Human Resources Director

Human Resources Director

$170,000 - $190,000

(On-site)

The City of Falls Church seeks an innovative and dynamic Human Resources Director who is a proven leader, change agent, and collaborator with the highest ethical standards. With a diverse workforce of approximately 260 full-time employees, the City seeks a skilled human resources executive who can continue to contribute to its progressive and strategic approach to conducting business, managing people, and serving its community.

The right candidate will be eager for an impactful, vibrant, multifaceted role, and have a growth-mindset for the future of The Little City. This is an exciting opportunity to combine high level leadership with practical management skills in order to deliver services to a highly engaged, highly educated, and progressive community.

The Community: The City of Falls Church, located less than seven miles from the heart of Washington D.C., is a unique and historic city.

Besides featuring quick access to renowned museums and art galleries in the Capital City, almost every neighborhood is a treasure of its own with a variety of restaurants and shops that reflect the city's great cultural diversity. The City is one of the most densely populated and fastest growing localities in Virginia. Situated between Arlington and Fairfax Counties, Falls Church takes pride in its independent spirit, small town character, environmental stewardship, and outstanding schools.

The city is an independent municipality, separate from the surrounding Arlington and Fairfax Counties with its own school system. (Some Falls Church mailing addresses are in Fairfax County. Also, the City contracts for select services with the counties.) The City is one of the two geographically smallest cities in Virginia, at only 2.2 square miles. With a population of roughly 16,000, the city is known for its urban village community, quality customer service, nationally ranked school system, environmental activism, and community activities.

The community was established around The Falls Church (Episcopal) that was founded in 1734. The City of Falls Church became a township in 1875, and an independent city in 1948.

The City of Falls Church is experiencing transformative growth in its commercial districts, where 1950s-era strip malls are being redeveloped with higher densities, a mix of uses, and a walkable design. Falls Church seeks to maintain a high quality of life in established residential neighborhoods adjacent to commercial districts through effective street design, traffic calming, and excellent government services. The City enjoys an engaged community who want to influence where they live.

For more information on our history, visit our website: Falls Church History Room

The Organization: The City of Falls Church has had a strong tradition of self-government.

It is an independent city (Virginia cities have no county affiliation) and derives its governing authority from a Charter granted by the Virginia General Assembly. Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, which means that local governments have only the authority expressly granted to them by the Virginia Constitution or by the Virginia General Assembly in the City Charter or in general law. The City of Falls Church operates under the Council-Manager form of government as provided by the City Charter and adopted by the Virginia General Assembly in 1950.

Political authority is vested in the seven-member City Council, which enacts ordinances and resolutions, approves City budgets, sets tax rates, and establishes policy. In formulating decisions and policy, the Council Members act as a group. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council as full-time administrator of the City government.

Position Summary: The Human Resources Director will lead the Human Resources Department in providing comprehensive human resources services to all City departments and employees.

The department consists of one Deputy Director, two HR Managers and one temporary HR analyst. Reporting to the Deputy City Manager for Internal Operations, the Human Resources Director will develop and implement policies, procedures, and programs to attract, retain, and develop a diverse and talented workforce. The successful candidate will have a strong background in human resources management and employee development, as well as excellent communication and leadership skills.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Develop and implement policies, procedures, and programs in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and best practices.

Direct the City's compensation and total rewards initiatives, including salary administration, fringe benefits, awards and recognition, and employee wellness initiatives.

Oversee the recruitment and selection process for all City positions, including developing job descriptions, posting job vacancies, screening applicants, and coordinating interviews.

Oversee the design, implementation, and administration of the City's employee benefits programs, including health insurance, dental insurance, retirement plans, flexible spending accounts, and other voluntary benefits.

Manage employee relations, including conducting investigations, mediating disputes, and providing guidance and support to supervisors and employees.

Develop and implement employee training and development programs to enhance employee skills, knowledge, and performance.

Coordinate the performance evaluation process for all City employees, providing guidance to supervisors and employees and ensuring compliance with established policies and procedures.

Stay abreast of developments in human resources management and employment law, and labor relations, and make recommendations for policy and program changes as needed.

Prepare and present reports, presentations, and other materials to City management, elected officials, and other stakeholders as needed.

Collaborate with the Finance Department on fiscal impacts of HR related policies and procedures and contracts and procurement related to human resources services, including negotiating agreements with external vendors, evaluating service providers, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies and procedures.

Supervise and evaluate the performance of Human Resources Department staff, providing guidance, support, and professional development opportunities as needed.

Keys to Success:

The ideal candidate will have a commitment to a healthy workplace culture and proven experience in administering equitable policies and regulations. They must work well in a collaborative environment and foster a human-centered mission.

They must be an excellent communicator and proactive in broadcasting pertinent information to the workforce. The candidate ideally would have experience with strategic planning and managing and organizing multiple projects. The future HR Director for the City of Falls Church will inspire teamwork, leadership and trust at all levels of the organization.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in an applicable field, Master's degree preferred.

At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, including experience in recruitment, employee relations, compensation and benefits, and employee training and development.

Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interact with employees at all levels of the organization.

Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a diverse team of professionals.

Demonstrated ability to analyze problems and develop sound recommendations for the solution and prepare working procedures, plan, organize, direct and evaluate the work of staff.

IPMA-SCP, SPHR or other related HR certification preferred.

An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.

Salary and Benefits: $170,000 - $190,000 The salary is competitive and based on the background and qualifications on the successful candidate. In addition, the City also offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, pension plan, deferred compensation plan, flexible spending account, college savings plan, life and long-term disability insurance, paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, free parking, credit union membership, and more. See www.fallschurchva.gov/benefits for additional information.

Application and Selection Process: Interested candidates are encouraged to apply no later than June 17, 2024. Virtual and/or on-site interviews in the City of Falls Church will be offered by a panel of stakeholders in late June to those candidates named as finalists, with reference checks and background checks conducted after receiving the candidate's permission.

Reasonable Accommodation: During the selection process, applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation with the agreement of the Human Resources Department.

Requests should be directed to the Human Resources Department. The City of Falls Church does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability.

The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call Talent Acquisition Manager, Meaghan DeCelle at 703-248-5128, (TTY 711).

All City facilities are smoke free.