Police Human Resources and Labor Relations Division Chief

Lead. Influence. Strengthen the Workforce Behind Public Safety.

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Human Resources & Labor Relations Division Chief to lead one of the Department’s most critical functions—its people. This is a rare opportunity to shape workforce strategy, strengthen organizational performance, and directly support a mission-driven public safety agency operating in a complex, highly regulated, and compliance-driven environment. The Division Chief serves as a key advisor to executive leadership, providing expert guidance on complex personnel matters, labor relations, and workforce strategy. This role directly influences organizational effectiveness, risk management, and the Department’s ability to maintain a qualified, ready, and resilient workforce.

The Division Chief oversees a broad and impactful portfolio, including:

·  Human resources administration 

·  Labor relations and grievance management 

·  Workforce planning and organizational development 

·  Payroll and leave administration 

·  Employee wellness, peer support, and resiliency programs 

·  Recruitment, hiring, and promotional processes 

This role operates within a dynamic public safety environment that includes extensive pre-employment screening requirements, accreditation standards, and strict compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The Division Chief is expected to exercise a high level of independent judgment, discretion, and political acumen.

You will lead a high-performing team of five professionals, ensuring consistent, compliant, and service-oriented HR support across the Department.

This position is more than HR leadership; it is mission critical. The Division Chief directly impacts:

·     Workforce readiness and staffing stability 

·     Organizational compliance and risk mitigation 

·     Employee engagement and retention 

·     The Department’s ability to deliver essential public safety services

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate is a seasoned HR leader with experience in complex, compliance-driven environments such as law enforcement, public safety, federal, or large municipal organizations. This individual brings both strategic vision and operational expertise, with the ability to lead a comprehensive human resources function that directly supports mission-critical operations.

Core Strengths:

• Deep expertise in human resources management, labor relations, and policy development 
• Strong understanding of regulatory and compliance frameworks, including experience navigating high-accountability environments 
• Proven ability to lead organizational development, workforce planning, and employee engagement initiatives 
• Experience advising senior and executive leadership on complex personnel matters, risk, and workforce strategy 
• Exceptional judgment, discretion, and conflict resolution skills in handling sensitive and high-impact issues 
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to develop, motivate, and manage staff 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build trust across all levels of the organization 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment 

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to operate with a high degree of independence, political awareness, and sound judgment while balancing organizational needs, compliance requirements, and workforce considerations. A demonstrated commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and a supportive workplace culture is essential.

The Opportunity – Examples of Work

As Division Chief, you will:

• Lead, direct, and manage all human resources and labor relations functions, ensuring effective, compliant, and service-oriented operations 
• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on personnel matters, workforce strategy, regulatory compliance, and organizational risk 
• Oversee labor relations programs, including grievance management, policy interpretation, and representation in formal and informal proceedings 
• Assess organizational needs and develop strategies to support workforce planning, staffing stability, and operational priorities 
• Lead initiatives to strengthen organizational performance, employee engagement, and workforce development 
• Develop, implement, and monitor personnel policies and procedures in alignment with City regulations, Department directives, accreditation standards, and applicable laws 
• Conduct organizational assessments, audits, and management studies to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance 
• Oversee workforce data analysis, reporting, and planning to support informed decision-making and long-term strategy 
• Represent the Department in internal and external forums, exercising sound judgment, diplomacy, and political awareness 
• Lead, supervise, and develop Division staff, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement 
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Management, Business Administration, Finance, or related field. Six (6) years of experience in human resources, labor relations, employee training, organizational development, budgeting, policy development, etc. Two (2) years of experience in a lead or supervisory capacity. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, Psychology, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field 
• Professional certification in human resources (e.g., PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or comparable public-sector certification) 
• Experience in a law enforcement, public safety, or similarly complex and highly regulated environment 
• Demonstrated success leading human resources functions within a complex organization, including workforce planning, labor relations, policy development, and organizational initiatives 
• Experience administering collective bargaining agreements and managing labor relations within a unionized environment 
• Experience overseeing payroll operations, including FLSA compliance, leave administration, and timekeeping systems 
• Experience managing or supporting complex hiring processes, including background investigations and pre-employment screening 
• Experience collaborating with senior and executive-level leadership, with the ability to build strong relationships and influence decision-making 
• Experience utilizing HRIS, ATS, or data systems to support reporting, compliance tracking, and workforce analytics 
• Experience interpreting and applying policies, regulations, and labor agreements in high-accountability environments 
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and mentor staff within a diverse and complex organizational environment 
• Experience supporting mission-critical operations in a high-accountability environment is highly desirable

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of the following pre-employment background checks:

·     Polygraph

·     Drug Screen

·     Criminal Background Checks (local and federal)