Director of Human Resources

The City of Syracuse seeks a Director of Human Resources to lead the Office of Human Resources and Labor Relations in support of a large unionized public-sector workforce. This role calls for a public-sector HR leader who can strengthen day-to-day operations support effective labor and employee relations enhance service delivery to departments and employees advance process modernization and guide a consistent compliant and responsive HR function within the realities of city government civil service rules and shared decision-making.

The Director will oversee the Citys personnel labor hiring benefits leave and employee-relations functions with a focus on operational reliability legal and contractual compliance responsiveness staff development and implementation of improved systems and controls. The position requires a leader who can succeed through judgment partnership and influence while establishing clear expectations strong follow-through and better accountability across the HR function and its stakeholders.

• Provides leadership and oversight for personnel administration labor relations recruiting onboarding benefits administration leave administration investigations safety workers compensation policy implementation and related HR compliance functions for the City.
• Strengthens core HR operations by improving process controls promoting timely and consistent service delivery and ensuring transactional work is accurate timely and well documented.
• Oversees the Citys labor and employee-relations functions in a heavily unionized environment including grievance administration discipline investigations contract interpretation bargaining support and coordination with legal counsel and City leadership.
• Provides practical guidance to supervisors and departments regarding policy application leave and accommodation issues investigations and other people-management matters ensuring guidance is consistent timely and aligned with legal and contractual obligations.
• Oversees the Citys recruiting and civil-service-related processes including coordination with departments hiring workflows candidate communication appropriate use of panels and structured processes and navigation of title classification and County civil service requirements.
• Builds and maintains service-oriented relationships with City departments while ensuring appropriate controls consistent standards and sound judgment in matters involving exceptions escalation and political pressures.
• Leads staff development and accountability within HR through role clarity supervision cross-training documented procedures and the conversion of institutional knowledge into durable workflows guides and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Provides leadership in HRIS and applicant tracking system (ATS) modernization and process redesign.
• Uses metrics dashboards and workflow data to improve decision-making monitor risk measure service performance and identify opportunities for operational improvement.

• Strong knowledge of municipal or public-sector human resources administration including civil service issues public-sector hiring constraints employee and labor relations leave and accommodation administration benefits administration and policy implementation in a unionized environment.
• Working knowledge of HR operational controls process documentation investigations compliance risk management and the implementation or improvement of HR technology systems.
• Excellent judgment communication and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to respond clearly and effectively to departments employees and other stakeholders.
• Ability to build credibility and maintain effective working relationships with departments and employees.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with payroll finance legal and executive leadership.
• Ability to lead through influence in an environment where HR must often partner rather than simply direct.
• Ability to organize prioritize and manage a high-volume workload effectively.
• Ability to identify and establish practical process improvements that strengthen HR operations and service delivery.
• Ability to use metrics and performance data to manage and evaluate performance.
• Ability to establish expectations hold staff accountable and coach and develop employees.
• Ability to create and maintain a responsive reliable and trusted HR function.

• Steady practical responsive and credible leadership style.
• Ability to strengthen working relationships while maintaining clear and consistent standards.
• Strong understanding of the importance of dependable accurate and timely HR service delivery.
• Comfortable operating in a politically sensitive municipal environment.
• Demonstrates sound risk-based judgment in addressing complex personnel and organizational matters.
• Communicates with professionalism responsiveness and consistent follow-through.
• Ability to effectively partner with departments employees and unions as stakeholders.
• Demonstrates a hands-on continuous-improvement mindset with a strong commitment to documentation and accountability.
• Ability to balance day-to-day operational detail with long-term organizational and process improvement.
• Experience leading teams through organizational change and strengthening core HR processes.
• Experience implementing modern HR technology tools including UKG in a complex public-sector or similarly regulated environment.

A bachelors degree in Human Resource Management Business Management Psychology Sociology or related field required. Masters degree preferred.

At least five years of related experience preferably in a municipal or union environment or an equivalent combination of education training and experience.

At least three years of leadership experience preferably in a municipal and/or union environment.

City of Syracuse residency is required and must be maintained throughout the course of employment.

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance
• Retirement plan

Required Experience:

Director