Under general administrative direction, is responsible for planning, directing, managing, and overseeing the activities and operations of the Human Resources department that includes HR Administration, Health and Benefits, Recruitment/HRIS, Retirement/Civil Service, Risk Management, and Employee Relations/Learning and Development; provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Manager's office. Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations; ensures the creation and maintenance of administrative standards, policies, and procedures for all department programs.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
- Provides strategic planning of the Human Recourses Operations and oversees the divisions of HR Administration, Health and Benefits, Risk Management, Recruitment/HRIS, Employee Relations/Learning & Development, and Retirement/Civil Services.
- Develops, implements, and administers goals, objectives, and procedures for providing effective and efficient services for the City.
- Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws; ensures fair treatment, preventing discrimination, and promoting a safe working environment; stays updated on these laws to maintain compliance and protect the rights of the City employees and mitigate risk liability exposure to the City.
- Performs contract management, which includes but is not limited to drafting Human Resources related agreements; negotiates and finalizes contracts; ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; administers, renews, and amends human resources contracts.
- Creates, implements, and reviews existing policies and practices and involves a systematic approach to ensure that the policies align with the organization's mission, vision, values, and goals; complies with legal requirements that effectively address Human Resources related issues.
- Plans and develops career development succession planning in Leadership Development, Career Succession, Retention, Training and Development in consideration of the organizations specific needs and objectives.
- Applies equity in human resources management by continuously ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all current and future employees with the organization; creating a work environment and culture where individuals are treated fairly, regardless of background, characteristics, circumstances, positions or titles.
- Plans, directs, and coordinates key manager's assignments/directives.
- Plans, develops, and monitors the departmental budget, objectives, and goals; monitors expenditures to ensure compliance with budget limitations; monitors departments progress in achieving goals and objectives.
- Monitors the recruitment, referral, and processing of all new employees; ensures compliance with City of Laredo policies and procedures, and local, state, and federal laws governing personnel administration.
- Maintains transparent and legally compliant relationship with all stakeholders, vendors, employees, and interested parties.
- Administers and monitors the Compensation and Classification Plan for City; ensures all pay changes are properly entered each pay period; receives, analysis requests for reclassification and re-evaluates positions as necessary; ensures the pay plan is administered in a fair and equitable manner.
- Maintains awareness of changes in laws governing personnel administration and ensures the City is in compliance at all times.
- Develops, administers, and enforces personnel policies and procedures; ensures compliance with the same.
- Advises management staff on employee relation issues; provides advice during grievance procedure; recommends solutions to employee grievances and employee problems; ensures compliance with accepted practices and local, state and federal rules and regulations.
- Plans, directs, and monitors the recruitment, selection, placement, transfer and removal of City personnel; ensures the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of the processes; ensures compliance with the laws governing personnel management.
- Applying equity in human resources management, a continuous on going process, involves ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all current and future employees with the organization.
- Career development succession planning in Leadership Development, Career Succession, Retention, training and development in consideration of the organization's specific needs and objectives.
- Supervises, coordinates, and monitors the maintenance of employee benefit and retirement programs and makes recommendations on present and proposed programs; ensures employees benefit and retirement needs are recognized and provided.
- Provides oversight for the property and casualty matters involving the City and oversees the workers' compensation program and ensures that there is a safe working environment for City employees.
- Initiates and supports the City's employee initiatives, including the City's drug and alcohol program, serious illness program, and the return-to-work program.
- Participates in the City's Collective Bargaining process with Fire and Police, as needed.
- Will be required to drive a City vehicle for City business use.
- Performs other related work as required.
Knowledge Of
COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of public Human Resources administration.
- Knowledge of drafting contracts, executing contracts, and advances knowledge in the Request for Proposals and Request for Qualifications of professional contracts in contractual services, employment, medical benefits program, ancillary products, life insurance, dental, vision, workers compensation, lability coverages, and collective bargaining contracts.
- Knowledge and skills in advances fire and police collective bargaining in negotiating and finalizing contracts.
- Knowledge in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Knowledge of advanced federal laws enacted by the U.S. government and apply to all employers.
- Knowledge in key laws such as Title VII Civil Rights Act 1964, Age Discrimination Act (ADA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Action, Department of Labor, Federal Insurance Contribution Act, Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Equal Pay Act, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
- Knowledge or to gain knowledge in the City Charter and City of Laredo Code of Ordinance.
- Knowledge of contract administration and application in tenure of contract obligations, and ensures proper execution, maintaining accurate records, and storing of such records in a secure manner.
- Knowledge of recruitment and promotion selection process.
- Knowledge of research, analysis, development, implementation and enforcement of all personnel related functions, practices and procedures.
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws pertaining to Human Resources administration.
- Knowledge of the essential characteristics and educational and training requirements for a variety of occupational groups.
- Knowledge of organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies and operational needs.
- Advanced knowledge in establishing clear policies that outlines the City’s commitment to promote fairness and equal treatment.
- Advanced knowledge and skill to development clear, concise, and comprehensive polices with the organization’s values and culture that include a policy statement, objectives, scope, definitions, responsibilities, procedures, and any relevant guidelines or forms. Ensures policies are easily understandable at all levels.
Skills And Abilities
- Ability to prepare and administer a complex department budget and allocate limited resources in a cost effective manner.
- Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of the established goals.
- Ability to analyze a variety of personnel and management problems, make recommendations for their solution, and prepare appropriate working procedures.
- Ability to plan, direct, and coordinate the work of professional and clerical personnel.
- Ability to to foster and activate a strategic plan in diversity, equity and inclusion by developing initiatives and programs.
- Ability to conduct fair and compensation practices in analyzing pay to promote equality in the workforce by monitoring a transparent pay structure and ensure that hires, promotions, and salary increases are based on objective criteria.
- Ability to identify the needs of the divisions, departments, and overall organization in meeting the goals, legal obligations in challenges and concerns.
- Ability to identify the needs of the City and departments, through a thorough analysis of the current skill, knowledge gaps, and future requirements.
- Ability to establish objectives by defining the objectives and desired outcome of the training programs for long term and short term goals.
- Skill in training and communicating effectively both verbally and in writing of new policies being implemented.
- Skills in implementing a training program that provides clear instructions and expectations.
- Ability to use computer hardware, various software programs and technologies, including word processing and spreadsheet programs.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
- Ability to orally communicate in the English language and Spanish language (preferred).
- Ability to deal courteously and diplomatically with the public.
- Ability to speak before public groups and make presentations.
- Ability to give directions to and gain compliance from assigned staff.
- Ability to maintain harmonious and effective working relationships with other employees and respond to general public complaints.
- Ability to implement a training program that provides clear instructions and expectations.
- Ability to project a positive and professional image of the City of Laredo.
- Ability to maintain a valid Texas Driver License and a good driving record.
- Ability to maintain good health and physical condition sufficient to permit the full performance of the duties of the position.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Physical Effort Requirements Position will have the following exposures
- Office or similar indoor environment, relatively free from unpleasant environmental conditions or hazards.
- Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Work Environment Locations Position will require the employee to work in the following types of work environments
Seldom
- Outdoor environment
- Street environment (near moving traffic)
- Construction site
- Confined space
- Warehouse environment
Sometimes
Often
- Office or similar indoor environment
Exposures Position will require the employee to be exposed to the following environmental elements
Never
- Communicable diseases
- Fumes or airborne particles
- Toxic or caustic chemicals or substances
Seldom
- Extreme cold (below 32 degrees)
- Extreme heat (above 100 degrees)
- Moving mechanical parts
- Loud noises (85+ decibels such as heavy trucks, jack hammers, construction
Frequently
- Individuals who are hostile or irate
- Individuals with known violent background
Travel Position will require the employee to travel
Never
Sometimes
- Regional travel
- National travel
Frequently
Required Education And Experience
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited* college or university in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field. Master’s degree in Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related discipline is preferred.
- At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in Human Resources Management within a complex organization that demonstrates experience in several of the following areas:
- Employee and labor relations
- Civil Service systems
- Talent acquisition and workforce planning
- Benefits and compensation administration
- Learning and organizational development
- Risk and safety management
- Regulatory compliance (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEO, TWC)
- Strategic HR program design and implementation
- At least five (5) years of experience in a senior management or executive-level role, overseeing multiple Human Resources functions and professional staff.
Preferred Experience
- At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in Human Resources Management within a municipality or public agency with a workforce of over 1,000+ employees and experience managing complex policy environments, union/civil service systems, or large-scale benefits programs.
*Council of Higher Education Accreditation (Council of Higher Education Accreditation)
Required Licenses or Certifications:
- A Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Society for Human Resources Management-Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), Society for Human Resources Management-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Public Sector HR Association-Certified Professional (PSHRA-CP), or Public Sector HR Association-Senior Certified Professional (PSHRA-SCP) credential is required, or must be obtained within eighteen (18) months of hire. Continued employment is contingent upon successfully obtaining and maintaining the required credentials within the specified period indicated above, from the time of hire.
- Valid Texas Driver License. If applicant holds an out-of-state license, a State of Texas Driver License must be obtained within 6 months of employment.
As part of the minimum requirements for all positions with the City of Laredo, a thorough background check and certified school transcripts will be required from all applicants who are offered employment.
Effective February 24, 1997, all selected applicants are required to undergo a drug and alcohol test prior to employment.
Effective January 7, 2008, all persons in safety-sensitive functions/positions, as per City of Laredo Drug and Alcohol Policy definition, shall be subject to random drug and alcohol testing.
A person with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation related to a selection process is requested to contact the Human Resources Department at (956) 791-7480 two days prior to the scheduled interview and/or test if applicable.
City of Laredo is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled and Veteran Employer. We welcome differences in the form of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, geography, socioeconomic status, age, politics, religion, philosophy, sexual orientation, or gender identity. All applicants who share this goal are encouraged to apply. Must be able to function in a principle-based organization that has a culture built on character and core values.