POSITION:  Director of Human Resources

DEPARTMENT:  Human Resources

WORK SCHEDULE: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

JOB CATEGORY: PAT (Professional, Administrative, Technological)

STATUS:  Full-time

FLSA STATUS:  Exempt

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function of the position satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. St. Joseph County provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with known disabilities who require accommodation to complete the application process or perform essential functions of the job, unless those accommodations would present an undue hardship.

Incumbent serves as Director of Human Resources for St. Joseph County Human Resources Department, responsible for overseeing the department operations for the County.

DUTIES:

Incumbent oversees operations and performs duties including but not limited to administrative, recruiting and onboarding activities, staff management, coordinating personnel policies and procedures, developing compensation and employee benefit packages, negotiating employment contracts, evaluating employee job performance, department finance management, data and reporting, and communication.

• ADMINISTRATIVE:
  • Supervises and directs assigned staff, including analyzing workload and human resource needs.
  • Develops, implements, and coordinates personnel policies and procedures to ensure compliance with various state and federal employment laws, rules, and regulations.
  • Develops employee relations through effective communications of policies and procedures to maintain a safe and healthy work environment free from discrimination and harassment.
  • Assists in developing a competitive compensation and employee benefits package, including negotiating employment contracts.
  • Communicates information to employees, including preparing and distributing information, speaking at public meetings, posting information, and providing assistance.
  • Prepares various reports, including EEO reporting.
  • Attends meetings, trainings, and conferences as required.
  • Testifies in legal proceedings or court as necessary.
  • Performs related duties as assigned, and /or as needs arise.
• RECRUITING AND ONBOARDING: 
  • Oversees employee recruitment activities, including but not limited to attending appropriate job fairs, updating recruiting materials, receiving applications, interviewing candidates, and making hiring decisions, conducting employment verifications and background checks, reviewing position documentation, and conducting onboarding activities.
• STAFF MANAGEMENT:
  • Orienting new subordinates, evaluating job performance, planning and delegating work assignments, determining significant changes in responsibilities, reviewing salaries of assigned staff,
  • Recommending personnel actions, keeping the supervisor and assigned staff informed of organization developments, maintaining discipline and recommending corrective action, and communicating and administering personnel programs. 
  • Investigates and responds to employee complaints and questions related to HR policies and procedures, including providing information, initiating problem resolutions, and monitoring outcomes.
  • Conducts consultations with employees to resolve issues, conflicts, and disputes in the workplace.
• FINANCIAL:
  • Oversees and manages the financial operations and day-to-day activities related to department budgets and service contracts.
  • Oversees the planning, development, organization, and control of financial operations for the Department. 
  • Performs various bookkeeping duties, including but not limited to processing gym reimbursements, paying invoices, and submitting payments. 
  • Prepares various financial statements and reports as required.
• MISCELLANEOUS:
  • Ensures County compliance with various federal and state employment laws, including but not limited to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 
• DATA & REPORTING:
  • Audits benefit deductions and employee benefit usage, reporting results to the Board of Commissioners.

I.  JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to meet all hiring and retention requirements, including passing a drug test and the following:

• Baccalaureate degree in human resources or a closely related field, or equivalent combination of education and previous work experience.
• Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and the ability to prepare various detailed reports.
• Ability to count, compute, calculate, and perform arithmetic operations.
• Ability to compile, collate, or classify data, analyze, evaluate, observe, coordinate, make determinations, develop concepts, and act based on data analysis.
• Ability to properly operate standard office equipment, including computer, calculator, and telephone.
• Ability to compare or observe similarities and differences between data, people, or things.
• Practical knowledge of goals, objectives, tasks, and activities of the department, and the ability to accomplish tasks and activities with accuracy and completeness, and meet formal deadlines.
• Working knowledge and experience with standard office procedures and computer software and systems used by the Department, including word processing, spreadsheets, and email.
• Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written and oral instructions and present findings in oral or written form.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, County employees, attorneys, insurance agencies, County Commissioners, consultants, vendors, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities
• Practical knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations regarding equal employment practices and procedures, with the ability to apply such knowledge to a variety of interrelated processes, tasks, and operations.
• Practical knowledge of various federal and state employment laws and County human resources policies and procedures, and the ability to communicate with employees and investigate and respond to complaints.
• Practical knowledge of standard accounting practices and procedures, and the ability to oversee department financial operations and maintain accurate financial records.
• Practical knowledge of County finances and budget administration, and ability to prepare and oversee department budget and implement department financial policies.
• Practical knowledge of standard bookkeeping practices and procedures with the ability to accurately process reimbursements and payments, audit benefit usage, maintain accurate records, and prepare related reports.
• Practical knowledge of employee benefit and insurance programs and the ability to review and monitor such plans to ensure cost effectiveness.
• Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment, work on several tasks at the same time, work rapidly for long periods, and often under time pressure.
• Ability to plan and layout assigned work projects.
• Ability to apply knowledge of people and locations.
• Ability to plan and make public speaking presentations, to testify in legal proceedings or court as necessary.
• Ability to provide public access to, or maintain confidentiality of, department information and records according to state requirements.
• Ability to regularly work extended hours and occasionally work weekends, evenings, and travel out of town for conferences, sometimes overnight. Ability to respond to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.
• Shall comply with employer and Department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
• Ability to effectively supervise and direct assigned staff, including analyzing workload and human resource needs, reviewing position documentation, interviewing and making hiring decisions, planning and delegating work assignments, determining significant changes in responsibilities, reviewing salaries of assigned staff, recommending personnel actions, keeping the supervisor and assigned staff informed of organization developments, maintaining discipline and recommending corrective action, and communicating and administering personnel programs.

II.  DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

Incumbent applies a broad knowledge of human resource management issues and legislation to effectively respond to County personnel needs, and perform duties that are broad in scope, involving many variables and considerations. Incumbent develops own objectives for areas of responsibility and establishes major administrative departmental policies, procedures, and performance standards. Incumbent regularly makes decisions in the absence of policy, subject only to guidance from County Commissioners.

III.  RESPONSIBILITY:

The incumbent is accountable for department results and has almost total autonomy in the job. Incumbent's work has a substantial impact on County human resource operations and requires independent judgment and analysis to attain organizational objectives through goal setting and project management. Work is reviewed periodically for attainment of objectives and appropriate supervision or direction of assigned operations.

IV.  PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, other County departments, County employees, attorneys, insurance agencies, County Commissioners, consultants, vendors, and the public, for the purposes of interpreting and explaining information and supervising and directing personnel. Incumbent reports directly to County Commissioners.

V.  PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Incumbent performs duties in a standard office environment, involving sitting/walking at will, sitting for long periods, lifting/carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds, bending, reaching, keyboarding, speaking clearly, close/far vision, handling/grasping objects, and hearing sounds/communication. Incumbent responds to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.

Incumbent is regularly required to work extended hours and occasionally required to work weekends, evenings, and travel out of town for conferences, sometimes overnight.

VI. OTHER:

The Director of Human Resources position is an appointed position. Specific job duties and job requirements are established at the discretion of the County Board of Commissioners.  A person appointed to the Director of Human Resources position serves at the pleasure of the County Commissioners, works exclusively for the County Commissioners, and may be terminated by the County Commissioners at any time.