Associate HR Generalist

$21.96 - $32.94 Hourly

$45,680 - $68,520 Annually

This position is a Pay Band C5

Posting Details

INTERVIEWS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE CONDUCTED WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF CLOSING DATE.

The Northwest Region of the New Mexico Department of Health encompasses seven counties: San Juan, McKinley, Cibola, Sandoval, Valencia, Torrance, and Bernalillo. This region includes a dynamic mix of urban, rural, frontier, and tribal communities, offering a unique and rewarding environment for public health professionals committed to equity, service, and innovation.

This HR position will be supporting the HR functions for staff in the Northwest Region who deliver of a wide range of essential public health services, including immunizations, reproductive health, breast and cervical cancer screening, harm reduction, Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAUD), sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and treatment, primary care, and maternal-child health. Services are provided through traditional public health offices and mobile health outreach, ensuring access in even the most remote communities.

Working in the Northwest Region means joining a collaborative, mission-driven team focused on improving health outcomes, advancing health equity, and strengthening partnerships across some of the most culturally rich and diverse areas in New Mexico.


Why does the job exist?

The HR Assistant position in the North/Northwest Region exists to provide consistent, timely, and regionally informed human resource support for one of the largest and most complex areas of the Public Health Division. The North/Northwest Region spans multiple counties, offices, and programs, and is home to a significant portion of the Public Health Division workforce. With such a broad footprint, there is a critical need for dedicated HR expertise close to the field to ensure staff are supported and operational needs are met.


In short: This position exists to strengthen the foundation of our workforce in the North/Northwest Region. By having dedicated HR expertise embedded in the region, we improve staff support, compliance, efficiency, and ultimately our ability to deliver high-quality public health services to the communities we serve.


How does it get done?

Key reasons for this role include:

Workforce Support and Retention- The region employs a large and diverse workforce¿nurses, health promotion staff, disease prevention teams, administrative personnel, and more¿who need accessible HR guidance.

Having an HR Assistant ensures staff can quickly get answers, resolve issues, and feel supported, which directly impacts morale and retention.

Consistency and Compliance- Public Health offices face complex HR needs, including recruitment, on-boarding, classification, performance management, and labor relations. This role works closely with the central office HR staff in Santa Fe, to ensure that processes align with state policies and collective bargaining agreements, reducing risk and ensuring compliance.

Operational Efficiency - Without regional HR support, directors and supervisors spend disproportionate amounts of time on HR tasks rather than focusing on program delivery and community needs. The HR Assistant streamlines workflows, coordinates with central HR, and manages routine but essential functions so leadership can focus on service delivery.

Regional Responsiveness - The North/Northwest Region is geographically vast and unique, requiring localized understanding of staff needs, community context, and logistical challenges. A regionally based HR Assistant ensures timely, and tailored support.


Who are the customers?

The HR Assistant role primarily serves:

Regional Employees providing direct support for questions on payroll, leave, classification, onboarding, performance management, and workplace concerns.

Supervisors & Managers assisting them with recruitment, employee relations, compliance, and navigating state HR policies.

Regional Leadership ensuring workforce stability, timely resolution of HR issues, and alignment of staffing resources with service delivery priorities.

Central HR & DOH Leadership serving as a bridge between statewide HR policies and the practical, day-to-day needs of regional staff.


Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is someone who:

Understands HR Fundamentals well-versed in recruitment, classification, employee relations, labor law, performance management, and state personnel systems.

Has Strong Communication Skills able to explain policies clearly, mediate conflicts, and foster trust with staff and supervisors.

Is Regionally Minded recognizes the unique challenges of a large, diverse, and geographically spread workforce and adapts solutions accordingly.

Balances Compliance with Practicality ensures adherence to policy while helping staff and managers find workable, timely solutions.

Thrives Independently but Collaborates Well comfortable working with autonomy in the region while maintaining strong ties to central HR and other partners.

Values Public Service committed to supporting a mission-driven workforce that serves New Mexicans through public health.


Minimum Qualification

Associate degree in any field. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling two (2) years may substitute for the required education.


Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.

Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certification from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification as a condition of continued employment.


Working Conditions

Location: Based in Albuquerque of the Northwest Region (with offices across multiple counties), requiring flexibility to travel within the region as needed.

Environment: Professional office setting, but with frequent interaction with clinical and public health field staff.


Pace of Work: Fast-paced, often with competing deadlines and urgent needs from staff and supervisors.

Physical Conditions: Primarily sedentary office work but may involve driving between county public health offices.

Schedule: Standard Monday- Friday workweek with occasional adjustments to meet deadlines or handle urgent employee relations issues.

Culture: Collaborative, mission-driven, and service-oriented


Supplemental Information

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Agency Contact Information: Ashley Ringwood View phone number on click.appcast.io Email


For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.