ABOUT THE COUNTY:

Kaufman County, Texas, was founded in 1848. Located adjacent to Dallas County on the east, Kaufman County is home to more than 145,000 people, 16 cities, five independent school districts, two colleges, and thousands of thriving businesses, Kaufman County has recently been named by the US Census Bureau as the fastest-growing county over 100,000 in the nation.

SUMMARY:

The Human Resources Director performs personnel and human resource functions in accordance with the Local Government Code, labor laws, and Kaufman County policies and procedures. Work involves performing professional administrative management duties and tasks in organizing, managing, and directing the County’s Human Resources, Risk Management, and Workers’ Compensation Programs. The Director of Human Resources provides personnel services to all the operating departments and/or agencies of the County. The management purview involves establishing criteria, formulating projects, assessing program effectiveness, and investigating and analyzing a variety of unusual conditions, problems, and/or questions. This position directly affects a wide range of county activities.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

• General knowledge of word processing, specifically Windows applications, including Microsoft Word.
• General knowledge of Kaufman County regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Professional knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and protocols related to county government, specifically in personnel management, worker’s compensation, and employment, especially in Texas State Statutes, Texas Local Government Code, Attorney General Rulings, and Commissioners Court decisions.
• Professional knowledge of the principles and practices of modern personnel management and administration.
• Professional knowledge of modern business office practices and procedures.
• Professional knowledge of the principles and practices of position classification, benefits, retirement, insurance, staff support, worker’s compensation, recruitment, and selection.
• Professional knowledge of the practices, terminology, and requirements of a wide variety of occupations.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Professional skill in directing and participating in the various personnel activities and to develop long- range plans for employee relations programs.
• Professional skill in setting a management climate for professionalism and for positive employee morale and motivation.
• Professional skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with supervisors, co- workers, and the public.
• Professional skill in grasping the technical, regulatory, and human/political implications of proposed programs, policies, and regulations.
• Professional skill in reading, understanding, interpreting, and following federal, state, and local laws and protocols related to personnel and employment issues.
• Professional project management skills.
• Professional skill in articulating the concerns of County employees, to anticipate policy problems and accomplish the County’s objectives despite regulatory, fiscal, and/or bureaucratic obstacles.
• Professional skill in documenting, reading, understanding, and maintaining personnel records.
• Professional skill in negotiating and persuading individuals.
• Professional supervisory skills.
• Professional skill in customer service.
• General skill in reception, telephone etiquette and customer relations.
• General skill in operating standard office equipment, such as personal computers, calculators, and telephones.
• General computer skills.
• General organizational skills.
• General skill in planning, assigning, and coordinating the activities of the personnel office.
• General skill in expressing oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, human resources management, business administration, psychology, a closely related field, or a minimum of 5 years working in the Human Resource Director role.
• Five years of professional personnel management or labor relations experience, including one to five years of supervisory experience or any equivalent combination of experience and training.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• PHR or SPHR certification or willing to obtain.
• Class C driver’s license.
• Ability to maintain continuing education requirements for the State of Texas.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Directs and coordinates all activities regarding personnel issues.
• Provides oversight for all Human Resources services.
• Develops and oversees departmental budget.
• Supervises external pay market studies.
• Prepares and recommends appropriate revisions to the salary compensation plan to the Commissioners Court.
• Implements and manages the County’s Safety Program.
• Serves as the ADA representative for Kaufman County.
• Serves as the Title VI representative for Kaufman County.
• Assures the services delivered by the Human Resources Department meet quality and timeliness standards.
• Utilizes a Countywide perspective in the development of new or the modification of existing personnel policies and procedures.
• Serves as pool coordinator and liaison between the Texas Association of Counties and Commissioners Court.
• Serves as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Officer.
• Oversees and supervises the reconciliation of insurance billings.
• Manages the Kaufman County Service Award Program.
• Responds to employment classification, salary, and other survey requests from the Department of Labor, the Texas Workforce Commission, and other requesters.
• Initiates, publishes and maintains the Kaufman County Employee Personnel Policy.
• Initiates and conducts internal investigations regarding safety and personnel issues.
• Obtains and directs payment of all legal counsel for all lawsuits brought against the county.
• Verifies and monitors compliance with personnel policy, laws, and regulations.
• Administers the annual performance review program.
• Consult with and advise County department heads, officials, and supervisors regarding personnel matters.
• Assures all appropriate county staff are trained in the interpretation of personnel policies and procedures.
• Responds to internal or external cases of discrimination.
• Assures all grievances are administered effectively and responded to in a timely manner.
• Administers the recruitment/selection process.
• Reviews literature and attends continuing education functions to remain current with changes in the interpretation of personnel law.
• Communicates all changes and personnel activities to Commissioners Court and/or additional elected officials, department heads, and employees as necessary.
• Administers the Risk Management program for the County by managing policies/pool coverage for property, crime coverage, general liability, public officials’ liability, law enforcement liability, automobile physical damage, and automobile liability,
• Provides the most effective risk mitigation at the most cost-efficient method through pool coverage.
• Manages claims, injuries, and litigation.
• Administers the Worker’s Compensation program for the county.
• Directs countywide FMLA compliance.
• Directs the maintenance of the pay and position classification plan, which includes analyzing new or existing positions.
• Directs the preparation and revision of job descriptions.
• Responds to requests for information regarding personnel issues.
• Prepares personnel reports, including Affirmative Action/EEO reports.
• Participates in committees that involve pay and personnel matters.
• Reviews, manages and implements all countywide insurance plans.
• Serves as the liaison between the county and the Texas Workforce Commission in the recruitment of potential applicants.
• Manages the New Hire Orientation Program.
• Oversees the completion of renewal applications and directs premium payments for general liability, auto, law enforcement, public officials, health, dental, and supplemental insurance.
• Directs the maintenance of a current and accurate position control database.
• Verifies personnel promotions and position control changes are within county policy.
• Serves as the liaison between the county’s health and dental benefits consultant and Commissioners Court.
• Supervises vacancy announcements, ensuring they are published appropriately.
• Oversees the screening of applicants, including employment physicals and drug and alcohol testing.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Use of his/her hands and fingers to handle or feel.
• Reach with hands and arms.
• Talk.
• Hear.
• Occasionally stand, walk, kneel, or stoop.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus