ABOUT FLAGSTAFF

Nestled at 7,000 feet elevation in the largest contiguous Ponderosa pine forest in the world, Flagstaff offers a lifestyle that blends small-town charm with big-outdoor adventure. Known for its four-season climate, Flagstaff is a haven for lovers of the outdoors—with easy access to hiking, snow sports, mountain biking, and camping right outside your door.

The city boasts a vibrant downtown filled with local shops, craft breweries, and a dynamic arts and music scene. Flagstaff is also home to Northern Arizona University, bringing a youthful energy, cultural events, and educational opportunities to the community.

With stunning views of the San Francisco Peaks, dark skies perfect for stargazing, and proximity to wonders like the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and countless national forests, Flagstaff offers a high quality of life in an inspiring natural setting. Plus, its strong sense of community, clean air, and slower pace make it an ideal place to put down roots.

Whether you're seeking outdoor adventure, a welcoming community, or just a breath of fresh mountain air, Flagstaff is the perfect place to live, work, and thrive.

WHY CONSIDER THIS OPPORTUNITY

Strategic Leadership Role: Serve as a key member of the City’s executive leadership team, directly advising the City Manager and shaping workforce strategy for a dynamic and growing organization.
Make a Citywide Impact: Lead innovative human resources initiatives that support over 1,000 employees across diverse departments—from public safety and public works to sustainability and community development.
Opportunity to Innovate: Bring fresh ideas to an organization that values equity, inclusion, employee well-being, and forward-thinking HR practices.
Support a Mission-Driven Workforce: Work alongside dedicated public servants who are passionate about making Flagstaff a safe, sustainable, and inclusive community.
Champion Organizational Culture: Be the driving force behind building a modern, engaged workplace that attracts and retains top talent.
Collaborate Across Departments: Build strong partnerships with leaders at all levels of city government to align people strategies with organizational goals.
Work in a City That Values Progress: Join a local government known for its environmental leadership and community-centered policies.
Live and Work in a Stunning Location: Enjoy the unmatched beauty and quality of life in Flagstaff—surrounded by mountains, forests, and national parks, with a vibrant cultural and outdoor lifestyle.
Stable and Respected Employer: Work for a fiscally responsible municipality with a strong reputation for public service and employee support.
JOB DESCRIPTION:

The HR/Risk Management Director actively supports and upholds the City’s stated mission and values. Performs professional personnel management and administrative work in planning and directing the activities of the City’s Human Resources and Risk Management Division (“HRRM”) and for performing complex and diverse activities involving organizational level initiatives, systems, and performance.

Under direct supervision of the City Manager, employees of this class are expected to exercise a high degree of independence, initiative, and professional expertise in the day-to-day management of the Human Resources and Risk Management Division and organizational development. Serves as an advisor in personnel matters to the City Manager’s Office (“CMO”, including City Manager, Senior Deputy City Manager, and Deputy City Manager). This position is responsible for the general supervision and administration of the HRRM Division, interpretation and enforcement of the employee handbook, ordinances and policies and procedures relating to classification, compensation, benefits, occupational health and safety, recruitment, regulatory compliance, selection, training, and employee complaints, grievances and appeals. This position is also responsible for planning, developing and implementing employee training and organizational development programs and initiatives, and for the accurate and efficient maintenance of the City’s HRRM system(s).

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES
Supervisory: This job has full responsibility for supervision at the division level (hires, directs, schedules, transfers, promotes, rewards, disciplines, and terminates other employees).
Budgetary: This job has full responsibility for budgeting at the division level (prepares, implements, and manages).
Strategic Planning: This job has full responsibility for strategic planning and continuous quality improvement at the division level (develops, implements, interprets, and manages long and short-term goals) at the division level.
Policies/Procedures: This job has full responsibility for policies and procedures at the organizational level (develops, implements, and interprets policies and procedures).
Compliance: This job has full responsibility at the organizational level (follows, assists in ensuring compliance with, and may enforce) Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations, as well as City policies and procedures.
Council Communications: This job has full responsibility for Council communication at the division level (makes recommendations and presentations, writes staff summaries, ensures performance measures are met, and balances needs with Council’s adopted priorities and direction).
Reporting: This job has full responsibility for reporting to Federal/State/local agencies at the division level (ensures reporting requirements are met, trains others on reporting requirements and methods, and addresses discrepancies in reporting).
Examples of the Work Performed:
EXAMPLES OF THE WORK PERFORMED (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

Provides excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.
Plans, develops, and directs the administration and operation of the HRRM Division as well as the citywide organizational development efforts.
Assigns projects and responsibilities, reviews and evaluates work procedures.
Develops support systems that encourage cross-functional cooperation and supportive initiative taking.
Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effective of service delivery with consideration to workload, reporting relationships, opportunities for improvement with the programs and services managed by the division.
Fosters positive employee relations, manages conflicts, and promotes a healthy organizational culture.
Promotes policies that encourage inclusion within the organization.
Identifies opportunities for technological advancement and implements any changes to enhance the applications managed by HRRM those shared with Payroll/Finance.
Establishes and conducts reviews and analysis of new programs and techniques in the area of personnel management and makes any necessary changes to improve their effectiveness as it relates to the City.
Advises the CMO of personnel matters and activities through oral and written updates.
Advises the CMO on trends or personnel legal issues and consults on potential solutions.
Designs organizational development plans; conducts research; defines organizational needs; identifies opportunities for development; develops programs and initiatives to meet needs and/or further development; determines implementation methodology; identifies and obtains needed resources; and implements approved plans.
Collaborates with other divisions and fosters a culture of teamwork and cross-functional leadership.
Reviews and advises the CMO regarding employee hires, promotions, demotions, suspensions transfers, merit increases, discharges, and disciplinary measures.
Recommends to the CMO modifications to the personnel ordinance and administrative policies and procedures ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, court decisions, administrative rulings and related matters.
Serves as staff liaison to the Personnel Board, Northern Arizona Public Employee Benefits Trust, and the Employee Advisory Committee (“EAC”).
Advises and counsels on personnel matters, work related problems, and personnel benefits, policies, and procedures.
Administers and participates in recruitment openings, application screening, interviews, selection, and post hiring procedures, and has overall responsibility for those programs.
Assures that personnel policies and actions comply with the City’s equal employment opportunity policy.
Counsels divisions on proper testing procedures and applicability, and when warranted, monitors written and practical tests.
Oversees the performance of job audits, writing job descriptions, salary surveys and classification audits for possible reclassification of positions, and has overall responsibility to the CMO for classifications and their reporting.
Investigates and resolves issues that cannot be handled by other HRRM employees.
Supervises the maintenance, confidentiality, and legal retention of personnel records, statistics and files.
Directs the forecast of funds needed for compensation, benefits and other employee related programs based on organizational needs and trends as part of the annual fiscal year budget process.
Participates as a Budget Team member and provides input.
Prepares and reviews plans, technical reports, proposed ordinances (or amendments to existing ordinances) and regulations as submitted by HRRM staff or other City personnel.
Works closely with the CMO to define and establish strategic goals and objectives and execute successful business strategies.
Manages HRRM initiatives including interactions with the public, Council and other internal and external parties to accomplish initiative objectives.
Attends retreats, leadership meetings and Council work sessions and meetings representing HRRM.
Attends and participates in professional development opportunities and stays abreast of new trends and innovation in HRRM.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Organizational Development, Business Administration, Psychology, Communications, Social Sciences, or related field.
Minimum of 6 years of Human Resources experience, especially in the areas of recruitment and retention, classification and compensation, benefits, leaves, compliance, training, organizational development, and employee relations.
Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible supervisory experience.
Or any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the above Minimum Requirements.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

Master’s degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Organizational Development, Business Administration, Psychology, Communications, Social Sciences, or related field.
Previous experience with budgeting, strategic planning and communication with City Council or a Board of Directors.
Certification as Senior Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP, HRCI-SPHR) preferred.
Experience in public sector preferred.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Must possess, or obtain upon employment, a valid Arizona driver’s license.
Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity.
Supplemental Information:
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

Ability to develop and promote a diverse and productive work environment and to facilitate everyone working together as a team.
Ability to mentor employees and develop future division leaders.
Effective communicator with strong listening and interpersonal skills; embraces proactive communication and sharing of information throughout the division and across the organization.
Maintains high ethical standards, confidentiality, and integrity in all HRRM activities.
Ability to use metrics and trends for data driven decision making.
Working knowledge of contemporary human resource and risk management principles and practices, especially the areas of compensation, classification, recruitment, selection, training, employee relations and occupational health and safety.
Working knowledge of federal, state and local laws and regulations governing human resources and risk management.
Knowledge of management systems theory, analysis and design, change management and project management.
Knowledge of organizational development methodology, concepts, and practices, as well as group dynamics/human behavior and the effects of both on members of a group.
Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
Ability to thoroughly learn, teach, and enforce the personnel ordinance, city payroll procedures, and other policies and guidelines affecting citywide personnel issues and administration.
Ability to effectively resolve operational and personnel problems.
Ability to research, prepare, and present comprehensive written and oral reports to the CMO. Ability to use good judgment and make difficult independent decisions without direct supervision.
Ability to create and administer the budget for the HRRM Division.
Must possess good analytical, writing, interviewing, and statistical reporting skills.
Demonstrated ability to utilize personal computers and software for personnel applications.
Working knowledge of affirmative action programs.
Considerable knowledge of municipal organization, classification systems, and pay systems.
Demonstrated ability to maintain a high degree of organization, coordination and communication, with attention to detail and accuracy.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee will regularly be required to sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms and use hands to handle and feel. This position occasionally will stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
Vision requirements for this position include close vision, peripheral vision (ability to see up, down, left and right while eyes fixed on a given point), and depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships).
There are no special working conditions for this position.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.