Assistant Director of Human Resources

St. Louis County Library

While the formal title is Assistant Director, this role serves as the senior HR leader for the organization, with full responsibility for the function, team leadership, and strategy.

EMD Consulting Group is proud to support St. Louis County Library on the search for a Human Resources leader. This hands-on leadership role will support a public-facing organization with 600+ employees across 20 branches and administrative operations, and will work closely with the Chief Administrative Officer, Roberto Munster, and Director/CEO, Kristen Sorth.

Recognized nationally for excellence and named a Top Workplace for more than a decade, St. Louis County Library offers the opportunity to do meaningful, mission driven work in an organization that values learning, integrity, and community impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and support an HR team of seven, including four direct reports, providing direction, coaching, and accountability
• Lead and oversee all core Human Resources functions, including payroll, benefits, recruitment, compliance, performance management, employee relations, and policy administration
• Serve as the primary resource for leaders navigating complex and sensitive employee relations issues, including ADA and FMLA matters, disciplinary actions, investigations, and workplace conflict
• Manage and continuously improve recruitment and hiring processes, with an emphasis on proactive sourcing, strong candidate experience, and effective partnerships with hiring leaders
• Oversee a comprehensive benefits program, working closely with brokers and supporting thoughtful design and communication
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, legal counsel, and Library policies
• Prepare reports, analyses, and recommendations for senior leadership, and present to executive and board-level audiences as appropriate
• Contribute to a positive organizational culture by modeling professionalism, sound judgment, and steady leadership

The successful candidate will be an experienced HR professional who has managed people, systems, and complexity. They will bring…

• Experience overseeing multiple HR functions in a mid-to-large organization
• Demonstrated supervisory experience, including managing performance and navigating team dynamics
• Strong knowledge of payroll, benefits administration, employee relations, and employment law
• Experience partnering with leaders to solve problems and improve outcomes
• A professional, grounded presence and the ability to lead difficult conversations with clarity and care
• Curiosity, sound judgment, and a commitment to continuous learning and best practices
• Strong communication skills and the ability to represent HR with credibility across all levels
• Experience in public systems, government, higher education, healthcare, or large nonprofit organizations is preferred. Library experience is not required.

Compensation and Benefits: The salary range is $130,000–$140,000 and was recently updated following a market benchmarking process to reflect the scope of the role and ensure competitiveness.

The Library offers an excellent benefits package, including a Library-funded pension plan, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with materials due by April 10, 2026. Please submit a resume and cover letter to: search@emdconsulting.com

Pay: $130,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person