at City of Burlington HR in Burlington, Vermont, United States
Job Description
General Purpose
The Director of Human Resources is responsible for cultivating one of the City’s most important assets – its people.
The Director of Human Resources is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive, impartial, and
equitable policies, programs, compensation and benefits to meet City-wide and department specific operational needs.
The Director reports directly to the Mayor, oversees Human Resource employees, and works closely with all
Departments Heads to ensure that the City’s workforce can perform effectively.
The Director of Human Resources is appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. The Director will be a
member of the Mayor’s Leadership Team and be responsible for delivering comprehensive, equitable compensation,
benefits, policies, programs, and services to meet City-wide and department-specific operational needs. This includes,
but is not limited to, employee recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits administration; employee
development and retention; employee and labor relations; diversity and inclusion; and HR administration. The position
works alongside the Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging to give insight on HR processes surrounding
implementation, and assessment of the City’s initiatives to promote racial equity and inclusion within the City workforce.
The Director of Human Resources will guide the Human Resources staff to partner with each City department (except
the School Department) to ensure that the City’s workforce has all required competencies and resources necessary to
perform effectively. The Director is responsible for benefits administration and for initiating and completing efforts to
continuously evaluate and assess employee benefits and human resource processes, policies, and practices, while
working with other City staff to improve and address identified issues.
Union Affiliation: Non-Union
Pay Grade MF: $132,897.28 - $145,315.20 Annually
Remote Tier 2: Up to one (1) date remote/week
Essential Job Functions
The Director of Human Resources shall be responsible for the following activities:
Employee Recruitment and Selection
Design and maintain appropriate hiring processes and procedures.
Guide the recruitment, testing selection, and hiring of employees, maintaining a workforce that reflects the City’s
diversity.
Oversee employee orientations, ensuring that employees are effectively on-boarded consistent with each
department’s needs.
Compensation and Benefits Administration
Develop, administer, and analyze the effectiveness of position classification and salary plans.
Administer all employee benefit programs, including retirement.
Manage and analyze all employee benefit programs to ensure that City goals are met.
Work closely with C/T colleagues to lead efforts to continuously improve the employee health benefits system by
recommending changes that will reduce costs and maintain a competitive employee benefit.
Lead efforts to regularly communicate to all employees about employee benefits.
Employee Development and Retention
Direct employee training, counseling, and career development in conjunction with department heads, including
working with departments to help eliminate structural barriers to development opportunities.
Identify organizational training needs and develop training plans and programs.
Oversee the City’s employee performance evaluation system. Review and implement changes to ensure the
system provides actionable, meaningful feedback for employees to support strong performance.
Work with City departments to develop and foster an inclusive work environment.
Employee and Labor Relations
Work with the Chief Administrative Officer to recommend new and amended human resources policies and
procedures to the Mayor and City Council’s Human Resources Committee.
Ensure, in consultation with the City Attorney, that all human resources policies and activities comply with federal,
state, and local laws and regulations.
Maintain and implement personnel policies and procedures, ensuring consistent interpretation and application.
Monitor and maintain job descriptions, job classifications, and salary structures in partnership with departments.
Initiate and/or supervise investigations in response to questions, complaints, employee grievances or
harassment/respect in the workplace allegationsfrom managers, employees, union representatives and other City
personnel in a timely and professional manner.
Develop and champion a City-wide standard for employee safety needs, including policies, training, and reporting.
Coordinate employee separation, exit interviews, and analysis of lessons learned.
Participate and assist the City’s chief labor negotiator in collective bargaining.
Direct and assist in the administration of labor contracts.
Create and lead labor management committees.
Diversity and Inclusion
Work alongside the Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging to on the City’s racial equity and cultural
competency initiatives.
Serve as the City’s affirmative action officer.
Monitor compliance with EEOC guidelines and certify compliance with EEO requirements for federal grant
programs.
Work with the Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging to prepare reports and initiate strategies for
increasing workforce racialized inclusion and spaces of belonging.
Collaborate with the Chief Innovation Officer and Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging to align
metrics and to assist with completion of the City’s annual equity report.
HR Administration
Review and advise on departmental organization requests and make recommendations to the Mayor, Board of
Finance, and City Council on them.
Provide consultation to staff, department heads, commission members and elected officials on a wide variety of
human resources matters.
Identify, research, and resolve complex personnel and organizational development issues within City government
and make related recommendations.
Plan, direct and evaluate the work of assigned team members.
Maintain collaborative relationships with other teams.
Work outside of regular business hours as necessary.
Ensure effective and consistent coordination, implementation, and workflow of HR business processes, functions,
and procedures.
Manage and assist insurance adjuster and counsel with unemployment and worker’s compensation claims as
appropriate.
Prepare annual department budget request, monitor expenditures, and comply with all budget guidelines.
Define needs for, implement, and manage central personnel and HRIS system and ensure individual employee files
are current and complete.
Prepare and submit employment-related reports as required by federal and state law.
Develop and provide regular key performance indicator reporting as required.
Non-Essential Job Functions:
Performs other duties as required.
Qualifications/Basic Job Requirements
Ability to actively support City diversity, equity, and cultural competency efforts within stated job responsibilities
and work effectively across diverse cultures and constituencies.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as evidenced by ongoing trainings and professional
development
Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Organizational Behavior, Business Administration, or related field plus ten
(10) years of progressively responsible HR Management experience is required.
Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation and Master’s degree is preferred.
HR experience in a municipal or public environment is strongly preferred.
Experience in benefit and wellness administration, labor relations, employment law, employee training,
organizational development, and contract negotiations is required.
Ability to effectively, clearly and professionally communicate in all written and verbal interactions with multiple
stakeholders and to group of all sizes, including City employees, elected officials and members of the general public
is required.
Ability to diffuse and manage complex organizational and employee issues using solid judgment and demonstrating
the utmost level of the confidentiality, integrity and trustworthiness while honoring both employee and employer
rights and privacy is required.
Ability to prioritize work and problem solve to accomplish competing objectives while meeting deadlines is required.
Proficiency in Microsoft operating programs, specifically Word and Excel is required, Visio a plus.
Ability to understand and comply with City standards, safety rules and personnel policies.
Champion of racial equity, inclusion and belonging.
Dedication to and understanding of racial equity.
Deep understanding of systemic racism in workplace culture.
Additional Information
Benefits
The City of Burlington is proud to offer full time employees a comprehensive benefits program that includes:
Medical/Dental Insurance Coverage
Prescription Drug Coverage
Flexible Spending Programs
Short-Term Disability Insurance
Paid Leave (Sick and Vacation)
Pension Plan
Contributory Retirement Plan
Life Insurance
Discounted Gym Memberships
Free Yoga Membership to Sangha Studios (Burlington, Williston & online)
Tuition Discounts for Champlain College TruEd
Employee Assistance Program
Wellness Bonus Incentives Program
Local & National Store Discounts
Subsidized Transportation Options
Qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
For additional details please visit https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/HR/benefitsinformation
Employer
City of Burlington, Vermont
Address
200 Church Street, Suite 102
Burlington, Vermont, 05401
Phone
802-540-2505
Website
https://www.burlingtonvt.gov
Director of Human Resources Supplemental Questionnaire
Promoting a culture that reveres diversity and equity.
The City of Burlington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are strongly committed to creating a
dynamic and equitable work-force that mirrors the population and world that we serve. We do not discriminate on the
basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, marital status, crime victim status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, or genetic information in
employment or the provision of services.
In addition to being an equal opportunity employer we actively encourage applicants who can contribute to our growing
diversity to apply.
Applications for our employment opportunities are only accepted online through our Government Jobs website.
For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at 802-540-
2505 or careers@burlingtonvt.gov
