Library Director of Human Resources

This full-time position manages human resources functions for Grand Rapids Public Library and participates as a member of GRPL’s leadership team. This position is responsible for staffing administration, training, benefits, compliance with employment regulations and collective bargaining agreements, employee relations, and volunteer development.

Examples of Work:

• Manages the hiring process including recruitment, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding of job applicants and volunteers; posts job notices; selects and places advertising; reviews applications and coordinates recruitment, develops interview procedures and agendas; performs reference checks; develops and administers selection examinations.
• Prepares new job descriptions, revises or rewrites job descriptions for review; conducts job analysis; makes recommendations regarding proper pay rates and classification of positions.
• Manages GRPL’s benefits program and ensures that staff are aware of any changes; stays up-to-date in terms of benefit developments and makes recommendations for changes as needed.
• Tracks and reviews employee performance reviews; assesses and develops new review forms as needed.
• Works with supervisors on crucial conversations, employee engagement, conflict resolution, and disciplinary actions.
• Stays up-to-date on human resources best practices and developments, and implements them in relation to GRPL’s values and priorities; workforce planning; staff development/training objectives.
• Works with staff around extended leaves of absence.
• Prepares reports related to the HR function and labor relations; collects, prepares, and analyzes various statistical data for reports; gathers, compiles, and submits all state and federal reporting as required by the city, state, and federal law including the Department of Labor, OSHA, and the EEOC.
• Facilitates general organizational training opportunities for staff, both internal and external; seeks information from staff about their training and development needs and ensures that training programs comply with legal mandates and equips staff for their work and growth in line with GRPL goals.
• Develops and employs deep knowledge of the terms of the collective bargaining agreements and leads contract negotiations; ensures that employees are informed of contract provisions; follows appropriate steps to resolve grievances.
• Performs field investigations of employee grievances; makes recommendations; prepares statements defining GRPL’s position or response on specific labor relations matters.
• Assists in the development of policy and policy changes based on the needs of GRPL, changes in employment regulations, and the concerns of staff.
• May attend outreach functions as an aspect of recruitment.
• Participates in GRPL leadership teams.
• May perform other duties of a similar nature as assigned.

Minimum Training and Experience

Required:

• Bachelor's degree, 2 years of progressively responsible supervisory experience, 5 years of progressive experience working with labor CBAs, grievance procedures, employee benefits, and records, considerable knowledge of laws and practices affecting labor relations in the field of public employment, considerable knowledge of the technical aspects of human resource management acquired through both practical experience and education; or any equivalent combination of training and experience as determined by GRPL management.
• Possession of a valid Michigan driver's license and vehicle insurance

Preferred:

• SHRM-CP certification
• Bachelor’s in business or public administration
• Public library experience
• Ability to communicate verbally in Spanish

Other Necessary Qualifications

Ability to:

• Communicate professionally with diverse groups both verbally and in writing.
• Stay up-to-date with regard to human resources, public administration, and labor relations; possession of a thorough knowledge in these areas.
• Effectively interpret and apply labor contract language as needed.  
• Provide and model engaging and consistent customer service.
• Select, evaluate, train, mentor, and provide feedback to staff; ability to learn and keep up-to-date on GRPL policies, procedures, and documentation as they relate to circulation functions; ability to communicate and train around these functions and relay accurate information as needed.
• Learn and follow library policies and procedures as well as state laws governing library services, specifically those laws dealing with the confidentiality of patron records; capacity to learn and apply library procedures, principles, and methods, as well as develop an understanding of work flow analysis and systemic improvements.
• Analyze and identify supervisory opportunities and challenges and implement solutions.
• Set priorities and meet deadlines; adaptability and judgment to reprioritize as needed.
• Perform standardized processes; ability to follow procedures in processing forms and other communication.
• Understand systems and maintain an organized and effective work process; flexibility to review and improve upon processes as they become dated or new information becomes available.
• Prepare clear reports.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with other staff and the general public; ability to work collaboratively.
• Travel efficiently between branches during a shift.
• Manage emotions in the workplace and maintain professional composure and judgment.
• Work with supervisor and process feedback regarding job performance.
• Access, input, and retrieve information from a computer.

Thorough understanding of:

• Human resources, public administration, and labor relations.
• General office procedures, processes and equipment; ability to operate a variety of office equipment, including computer workstations, typical electronic devices, and software.