Human Resources Director

The Position

The Human Resources Director leads and oversees all HR functions for the City of Edmonds, including compliance, recruitment and selection, employee development and training, labor relations, compensation and benefits, policy development, and workplace safety. The Director will serve as the chief spokesperson during contract negotiations. This role also provides strategic guidance and internal consulting to City leadership on staffing, performance, and organizational issues while ensuring compliance with legal and civil service requirements.

The Director manages a dedicated Human Resources team, conducts labor negotiations, oversees employee relations and investigations, and administers classification and compensation systems. The position also develops and manages the department’s budget, coordinates citywide Human Resource initiatives, and contributes to long-range organizational planning, ensuring that the City of Edmonds remains an exceptional place to work and serve.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will bring a steady blend of practical HR leadership and hands‑on operational expertise. This person will be skilled in building dependable HR systems, strengthening organizational processes, and providing clear guidance to staff. They will focus on stabilizing the organization through significant periods of change while ensuring day‑to‑day HR needs are supported with consistency and reliability.

This individual will be a reliable, ethical HR leader with a strong commitment to compliance, clear communication, and a systems‑focused approach. They will bring the experience needed to strengthen and modernize the City’s HR operations, improve internal service delivery, and support a stable and healthy organizational culture during ongoing change. Their background in organizational design, policy development, and succession planning will help the City refine its structure and prepare its workforce for the future.

The successful candidate will have broad, hands‑on knowledge across all core HR functions, including compensation and benefits, recruitment, risk management, and employee development. They will also have substantial experience in labor relations and negotiations. With most of the City’s workforce represented by multiple unions and bargaining agreements, the new HR Director must demonstrate consistent, clear negotiation skills and the ability to maintain productive, cooperative relationships with union leaders and other stakeholders.

This leader will bring strong project‑management abilities and be comfortable working directly with employees at all levels. They will ensure HR policies and procedures remain compliant with evolving state requirements and operational best practices. The Director will serve as a dependable advisor to the Mayor, City leadership, and department directors, providing practical guidance on personnel matters, compliance expectations, and emerging employment regulations. The selected candidate will be approachable, steady, and solutions‑focused. They will work collaboratively with department heads to maintain morale, strengthen interdepartmental communication, and reinforce a culture of respect, consistency, and accountability. The ideal candidate will be a stabilizing presence who leads by example, mentors staff, and positions the Human Resources Department as a trusted, service‑oriented partner in the City’s ongoing transition and long‑term success.

Education & Experience

A bachelor’s degree in human resources, public administration, employment law, business administration or a related field, and seven (7) years of increasingly responsible human resource experience that includes direct responsibility for managing or supervising operations, programs and/or services in one or more human resource functional areas is required. Candidates should have four (4) years of staff supervisory, management and budgetary responsibility for a department or major division/functional area within a department, preferably in a public sector environment. Candidates should have experience acting as a chief spokesperson during contract negotiations. SHRM-SCP or other HR certifications such as SPHR, CEBS, CMS, CLRP or CCP is preferred. An equivalent combination of education, training and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position will be considered.

Compensation & Benefits

• $160,662 - $215,304 DOQ
• 80 hours of management leave per year (noncarryover), plus two weeks of front-loaded vacation during the first year.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Paid vacation and sick leave, accrued on a regular basis.
• Paid holidays.
• Participation in the State Retirement System (WA DRS PERS and LEOFF).
• MEBT (Social Security Replacement Program).
• HRA-VEBA health reimbursement account.
• Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) and Ride Share Program.
• Three deferred compensation plan options.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Medical, dependent care, and transit flexible spending accounts.
• Smoke-free, drug-free workplace.