Supervised By: County Administrator

Supervises: All employees of the Human Resources Department 

Position Summary: Under the supervision of the County Administrator, plans, directs, manages, and oversees the activities and operations of the Human Resources Department within the County Administrator’s Office, including assigned programs and functional areas; coordinates assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies; and provides highly responsible and complex support to the County Administrator. Manages the County’s health and benefit programs, wellness program, wage and salary program, labor relations activities, health and safety, worker’s compensation and unemployment programs. Represents the County in administrative forums related to employee relations.

Essential Job Functions:

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential functions. These examples do not include all of the duties, which the employee may be expected to perform. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

1. Manages all health and benefit programs for the county. Analyzes, researches, and recommends changes as needed to all employee benefits programs. Prepares and disseminates benefit communication materials for employees, determining eligibility, enrolling and terminating coverage, monitoring the costs of benefits, reviewing plan documents and related activities. Ensures compliance with all federal and state laws related to benefits.
2. Manages the County’s employment program, which includes responsibility for ensuring the creation of job advertisements, screening of applicants, overseeing the testing of applicants, participating in the interview process, conducting appropriate background and reference checks, coordinating pre-employment physicals and drug testing, and preparing formal job offers.
3. Administers the County’s wage and salary program, includes conducting salary surveys and researching and developing policies and procedures related to the pay program. Prepares job descriptions, makes recommendations on requests for job reclassification, and evaluates new and existing jobs.
4. Acts as an advisor to the County Administrator on a wide variety of human resources and general business issues, including benefit and salary budget preparation and administration, risk management, labor negotiations, and complex employee relations issues.
5. Responsible for the review, development, and implementation of policies, procedures, processes, and guidelines to protect the interest of the County and maintain the integrity of all personnel and benefit records in compliance with legislation, regulation, and policies.
6. Provides counsel to employees and guidance to management on complex employee relations and performance issues.
7. Interprets and explains policies and procedures to employees and management and attempts to resolve differences.
8. Directs a comprehensive labor relations program including the management of the meet and confer process with bargaining units on matters within the scope of bargaining relating to wages, hours and working conditions, interpreting memorandum of understandings for County Managers and other interested parties, and resolving disputes between bargaining unit representatives and the County through the grievance procedure and other means regarding wage scale, memorandums of understanding, and policies and procedures pertaining to employee relations in the County. Acts as the County’s designated representative for negotiations with all bargaining units. Interprets and administers labor agreements.
9. Represents the County in various dispute resolution forums related to employee relations. Represents the County, with outside legal counsel as appropriate, at hearings related to the personnel and labor relations functions including mediation, fact finding, arbitration hearings, and unemployment hearings. Provides research and works closely with legal counsel throughout all legal processes.
10. Manages the County’s retirement benefit systems including cost and benefits analysis, research and recommendation of changes, and issue resolution.
11. Researches personnel laws and regulations to determine the implications for the County personnel program. Recommends changes in County forms, procedures and policies in order to ensure compliance and implements changes adopted by the Board.
12. Investigates and advises County department heads on matters such as employee disciplinary issues, sexual harassment issues, and other employee relations issues.
13. Oversees the employee training programs related to specific human resources issues such as sexual harassment and safety. Coordinates the development and presentations of training programs.
14. Manages the County’s Worker’s Compensation Program and serves as Safety Coordinator for the County. Works closely with third party vendor to proactively manage complicated claims. Oversees loss control visits to determine risk factors and recommend corrective action. Initiates training programs related to loss control and coordinates related activities.
15. Supervises the Countywide unemployment insurance program. Responds to inquiries, represents the County at all hearings, and prepares written appeals to the Board of Review when necessary.
16. Oversees the centralized maintenance of the personnel records and administration of the human resource information system.
17. Conducts exit interviews with employees leaving County employment and provides information on insurance continuation under COBRA and other human resources issues related to separation of employment.
18. Develops and/or maintains departmental budget and participates in overall County budget process on human resources related issues.
19. Manages requests for paid and unpaid leaves under the Family Medical Leave Act, personal leave, disability leave, and workers compensation leave and ensures that County follows governmental rules and regulations. Responds to employees’ questions and concerns.
20. Coordinates and oversees the County’s performance evaluation process.
21. Administers and serves as the Designated Employer Representative for the County’s drug and alcohol testing program.
22. Serves as the HIPAA Privacy Officer for the County.
23. Develops and administers special programs such as employee recognition, wellness program, and social events.
24. Manages the County health insurance program for County jail inmates.
25. Performs other duties as directed,

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Minimum Qualifications:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities and minimum qualifications necessary to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job.

Requirements include the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree in human resources management or in business or public administration with substantial coursework in human resources areas and five years of progressively more responsible experience in human resources administration preferably in a county or related governmental setting.
• Certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) preferred.
• The County, at its discretion, may consider an alternative combination of formal education and work experience. 
• Michigan Vehicle Operator’s License. 
• Thorough knowledge of the professional public management techniques involved in budgeting, personnel administration, and resource management, and the ability to identify and implement new best practices.
• Thorough knowledge of federal, state and local laws and/or regulations governing human resources practices and public sector employment.
• Skill in assembling and analyzing data and preparing comprehensive and accurate reports.
• Skill in effectively communicating ideas and concepts orally and in writing, and making presentations in public forums.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and use good judgment, initiative and resourcefulness when dealing with county employees, contractors to the county, representatives of other governmental units, professional contacts, elected officials, and the public.
• Skill in the use of office equipment and technology, including Microsoft Suite applications, financial software and the ability to learn new software programs applicable to the position.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate in person and by telephone, read regular and small print, view and produce written and electronic documents, and enter data on a computer keyboard with repetitive keystrokes. The employee must be mobile in an office setting, stand, sit, stoop and kneel, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must lift or push/pull objects of up to 15 lbs. without assistance. Accommodation will be made, as needed, for office employees required to lift or move objects that exceed this weight. The typical work environment of this job is a business office setting where the noise level is quiet and sometimes moderate.