The City of Wilmington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Position Description
Are you a focused, strategic Human Resources leader who has demonstrated success building and supporting highly functioning teams and organizations?
The City of Wilmington is seeking a Human Resources Director to serve as its chief human capital strategist and lead the City’s human resources programs, services, and workforce initiatives with integrity.
Reporting to the Chief of Staff and serving on the Executive Leadership Team, the Human Resources Director provides strategic guidance on complex workforce matters and ensures the City’s personnel practices are fair, consistent, and legally compliant. The Human Resources Director oversees all human resource functions including recruitment and retention, classification and compensation, employee relations and investigations, benefits administration, training and development and HR information systems.
Note: This position will remain open until filled with first application review taking place 2 weeks from posting date.
Typical Tasks
Responsibilities Of This Position Include
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Change
- Develop and implement a comprehensive human resources strategy aligned with the City’s strategic priorities.
- Perform analyses and employ critical thinking to support continuous improvement efforts.
- Serve as a key partner to executive and departmental leadership in shaping organizational structure, leadership development, and workforce strategy across City departments.
- Guide the City through workforce changes, organizational transitions, and modernization of HR practices.
- Lead initiatives to strengthen organizational culture, employee engagement and leadership development.
- Identify workforce trends and develop proactive strategies to address recruitment, retention, and succession planning.
Department Leadership & HR Operations
- Build a high-performing team of human resources professionals who can support City leadership in making the City of Wilmington an “Employer of Choice”
- Ensure a customer-centric approach and provide timely and accurate service to City departments, employees, applicants, and other stakeholders.
- Establish performance expectations, accountability measures, and professional development opportunities for HR staff.
- Oversee all HR operations including recruitment, benefits, compensation and classification, employee relations, training and development, and HRIS.
- Evaluate and improve HR processes to enhance efficiency, responsiveness, and transparency.
- Ensure the HR department operates in a trustworthy and collaborative way.
Employee Relations & Workplace Investigations
- Provide leadership and oversight of employee relations functions including workplace investigations, disciplinary processes, grievance management, and conflict resolution
- Ensure personnel matters are handled fairly, consistently, and incompliance with applicable laws and policies.
- Provide guidance to department directors and supervisors regarding complex employee relations issues.
- Oversee investigations involving allegations of misconduct, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other workplace concerns.
- Ensure investigative processes are thorough, impartial and legally defensible.
Policy Development & Governance
- Develop, review, and implement personnel policies and procedures to support effective workforce management.
- Ensure policies comply with federal and state employment laws and reflect best practices in municipal human resources management.
- Advise executive leadership and City Council on personnel policies and workforce initiatives.
- Promote consistent application of policies across departments.
Compliance
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, ADEA, and related regulations.
- Partner with the City Attorney’s Office on employment-related legal matters.
- Identify and mitigate potential organizational risks related to workforce practices.
- Maintain a fair, respectful, and legally compliant workplace environment for all employees.
Budget & Resource Management
- Develop and manage the Human Resources Department operating budget.
- Monitor expenditures and ensure responsible stewardship of public resources.
- Evaluate staffing, technology and HR operations to improve efficiency and service delivery.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field with ten (10) years of progressively responsible human resources specific experience to include no less than five (5) years of supervisory or leadership experience.
Additional Qualifications
- Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record
- Experience in municipal or public-sector human resources strongly preferred
- Professional HR certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or IPMA-HR certification preferred (required within 1 year of hire)
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be an experienced human resources leader with a history of building effective teams and the ability to guide an organization through periods of transition, growth, and change. This individual will bring a strategic mindset, critical thinking skills, and a bias for action. The ideal candidate will demonstrate their capability in building credibility and trust across an organization.
The successful candidate will demonstrate sound judgment, integrity, and strong executive communication skills. They will be comfortable advising senior leadership on complex workforce matters and leading the organization through challenging employee relations issues with fairness, consistency, and professionalism. This individual will be a problem-solver who will align practices, policies, and resources to drive a culture of accountability and mutual respect.
Supplemental Information
- Office Work: Primarily sedentary, involving prolonged sitting, computer use, telephone and office equipment operation, and standard office tasks. Requires visual acuity, hearing, and manual dexterity for reviewing documents, analyzing data, and completing administrative responsibilities.
- Field Work: require standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting or carrying objects up to 10 pounds occasionally. Employees may encounter uneven terrain, traffic, construction areas, and outdoor weather conditions and must use appropriate personal protective equipment.
- General Requirements: The position involves occasional travel to meetings, evening events, and after-hours response, as needed, in support of a 24-hour municipal operation. All work is performed in compliance with applicable State and Federal OSHA regulations, including hazard communication, personal protective equipment, and slip, trip, and fall prevention
Our Core Values
INCLUSION | COLLABORATION | CREATIVITY | ACCOUNTABILITY
Our Mission Statement: Through forward-thinking policies and responsible stewardship, we are creating a better city every day with excellent core services and quality of life for all.
What We Offer
The City of Wilmington believes that employees are one of our most important resources. We offer an excellent salary and competitive benefits package to serve the needs of our employees and their families. Our benefits package includes:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance + many other insurance options
- Excellent retirement benefits, including a city provided 4.5% contribution each pay period into a 401(k) account and automatic enrollment into the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ Retirement System
- Employer-paid health & wellness clinic
- Free on-site city gym access
- Paid sick and vacation leave + 13 paid holidays per year
- 6-weeks paid parental leave
- Paid volunteer & blood donation leave to give back to our community
- Flex schedule and telework availability, depending on your position
- Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives
- Tuition assistance benefits
Applicant Status Updates: After the closing date for this position, applications will be screened by Human Resources. Applicants who meet the minimum and/or preferred qualifications will be referred over to the hiring department.
All updates regarding an application can be viewed through your applicant portal.
Health Benefits are offered to employees working at least 30 hours per week.
Health Insurance - The City offers two options for health coverage: a standard PPO plan and a High Deductible Health Plan with an associated Health Savings Account. Coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following hire for employees and their eligible dependents. Both you and the City contribute to the overall cost of coverage.
Dental Insurance - Coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following hire. Employees, their spouse and dependent children are eligible for coverage.
Life Insurance - The city pays to provide coverage valued at one times your annual salary. Supplemental insurance is available for employees to purchase. Optional coverage for dependents is also available for purchase.
Retirement
- NC Local Government Retirement System - All benefits eligible employees make a mandatory 6% contribution every pay period.
- Deferred Compensation – The city contributes an amount equal to 4.5% of the annual salary to a 401(k) plan regardless of employee contribution. Employees may choose to contribute additional money to the 401(k) or 457 deferred compensation plans, without a match from the City, within the IRS guidelines.
Paid Leave (offered to employees working at least 1,000 hours annually*):
- Sick Leave - 12 days accrued each year
- Annual Leave - Accrual based on years of service and classification. Employees can earn from 10 to 24 days each year.
- Holidays - 13 paid holidays annually
- Paid Parental Leave - Six weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or placement of a child (must run concurrently with FMLA).
- Part-Time Employees will earn paid leave benefits on a pro-rated basis.
Miscellaneous
- Tuition reimbursement
- Employee Assistance Program
- Short & Long Term Disability
- Cancer & Critical Illness
- Accident Insurance
- Whole Life Insurance
- Credit Union membership
Note: The City of Wilmington is on a bi-weekly pay cycle. New employees should expect to recieve their first paycheck approximately 3 weeks after their start date.
**This is intended to be a brief overview of the benefits offered. Please visit our website at https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/Government/Departments-Divisions/Human-Resources/Benefits for more information.**
01
Please acknowledge that you agree to fully completed all required sections of the application, including work experience, education, and the supplemental questionnaire; and that your responses are truthful and complete and can be verified within your application. Entering "N/A' or "See Resume/Application" does not qualify as an acceptable response.
02
Do you have a valid Drivers License?
03
Which best describes your highest level of education in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field?
- High School Diploma or GED
- Vocational/Technical Training or Certificate
- Some College
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
- Doctorate Degree
- None - N/A
04
How many years of progressively responsible human resources experience do you have?
- I have no experience
- less than 1 year
- 1 year to less than 3 years
- 3 years to less than 5 years
- 5 years to less than 8 years
- 8 years to less than 10 years
- 10 years to less than 12 years
- 12 years to less than 14 years
- 14 years or more
05
Please identify the company/agency/organization where you gained the experience described in question #4 and provide a summary of related experience. Note: These employers must be listed in the work history section on your employment application to receive credit. Entering "N/A' or "See Resume/Application" does not qualify as an acceptable response.
06
How many years of human resources supervisory or leadership experience do you have?
- I have no experience
- less than 1 year
- 1 year to less than 3 years
- 3 years to less than 5 years
- 5 years to less than 10 years
- 10 years or more
07
Please identify the company/agency/organization where you gained the experience described in questions #6 and provide a summary of related experience. Note: These employers must be listed in the work history section on your employment application to receive credit. Entering "N/A' or "See Resume/Application" does not qualify as an acceptable response.
08
Do you have experience working in municipal or public-sector government?
09
Please check all that apply
- SPHR
- SHRM-SCP
- IPMA-HR
- PHR, I am aware I must obtain SPHR within 1 year of hire
- SHRM-CP, I am aware I must obtain SHRM-CP within 1 year of hire
- None, but I am aware I must obtain within 1 year of hire
10
The hiring salary for the position is posted on the job posting. Salary determination is supported by budget availability and qualifications of the candidate to maintain internal equity. Please acknowledge that you understand this process.
