Description

This is highly technical and administrative work responsible for the management and direction of the City's centralized personnel management program. This position is primarily responsible for the development of overall policy recommendations in the area of Human Resource Management for the City Manager and the elected City Council.
In addition, the work involves responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, and supervising all personnel management programs and activities including recruitment, testing, selection, and placement; position classification and pay; employee benefits; employee relations and discipline; human resources reports, records, and files; unemployment compensation; performance management program; and employee development, training, and Risk Management. In addition, the position is responsible for administration and budgeting of the mail and printing services division. Work is performed with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent judgement and action under the general direction of the City Manager. Work is reviewed through conferences and reports for overall program effectiveness.

Examples Of Duties

Plans, organizes, and conducts the operations of the Human Resources department; analyzing and administering existing programs and making recommendations for changes as needed.
Manages staff directly responsible for administration of all HR functions and mail and printing services; provides direction and feedback on performance and work tasks.
Provides advice and direction to supervisors related to hiring, promotion, transfer, discipline, and termination of employees.
Conducts employee relations functions including counseling employees and supervisors and assisting in finding solutions.
Counsels on grievances, appeals, and other personnel problems, and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including affirmative action and EEOC requirements.
Reviews and approves all employee salary changes, title changes, position changes, promotions, transfers, and demotions.
Manages and participates in the recruitment function for City personnel; assists with interviews as needed and approves hires in coordination with supervisors.
Research issues, regulations, rules, and laws; provides advice and information based on research and experience.
Prepares annual Human Resources and Mailroom budgets, assisting with the calculation of employee fringe benefit and insurance program costs, printing and mail services and other related insurances. Assists Risk Manager with Risk Management budget as needed.
Develops, prepares, and revises policies; implements and enforces policies; recommends changes as needed.
Provides interpretations of City's personnel policies and procedures to managers, supervisors, and employees.
Manages compensation and classification reviews and executes the duties associated with requests for review of position's classification and compensation.
Conducts needs analysis and initiates programs for employee development and training sessions as required.
Serves as the liaison to local, regional, and state agencies for human resources matters, and is responsible for compiling information required by federal and state agencies.
Serves as Secretary on City of Fairfax Retirement Committee and is responsible for interpreting retirement guidelines and initiating employee requests for the Virginia Retirement System as well as the City of Fairfax plan.
Conducts position classification and pay surveys, initiates annual cost-of-living changes, and develops pay recommendations to the City Manager for submission in the annual budget.
Conducts studies and develops recommendations for new, and improvements in, existing human resources functions, involving research, automation, and other actions to increase productivity of the Human Resources department.
Administers workers unemployment compensation programs and fringe benefit programs. Reviews benefits to ensure best coverage and cost.
Supports and provides feedback to the Police and Fire departments on their recruitment and promotion processes.
Under guidelines of the City Manager, designated by the City Manager to approve hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, and dismissal actions for positions except those that directly report to the City Manager. Provides recommendations to the City Manager on hiring decisions of their direct reports and manages executive search consultant services as needed.
Supervises mailroom activities.
Supervises the Risk Manager in the delivery and control of safety and insurance programs.
The duties listed above are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Qualifications

Requires a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Public Administration, Human Resources or a closely related field.
Requires six years progressively responsible management experience in human resources or closely related experience.
Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Comprehensive knowledge of the field of personnel management principles, methods, and practices and applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
Comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of employee benefits administration, including medical, dental, and life insurance.
Thorough knowledge of workers' compensation unemployment laws, rules, and regulations.
Thorough knowledge and understanding of the government of the City of Fairfax and departmental functions and activities.
Knowledge and understanding of matters of current and special interest and concern to employees relative to their employment status and working conditions.
Knowledge of data processing applications.
Thorough knowledge of salary plan design, compensation strategies, and use of statistical analysis in wage programs.
Ability to meet and deal effectively with a wide range of applicants, community interests, federal and state regulatory officials, other city officials and employees, and the public.
Ability to diagnose and solve problems of employee management relations, to counsel on corrective actions, and to negotiate satisfactory settlements and resolutions.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing, to gather, compile, analyze, and interpret factual data, and develop reports.
Ability to make sound independent judgments and decisions on controversial and sensitive personnel matters.
Ability to plan, organize, and supervise the work of such permanent or temporary staff, as may be assigned, to provide training and instruction and to review and evaluate performance.
Skilled in public speaking and organizational development activities.
Additional Desirable Qualification:
Masters in HR, Public Administration or MBA preferred.
SHRM certification or equivalent preferred.