Assistant Director of Human Resources

Assistant Director of Human Resources

Are you a strategic HR leader ready to make a meaningful impact on an organization and the employees it serves? The City is seeking an experienced and collaborative professional to serve as Assistant Director of Human Resources, providing leadership in employee relations, workforce compliance, investigations, and complex personnel matters. If you are passionate about building strong workplace practices, advising leadership, and helping shape an effective and responsive HR function, we encourage you to apply and join our team.

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,…