I’m biased, but this is probably a great position. Lynnwood is quite the eclectic little community. Our population is a bit over 35k with housing types from studio condos to $ million + homes. This is a very diverse community with many languages spoken, different cultures represented, and business types in place. Lynnwood employs 333 FTE’s and has a 2015-16 General Fund Budget of $104 million and biennial budget (all funds) of $166.7 million
Below are the details from the position’s posting.
The Department & Position
Mission
The Human Resources Department strives to partner with other departments to attract, sustain and inspire a thriving City workforce.
The Human Resources Department provides a variety of professional human resource duties in support of the City’s personnel programs, including professional and technical duties in recruitment, examination and placement, classification and pay administration, performance evaluation, labor relations, safety, training, benefits and employee relations. The HR Director is expected to apply knowledge of currently accepted human resources policies and procedures and relevant employment laws and regulations.
The HR Director is a member of the Mayor’s Executive Leadership Team as a peer with the team but also provides support and guidance regarding personnel and labor issues to the team members. The HR Director must be able to work in a fast paced and, at times, politically charged environments and must be a strategic thinker with a city wide perspective regarding personnel issues, labor agreements and staffing into the future. The director needs to implement innovative methods to recruit and retain employees and must be able to research and initiate effective succession planning programs.
The HR Director must have knowledge of labor laws and experience working with labor groups, including labor relations, collective bargaining and conflict resolution. The HR Director will have experience with technology and promote the value of a good technology and HR software programs.
Responsibilities Include:
Ø Delegate responsibility and appropriate authority to assigned staff. Monitor daily work activities to assure the timely and accurate completion of functional responsibilities.
Ø Conduct applicant job interviews. Select, orientate and train new employees. Assure the availability of adequate staff equipment and facilities.
Ø Prepare and conduct oral and written employee performance evaluations. Recognize superior performance. Effect correction in undesirable trends in performance consistent with established City policy.
Ø Participate in department-wide long range, strategic planning activities. Prepare and recommend objectives, methodologies and associated schedules.
Ø Administer and manage the human resources function for the City, ensuring that appropriate federal, state and local personnel policies, acts, laws and procedures are followed.
Ø Draft human resource policies and procedures consistent with federal and state legislation; assist City supervisors to administer policies.
Ø Administer and control departmental budget.
Ø Provide administrative and advisory support to City management and employees. Serve as staff support to the Mayor and department heads.
Ø Direct and administer the recruitment and selection program, including serving as the Civil Service Secretary/Chief Examiner for Police and Fire personnel.
Ø Direct and/or perform development of job descriptions and classify people into appropriate salary ranges. Conduct salary surveys to ensure jobs are appropriately paid.
Ø Administer and direct the employee performance evaluation program and ensure that step increases are granted according to policy and procedure; advise management on discipline issues.
Ø Develop, implement and monitor a plan to diversify the City’s workforce and provide diversity training to employees.
Ø Direct the maintenance and security of all personnel files and employee records.
Ø Coordinate City employee training and development programs; conduct needs assessments; determine needs; arrange for provision of employee training.
Opportunities & Challenges
1) There is a need to review and update policies, procedures and codes that relate to personnel, human resource and training. (This might be completed?)
2) The City will need to continue to evaluate its benefit programs to assure compliance with the Affordable Care Act, in addition to making sure the benefits are fair for employees and cost effective for the city.
3) Into the future, there will be a need to evaluate staffing levels for efficiencies and alignments to the delivery of services provided by the City.
4) There is a strong desire to continue to recruit, hire, and retain qualified staff who reflect the diverse population of the City.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Lynnwood is looking for a talented director or senior HR professional from a public sector organization of comparable complexity and size, with extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of human resources. Extensive knowledge of employment laws and human resources regulations and practices is required.
The ideal candidate needs to be collaborative and understand the internal and external customer service expectations of the department. He/she must be personable and approachable, and able to build alliances throughout the organization to achieve the personnel goals of the City. The ability to distinguish the skills and talents of each staff member, see the big picture, and look beyond issues of a single department is a key skill to have for this position.
There are four labor groups; Police, Fire, Teamsters and AFSCME. The most recent labor agreements were negotiated with the contracted assistance of the Summit Law Firm. The HR Director needs to be able to develop and maintain strong professional and positive relationships with labor leadership.
The new director must have knowledge and experience with employee benefit programs, and show strong written and oral communication skills. Experience with LEAN or process improvement programs is desirable. The ideal candidate will be approachable and non confrontational, and have strong interpersonal skills with a sense of humor. The ability to embrace diversity and see the value of a diverse workforce will be important to be successful in Lynwood.
A bachelor’s degree in Personnel Administration, Public Administration or a related field, plus at least five years of HR generalist experience, including experience in a supervisory role, or any satisfactory combination of experience and training that demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the above duties are required.
Compensation & Benefits
Ø $106,142– $134,305 DOQ
Ø 100% Medical, Dental & Vision; 90% for dependents
Ø Life & Long-term Disability Insurance
Ø PERS State Retirement System
Ø 12 paid holidays & 12 sick leave per year
Ø Management benefits which include vacation days per year based on past experience
Please visit http://www.prothman.com/
