HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

Stokes County; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Stokes County is seeking a senior human resources and risk management leader to direct the HR department and advise County leadership. You will oversee recruitment, payroll, benefits, safety, policies, and employee relations, reporting to the County Manager.

This role requires extensive public-sector HR experience and strong leadership to align HR operations with county priorities while ensuring confidentiality and staff development.

Qualifications

• Public sector HR administration knowledge and experience
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws, regulations, and best practices
• Experience with organizational development and workforce planning
• Ability to lead, motivate, and evaluate staff
• Experience with payroll, benefits, workers' compensation, and OSHA compliance
• Ability to advise senior leadership on personnel and policy issues

Responsibilities

• Develops, plans, and implements goals and priorities for HR and risk management.
• Provides leadership and supervision for HR staff including the Assistant HR Director and HR Analyst.
• Oversees recruitment, employee relations, compensation, benefits, payroll coordination, and safety initiatives.
• Administers orientation, personnel actions, and payroll-related coordination with Finance.
• Develops and recommends personnel programs; researches new programs and implements policies.
• Advises the County Manager and leaders on personnel matters and policy interpretation.
• Assists with budget development, salary and benefits projections, and multi-year workforce planning.
• Participates in senior leadership and department head meetings and strategic planning.
• Coordinates HR technology systems, payroll systems, and benefits platforms.
• Promotes core county values of Service, Initiative, Teamwork, and Improvement.
• Carries out special projects as directed by the County Manager.

Skills

Public sector HR administration

Federal and state laws compliance

Organizational development

Public sector leadership practices

HR technology and payroll systems

Confidentiality

Relationship building with officials

Innovative program design

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR / BA / Public Admin

SHRM Certification preferred

Job description

Description

Performs advanced professional and administrative work directing and administering the County's human resources and risk management programs. This position is responsible for planning, organizing, and overseeing all functions of the Human Resources Department while serving as a strategic advisor to County leadership on personnel, organizational, and operational matters. The employee reports directly to the County Manager.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class plans, organizes, develops, and administers a comprehensive human resources and risk management program for the County. The employee serves as a member of the County's senior leadership team and works closely with the County Manager, Assistant County Manager, department heads, elected officials, employees, and external agencies to support organizational goals and strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities include oversight of all Human Resources Department operations, including recruitment and retention, employee relations, classification and compensation, benefits administration, payroll coordination, workers' compensation, risk management, FMLA administration, safety and OSHA compliance, policy development, employee engagement initiatives, organizational development, and personnel actions. The employee provides direct supervision and leadership to the Assistant Human Resources Director and the HR Analyst/Risk Management Coordinator while ensuring efficient departmental operations and alignment with County priorities.

Work also involves assisting with annual budget preparation, personnel forecasting, strategic planning initiatives, participation in department head meetings, and development of organizational policies and procedures. Considerable independent judgment, discretion, confidentiality, initiative, and leadership are required in the administration of County personnel programs and organizational initiatives.

The employee is expected to support and promote the County's core values of Service, Initiative, Teamwork, and Improvement in all departmental operations and employee interactions.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops, plans, and implements goals and objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities for the County's human resources and risk management functions.


• Provides leadership, supervision, guidance, and evaluation for Human Resources Department staff, including the Assistant Human Resources Director and HR Analyst/Risk Management Coordinator.


• Performs professional-level duties in the functional areas of recruitment and retention, classification and compensation, employee relations, benefits administration, workers' compensation, FMLA administration, OSHA compliance, safety initiatives, payroll coordination, employee engagement, organizational development, and personnel actions including discipline and dismissal.


• Administers personnel functions including employee orientation and exit interview programs, personnel actions processing, and coordination with Finance Department staff regarding payroll-related functions.


• Develops and recommends personnel programs and policies; researches existing and new programs for alternative and innovative proposals; seeks legal advice as necessary; and implements policies once approved by the County Commissioners.


• Advices the County Manager, Assistant County Manager, department heads, and employees on personnel-related issues, policy interpretation, organizational concerns, and employment matters.


• Assists with development of the County budget, personnel forecasting, salary and benefits projections, and multi-year financial and workforce planning initiatives, including the County's five-year forecast.


• Participates in senior leadership meetings, department head meetings, strategic planning initiatives, and organizational improvement efforts designed to modernize County operations and improve services.


• Coordinates implementation and administration of HR technology systems, payroll systems, benefits administration platforms, and other personnel-related software and reporting systems.


• Promotes a workplace culture that reflects and supports the County's core values of Service, Initiative, Teamwork, and Improvement.


• Carries out special projects and assignments as directed by the County Manager.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of the theory, principles, and practices of public sector human resources administration, including the functional areas cited.


• Considerable knowledge of federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and best practices related to personnel administration, benefits, workers' compensation, FMLA, OSHA, FLSA, payroll, and risk management.


• Considerable knowledge of organizational development, workforce planning, strategic planning, employee engagement initiatives, and public sector leadership practices.


• Considerable knowledge of trends and modern technology utilized in human resources management and payroll administration.


• Ability to establish and maintain an effective and progressive human resources and risk management program and provide management with cost projections, workforce trends, statistical data, and recommendations for implementing new programs and initiatives.


• Ability to supervise, motivate, and evaluate staff while fostering teamwork, accountability, initiative, and continuous improvement.


• Ability to develop long-term plans and goals for the human resources program and align departmental operations with organizational priorities and strategic initiatives.


• Ability to analyze facts, programs, personnel trends, and benefits costs and prepare recommendations and reports in oral and written forms.


• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding personnel records, investigations, and discussions.


• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County officials, department heads, employees, outside agencies, and the general public.


• Ability to be innovative and creative in designing new programs, proposing policy changes, improving organizational processes, and supporting modernization efforts throughout the County.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to perform the basic life operational skills associated with reaching, standing, walking, fingering, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.


• Must be able to perform sedentary work exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.


• Must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, operate a computer, and perform extensive reading.

Desirable Education and Experience

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in human resources, business administration, public administration, or related field and considerable progressively responsible experience in human resources administration, including supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.


• Experience in local government human resources administration preferred.


• SHRM Certification preferred.