The Community

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River) and Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 140,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh-largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and a densely populated city.

Alexandria is unique—an historic place which keeps pace with the modern world. The City is part of a large, metropolitan area and the nation’s Capital, yet it has retained its historic character. About one-quarter of the town’s 15 square miles has been designated as a national or local historic district. Thousands of buildings in these districts are monuments to the past, while being actively used by citizens for homes, businesses and museums.

The City has become more racially and ethnically diverse. Today, approximately one-quarter of the City’s residents are foreign born. Students at the City’s single public high school come from 88 different countries, and speak 69 different languages. Overall, African-Americans comprise more than 22 percent of the residential population, Latinos constitute almost 15 percent, and Asians constitute almost 6 percent.

In addition to its historic sites, Alexandria includes a variety of attractions. One of the Washington, DC metropolitan area’s largest concentrations of international restaurants can be found in Old Town. The Torpedo Factory Art Center, located on the City’s waterfront, provides an opportunity for the public to meet more than 200 professional artists. The City’s Farmers Market, at 240 years old, is the nation’s oldest farmers market. The City’s Del Ray/Rosemont areas offer beautiful tree-lined streets, eclectic shops and various annual community events. The City’s West End is filled with vibrant neighborhoods and future development in the area will make it a major shopping and dining attraction.

The last decade has seen the City’s economy become one of the strongest in the nation, driven by steady growth in its service-oriented employment base and income base. The City is a primary business center in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and continues to grow as a center for national association headquarters, a center for high technology, and a center for national, regional and divisional headquarters for corporations representing a broad range of fields. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) located its headquarters in the East Eisenhower Valley area starting in late fall 2003 and all of its 8,000 employees have relocated to Alexandria.

The City Government

The City adopted the Council-Manager form of government in 1922. The governing body of the City is the City Council, which formulates policies for the administration of the City. The City Council is composed of a Mayor and six Council Members elected at-large, on a partisan basis, for a three-year term (not staggered). The Mayor is chosen on a separate ballot and presides over sessions of the Council. City Council appoints the City Manager, who serves as the City’s Chief Executive Officer. The City Manager has appointment and removal authority over department heads and other employees of the City. The City Manager is responsible for implementing the policies established by the City Council.

Legislative sessions of the City Council are held on Tuesday evenings twice per month except in July and August. Public hearings are held on one Saturday per month when Council is in session, allowing citizens an opportunity to speak on matters that concern them, especially relating to land use. In addition, there are more than 100 City Boards and Commissions with Council-appointed citizen representation.

Alexandria has had a strong tradition of self-government since its founding in 1749. 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 their Charter or in general law.

The City is an active participant in regional agencies such as the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments, the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

The City provides a comprehensive range of municipal services including: education, health, welfare, housing and human services programs; public safety and administration of justice; community development, recreation, library, consumer assistance, cultural and historic activities; and transportation, environmental services and planning.

The City budget provides for approximately 2,330 full-time employees, excluding school employees. The City of Alexandria’s FY2009 approved Total City and Schools Operating Budget is $542.0 million. The FY2009-FY2014 approved Capital Improvement Program (CIP) recommends a six-year, $456.1 million program of public improvements. Funding is included for: the protection of the City’s investment in existing physical assets, including maintenance, upkeep and renovation; the planning, construction or purchase of major new facilities and properties (i.e., new Police Department Headquarters and the acquisition of open space); and the City’s Information Technology Plan.

The Personnel Services Department

The Personnel Services Department’s primary role is to support the City of Alexandria by providing services related to human resources management to all City employees in an efficient and customer-service-focused manner. The Personnel Services Department provides services to job applicants and City Departments to achieve the selection and development of a workforce who can provide the highest quality services to the community.

The Personnel Services Department Facilitates The Following Functions

Leadership and Management Support Services
Employee Relations and Training
Classification and Compensation
Employee Recruitment and Selection
Benefits and Records

The Department has 25 employees and an operating budget of $3.4 million. Retirement administration and worker’s compensation are housed in other departments.

Current Projects

Implement the performance efficiency audit recommendations for the Department (part of the City’s process improvement initiative) which will be completed in early FY2009 (summer 2008).
Be a key participant on the City team overseeing the compensation, classification and benefits study being conducted by Watson Wyatt and help lead the effort to implement new pay and classification systems when the study is complete.
Improve customer service and create a more customer-focused department.
Collaborate with the Finance and IT departments to plan and acquire new HRIS system.
Implement a new, cutting-edge employee performance evaluation system.
Build cohesive relationships and work closely with the other departments at all levels.
Set innovative and defined processes and procedures for the Department.
Transition the Personnel Services Department into a modern human resources department.

The Position

The Director of Human Resources works under the general direction of the City Manager. The Director plans, directs and administers all activities in the Personnel Services Department such as planning, directing, organizing and implementing comprehensive City-wide human resources and complex analytical tasks in support of a centralized human resource function in the systems areas of recruitment, selection, employment, classification, compensation, equal employment opportunity, training, workers’ compensation and benefits.

Areas Of Focus

The Director of Human Resources will have the opportunity to lead the Department into the next generation of personnel services. He/She will formulate and recommend policies, regulations and practices for implementing personnel and compensation programs; seeks to improve recruitment and retention programs; direct, coordinate and supervise the administration of a position classification plan and a wage and salary plan; assists management in developing human resource programs that help management meet City goals and objectives; develop and administer City-wide training programs in cooperation with other department heads; conduct special management studies relating to personnel matters; develop and implement methods of improving personnel programs; and evaluate effectiveness of programs and procedures.

Other Responsibilities

In addition to the special projects, the Director of Human Resources will supervise staff engaged in the preparation and processing of personnel action forms for conformance with City ordinances, resolution, rules and regulations; advise departments on loss control and liability issues; analyze and recommend action and provide counsel on employee grievances; administer public employees' health and life insurance programs; prepare the Personnel Services Department budget and maintain budgetary controls; maintain personnel records for City employees; and assist the City in meeting its overall Affirmative Action goals.

(This is a newly-restructured position. The City’s current Director of Personnel Services will retire after a 24-year career with the City).

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Completion of college and graduate-level courses in public or personnel administration, labor relations, and management; and at least five years of experience in local, State or Federal government, with at least three years of experience supervising the administration of a major component of personnel services.

Preferred Qualifications

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Requires bachelor’s degree with major coursework in public administration, human resources management or business administration, employee relations, industrial psychology or a related field (a master’s degree and professional certifications are desirable); and,
Substantial management experience in various areas of the personnel function, change management and best practices. Experience in a full service city or county is desirable, as is working with an elected board or commission; or, any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required by the position.
The ideal candidate will have considerable supervisory experience, a solid understanding of technology and a proven track record of success.
Candidates from all geographic areas are encouraged to apply.

Areas Of Expertise

The selected candidate will be someone who can plan, organize, administer, review and evaluate a human resources program; deliver quality customer service; analyze complex technical problems, evaluate alternatives and adopt effective course of action; and work effectively with a variety of people from varying socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.

Candidates should have knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of public human resources administration, including recruitment and selection, classification and compensation, benefits administration and employee development; current trends and issues in the areas of personnel management; effective negotiating techniques; and regulations and standards pertaining to equal employment opportunity, fair labor standards, affirmative action, employee benefits, workers’ compensation and safety.

Management Style & Personal Traits

The City of Alexandria is an innovative, progressive and dynamic organization that continually strives to meet the changing needs of its residents. The Director of Human Resources is a newly-restructured position that will lead and manage the transition of the Personnel Services Department into a modern human resources department. As such, the City is seeking an individual who has a commitment to developing an innovative vision and achieving the City’s short- and long-term strategic goals.

The ideal candidate will be a confident, strong, energetic and assertive leader who can provide a vision for the Department, build a team and engender loyalty among staff. The successful candidate will be creative, innovative, collegial, team-oriented, reliable, responsive, well rounded and technically knowledgeable. He/She will have experience as a change agent who can build and maintain strong relationships. The ideal candidate will see human resources as a significant resource in the organization.

The successful candidate will be able to make tough decisions, have good follow through and see the big picture. He/She will be able to get things done, take responsibility and demonstrate results. He/She should be a fast-paced, professional, seasoned manager and self-starter with a proven record of success. This person should have strong communication, interpersonal and presentation skills. The successful candidate will become the Human Resources Director and will effectively transition the organization from the Personnel Services Department to the Human Resources Department.

Notes

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $83,641.65 - $138,399.77, with hiring dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. In addition, benefits are provided which include: annual leave, holidays and sick leave; a retirement plan; health insurance, dental plan, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance; optional deferred compensation (ICMA); savings bonds; credit union membership; catastrophic illness leave bank; and an employee assistance program.

How To Apply

Please apply on-line by August 22, 2008 at www.allianceresourceconsulting.com.

This position will be open until filled.

For Questions And Inquiries, Please Contact

Sherrill A. Uyeda, Senior Partner or

Eric J. Middleton, Managing Partner

ALLIANCE RESOURCE CONSULTING LLC

1940 Duke Street, Suite 200

Alexandria, VA 22314

Telephone: (703) 684-3120

E-mail: apply@allianceresourceconsulting.com

An Equal Opportunity/ADA Employer.

Female, Minority and Disabled Candidates are Encouraged to Apply.

We are proud to welcome you to explore the City of Alexandria's excellent benefits and programs!

Click Here To Learn More About Employee Benefits

Click here to learn more about the City's Employee Development Program

The benefits referenced on this site, may be changed from time to time without notice. Also, temporary and some part-time positions are not eligible for these benefits. For further information, please contact the Benefits Division of the Department of Human Resources at 703.746.3785 or email DHR.Benefits@alexandriava.gov .

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