ninety (90) days. Requests for more than ninety (90) days also require Civil Service Board approval for employees in a Civil Service classification.
Program provides employees up to $2,500 per fiscal year (October 1 through September 30) for reimbursement of tuition of approved college, university, vocational, or correspondence classes upon completion with a grade of "C" or better in credit courses only. Full reimbursement is given for courses and fees, upon approval. The program does not include reimbursement for cost of books, supplies or other related expenses. For more information, contact Melissa Yelnick at 834-6844.
A program designed to provide a consistent and organized method for employees to submit and be rewarded for constructive ideas for improvement. Maximum award is $1000. For additional information, contact Employee Engagement and Development at 834-6837.
(refer to handout in new employee folder) An account must be established with the institution of your choice prior to signing up for direct deposit.
Uniforms issued at no cost to employees for those job classifications which require them. Equipment is issued to employees at either no cost or discounted cost depending upon job classification.
Free while at work.
Employees may be permitted two (2), fifteen (15) minute breaks during the workday. The time shall be at the discretion of the supervisor.
For Information on Health Insurance, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance please contact Benefits at 834-6797.
For Information on Retirement Benefits, contact the Retirement Services at 834-8765 or 834-8797.
For Information on Firefighter and Police Officer Retirement Benefits, contact Foster & Foster at 239-333-4872.
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