Human Resources Director

About the Role

Reporting directly to the City Manager, the Director of Human Resources is a key member of the City’s leadership team and will join the organization at an important point of transition. The Director provides strategic direction and operational oversight for all citywide human resources functions, helping shape a workplace that is responsive, accountable, inclusive, and positioned to deliver high-quality public services.

As a trusted advisor to the City Manager, elected officials, department heads, supervisors, and employees, the Director brings sound judgment and practical guidance to complex personnel matters, organizational change, labor relations, and workforce planning across a diverse workforce that includes non-union employees and four unionized bargaining units.

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role requiring the Director to balance long-range strategy with active involvement in day-to-day HR operations. The successful candidate will strengthen systems and processes, build constructive labor-management relationships, support leaders through difficult decisions, and promote consistent, equitable, and legally compliant employment practices.

The Director will also foster a service-oriented HR function that earns trust, communicates clearly, resolves issues proactively, and advances the City’s ability to attract, develop, engage, and retain a highly qualified workforce.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the City’s principal human resources advisor, providing timely, practical, and well-reasoned guidance to the City Manager, elected officials, department heads, and supervisors on complex personnel, organizational, and employment matters.
• Develop and execute a citywide human resources strategy aligned with the City’s priorities, service commitments, operational needs, and long-term workforce requirements.
• Ensure consistent compliance with applicable federal and state employment laws, regulations, reporting requirements, and workplace standards, including requirements related to wages and hours, protected leave, accommodations, workplace safety, equal employment opportunity, and Maine paid-leave programs.
• Lead collective bargaining strategy and negotiations; administer, interpret, and implement collective bargaining agreements; support grievance resolution; and cultivate productive labor-management relationships.
• Develop, recommend, communicate, and administer clear personnel policies, procedures, and internal controls that support fairness, consistency, accountability, operational effectiveness, and legal compliance.
• Oversee citywide recruitment, selection, onboarding, engagement, and retention strategies designed to build a diverse, capable, and service-oriented workforce and address hard-to-fill and mission-critical positions.
• Direct job classification and compensation programs, including market reviews, position evaluations, pay-plan administration, internal-equity analysis, and recommendations that support competitiveness and fiscal responsibility.
• Oversee employee benefits, leave administration, wellness initiatives, and related vendor relationships, ensuring accurate administration, responsive employee service, effective communication, and cost-conscious plan management.
• Advise and coach managers, supervisors, and employees on performance management, workplace expectations, conflict resolution, corrective action, and constructive working relationships across departments.
• Lead prompt, impartial, and well-documented investigations into complaints involving misconduct, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, policy violations, and other workplace concerns; recommend appropriate and consistent action.
• Guide organizational change and process improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to streamline HR services, strengthen accountability, improve the employee experience, and use data to support decision-making.
• Supervise, develop, and evaluate Human Resources staff; establish priorities, clarify roles, promote collaboration, and ensure the department provides accurate, confidential, and responsive service.
• Build succession-planning, leadership-development, training, and workforce-development initiatives that strengthen supervisory capability, preserve institutional knowledge, and prepare the City for future staffing needs.
• Prepare and administer the Human Resources Department budget; monitor expenditures, evaluate service and vendor costs, and recommend responsible investments in people, systems, and programs.
• Lead the continued implementation, configuration, and integration of HRIS modules, coordinating with Finance, Payroll, IT and system vendors to improve functionality and operational efficiency.
• Maintain secure and accurate personnel records, HR systems, reporting, and confidential information; establish appropriate access controls, retention practices, and safeguards.
• Develop and monitor meaningful workforce measures, identify trends and organizational risks, and provide the City Manager and leadership team with clear reports and actionable recommendations.
• Participate in City committees, City Council meetings and other municipal meetings as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizations Development or closely related field.
• Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible Human Resources Experience, including at least five (5) years of HR management or leadership experience.
• An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.
• Ability to work in an office environment, use standard office equipment, sit or stand for extended period, read printed materials and computer screens and occasionally lift and carry materials weighing up to 20 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Municipal or public-sector human resources experience.
• Experience with collective bargaining, labor relations, contract administration, and employee investigations.
• Experience leading organizational changes, improving HR operations and managing HRS systems.
• Professional certification such as SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, IPMA-HR, SPHR, or PHR certification

Job Type: Full-time

Salary Range: $98,943.41–$143,467.94, commensurate with experience.

Benefits

The City of Biddeford offers an excellent comprehensive benefits package which includes Health insurance, retirement plans w/employer match, dental insurance, vision insurance, employee assistance program, flexible spending account, life insurance, paid bereavement leave, paid parental leave, paid time off, and professional development assistance.

Work Location

In-person at Biddeford City Hall

To apply, please choose ONE of the following to submit your cover letter, resume, relevant certifications, and references:

1. Email to: [email protected]

Please enter HR Director in the subject line

2.

Mail to

Biddeford City Hall

Human Resources Department

205 Main Street

Biddeford, ME, 04005

ATTN: Katrina Meade

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Biddeford’s mission is to cultivate and sustain a diverse, inclusive, equitable, welcoming, and belonging-based workplace where employees actively practice solidarity for the greater good of the work environment and employee experience.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the City of Biddeford shall employ, develop, and work to maintain the best qualified person(s) available without discrimination to: age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, dimensions of gender, disability, citizenship, veterans’ status, ancestry, national origin, and/or political affiliation or any other status protected by law.

Equitable access to services and employment is available and those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for this application and/or the interview process should notify the Human Resources Department.

Pay: $98,943.41 - $143,467.94 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person