Director of Human Resources

The City of Wichita is NOT an E-Verify Employer.

Distinguishing Features of Work

The City of Wichita is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as its next Director of Human Resources. This is a high-impact role with the largest city if Kansas and a Top 50 U.S. city that offers the opportunity to shape the workforce and culture of an organization that delivers essential services to a growing and dynamic community.

Serving a workforce of approximately 3,300 employees, the Director will influence how the City attracts, develops, and retains talent while strengthening organizational performance to enhance service delivery across all departments. This role offers both scale and visibility, with the ability to drive meaningful change that directly supports service delivery to residents.

The Director works closely with a new and dynamic City Manager and executive leadership team to align workforce strategies with organizational priorities. This is an opportunity to further integrate HR strategy into organizational decision making, modernize systems and practices, and prepare the workforce for future challenges.

Wichita offers a unique combination of professional opportunity and community impact. The City is committed to continuous improvement and values leaders who bring practical solutions, build strong relationships, and focus on results.

The Role

The Director of Human Resources leads the City’s comprehensive HR function and serves as a key member of the executive leadership team. This position is responsible for setting direction, establishing priorities, and ensuring effective delivery of human resources services across the organization.

Core areas of responsibility include talent acquisition, workforce planning, employee relations, labor relations, compensation and benefits, learning and development, organizational effectiveness, and HR systems.

This role requires a leader who can operate at both a strategic and operational level, providing clear direction while also ensuring execution. The Director ensures consistent, fair, and effective application of policies, practices, and agreements while supporting a positive and productive work environment.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a practical, forward-thinking leader who brings both strategic perspective and a strong foundation in human resources operations.

They will be:

• A confident and credible advisor to the City Manager and senior leadership
• Skilled at building relationships and navigating complex organizational dynamics
• Solutions-oriented, with sound judgment and the ability to make decisions in a public sector environment
• Experienced in leading teams, managing change, and improving organizational performance
• Comfortable balancing competing priorities while maintaining a focus on outcomes
• Experience in a unionized environment is important, along with the ability to approach labor relations in a collaborative and results-focused manner.

Core Competencies

Strategic Leadership: Aligns HR strategies with the City’s strategic plan and organizational priorities, including attracting, developing, and retaining a high-performing workforce.

HR and Business Expertise: Applies broad HR knowledge, sound judgment, and data to guide decisions and solve complex issues.

Relationship Management and Communication: Builds trust, communicates clearly, and works effectively with employees, leadership, and stakeholders.

Leadership and Team Development: Leads and develops staff, sets expectations, and fosters a high-performing team environment to establish Wichita as a leading employer of choice.

Problem Solving and Decision Making: Navigates complex situations, manages conflict, and makes timely, informed decisions.

Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates professionalism, maintains confidentiality, and ensures fair and consistent practices.

Adaptability and Innovation: Leads through change, embraces new approaches, and leverages technology to improve outcomes.

Examples of Work Performed

• Establishes policies and procedures related to the personnel program; develops methods and procedures to improve the quality and efficiency of personnel functions.
• Directs recruitment and selection activities, position classification and compensation, training, payroll and record keeping, the equal employment opportunity and affirmative action program, and employee relations.
• Directs studies and surveys, and recommends and implements appropriate revisions.
• Investigates and resolves problems related to reallocation of positions, working conditions, disciplinary actions, and employee grievances.
• Interprets the personnel program to departmental officials, employees, and the public.
• Assists departmental officials with their personnel needs.
• Administers employee benefit programs.
• The examples of work performed are not intended to be all-inclusive.
• The City of Wichita reserves the right to assign additional responsibilities as needed.

Requirements of Work

• Thorough knowledge of public sector human resources principles and practices
• Ability to lead and manage a comprehensive HR Department with 16 staff and an annual budget of $2.4 million
• Ability to develop and implement long-range workforce and organizational strategies
• Strong organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to direct the work of others
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across a complex organization
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• An employee shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Experience and Training

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, public administration, business, or a related field
• Seven years’ experience in human resources leadership, including oversight of multiple Human Resource functions
• Experience advising senior leadership and leading organizational initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and manage complex organizational issues

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in a related field
• Three years’ public sector experience as a human resources director or Assistant Director
• Experience in labor relations and working with collective bargaining agreements
• Professional HR certification

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. Please find more information under the following links:

https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/fmlaen.pdf (Download PDF reader)
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf (Download PDF reader)
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/eppac.pdf (Download PDF reader)