Human Resources Director

Salary: $124,879.04 - $231,026.22 Annually
Location : Manassas City Hall, VA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 5011-01
Department: Human Resources
Division: HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION
Opening Date: 06/23/2026
FLSA Status: Exempt
Grade: B26


Position Summary
Customer Service. Stewardship. Honesty. Integrity. Respect. Teamwork.


If these core principles resonate with you, you might just be the perfect fit for our Human Resources department. With our current leader's upcoming retirement, the City of Manassas is preparing to welcome its next Director of Human Resources who will serve as a member of the City's Senior Staff reporting to the City Manager. This is a key leadership role responsible for guiding a people-first HR function that supports a collaborative and service-driven organization.
There are HR jobs where the days are predictable. This is not one of them. This is an opportunity to join a leadership team that values partnership, accountability, and thoughtful decision-making while continuing to strengthen the employee experience across the organization.

The City of Manassas is a vibrant and growing community in Northern Virginia known for its accessibility, strong leadership, and commitment to public service. The organization takes pride in fostering a workplace culture that emphasizes respect, trust, and continuous improvement.
Leadership and Culture
The City values leaders who are approachable, solutions-oriented, and grounded in integrity. The ideal candidate will bring a balanced approach that combines strategic thinking with practical implementation and a strong understanding of public sector environments.
Key Priorities

• Continue advancing a positive and consistent employee experience
• Strengthen partnerships with department leadership
• Evaluate and enhance HR processes for efficiency and clarity
• Support leadership development across the organization
• Maintain compliance while adapting to evolving workforce needs

Essential Job Functions
The Director of Human Resources will lead all aspects of the City's HR operations and strategy including effective leadership, planning, and administration of the City's human resources department; employee relations, human resource policies & compliance, benefit & leave administration, performance management, city-wide training and development, HRIS, budget administration, talent acquisition/EEO, compensation and classification, risk management and safety compliance.
This role will work closely with executive leadership and department heads to:

• Inform critical decisions including staff selection and development, interpretation and explanation of personnel rules and state/federal laws
• Develop and present personnel policy recommendations to City Council for approval
• Strengthen workforce planning and organizational effectiveness in support of citywide goals and objectives
• Support consistent and fair HR practices across departments
• Enhance employee engagement and retention efforts
• Continue building a responsive and trusted HR function

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, or related field
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible HR leadership experience, ideally in local government
• PHR/SPHR, SHRM or PSHRA certification is required
• Strong working knowledge of employment law and HR best practices
• Demonstrated ability to build trust across a diverse workforce
• Experience advising senior leadership

The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation and will also be:

• A steady and trusted advisor who builds credibility quickly
• Approachable and practical , not overly theoretical
• Comfortable navigating complex employee relations matters
• Skilled at balancing consistency with flexibility
• A collaborative partner who meets departments where they are
• Focused on solutions, not just policy enforcement

They understand that success in this role comes from building relationships, maintaining transparency, and supporting leaders in a way that is both consistent and thoughtful.

Compensation and Benefits
Salary range and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience. The City of Manassas offers a comprehensive benefits package and a supportive work environment that values balance and flexibility where operationally feasible.

Special Requirements
Equal Opportunity Employer : The City of Manassas prohibits discrimination against any person in any practice or procedure relating to hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, training, fringe benefits, and other aspects of employment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, religion, political affiliation, disability which is unrelated to a persons occupational qualifications, or any other non merit factor which is not a bona fide occupational qualification. Reasonable accommodations which do not impose an undue hardship are available to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act, during the recruitment process and during employment.
Initial review of applications to begin July 24, 2026. Priority consideration will be given to those that apply quickly.
The City of Manassas offers a variety of comprehensive benefits packages, participation in the Virginia State Retirement program, generous annual and sick leave and 13 paid holidays for full-time employees! For a full review of the City's benefits plans, please visit our Human Resources website at:
01


How many years of Human Resources experience do you have in a public sector organization?

• No Public Sector Experience
• Less than 3 years
• 3-5 years
• 6-10 years
• More than 10 years

02


Have you previously served in a Human Resources Director, Deputy Director, Assistant Director, or equivalent senior HR leadership role?

• Yes
• No

03


How many years of experience do you have managing Human Resources programs in a leadership capacity?

• Less than 3 years
• 3-5 years
• 6-10 years
• 11-15 years
• More than 15 years

04


Which of the following best describes your experience handling complex employee relations matters?

• Limited exposure
• Independently managed investigations and disciplinary matters
• Led complex employee relations programs and advised executive leadership

05


Please indicate your level of experience interpreting and applying employment laws, regulations, and HR policies.

• Limited experience
• Working knowledge
• Advanced knowledge
• Subject matter expert

06


Please indicate your experience working with Risk Management, Workers' Compensation, Safety Programs, or Liability Claims.

• No experience
• Limited exposure
• Working knowledge
• Direct oversight responsibility

07


Which area or area(s) represent the strongest portion of your HR leadership background? (Select all that apply.)

• Employee Relations & Investigations
• Strategic HR Leadership
• Compensation & Classification
• Talent Acquisition
• Benefits Administration
• Risk Management & Safety
• Organizational Development

08


What is the largest workforce you have directly supported in an HR leadership capacity?

• Fewer than 100 employees
• 100-249 employees
• 250-499 employees
• 500-999 employees
• 1,000+ employees

09


Do you currently hold any of the following professional certifications? (Select all that apply.)

• SHRM-CP
• SHRM-SCP
• PHR
• SPHR
• PSHRA-HR Certification
• Other HR Certification
• None

10


This position currently works a M-F, 8:30 to 5pm schedule. Do you have the ability to attend meetings and respond to workplace matters outside of normal business hours when necessary?

• Yes
• No

Required Question