GovHRUSA
The City of Ann Arbor, Michigan (pop. 123,851) seeks a seasoned human resources professional to serve as its next Human Resources & Labor Relations Director. The Director will be a member of the senior leadership team reporting to the City Administrator and will serve as the chief labor negotiator with the City’s nine collective bargaining units. The successful candidate will be committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion and comfortable leading a hybrid and remote workforce.
Ann Arbor, or “A2” as it is nicknamed, is most well-known for the University of Michigan, which influences many aspects of the city’s economy and culture. Ann Arbor is the county seat of Washtenaw County and is situated 25 miles west of the Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). The city has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best places to live in the country.
- The City has a FY2024 budget of $565M and approximately 800 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions across all funds. The Human Resources Department has a budget of $2M and 18 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, and the majority of the department works remotely. The Director of Organizational Equity is embedded in the department, and the Director will be expected to partner with them to ensure that personnel policies, practices, and systems are created and administered through an equity lens. The Director will also work closely with an attorney assigned to the department.
- The Director will have the opportunity to fill the newly created Deputy Human Resources Director position along with a vacant generalist position. Other priorities include establishing a citywide performance evaluation process; conducting a classification and compensation study; and modernizing key personnel processes and systems, including open enrollment and the learning management system.
- The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with strong management competencies. They should possess broad knowledge of human resources and collective bargaining experience. Prior local government experience and experience working with public sector labor unions is highly desired. The Director will be called upon to advise and assist the City Administrator and other departments on strategic personnel matters and collaborate with their Deputy Director to maintain the day-to-day effectiveness and responsiveness of the Human Resources Department.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in human resources management, organizational behavior, public administration, or relevant discipline and at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources or generalist executive leadership within a complex organization is required. Master’s degree or relevant certification strongly preferred. Specialized training in employment law, labor relations, employee relations, compensation, organizational planning, and/or organizational development is preferred. The city will consider alternative combinations of education and experience as appropriate.
The salary range for this position is $121,000 to $157,000. In addition to traditional benefits, this position is eligible for Ann Arbor’s Executive 401(a) Plan, which offers a 15% fixed contribution and full vesting after two years of service. Candidates should apply online by Wednesday, March 27 with resume, cover letter, and contact information for five professional references to the attention of Dele Lowman, Senior Vice President, GovHR USA. Tel: 847-380-3240 x141.
Application Deadline: March 27, 2024
Posted: 2024-03-07
