Assistant City Manager & Human Resources Director

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nJuly 08, 2026 POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT Assistant City Manager & Human Resources Director City of The Dalles Department: Human Resources Compensation: $127,064.46 - 156,273.26 annually Status: Full-time, FLSA Exempt, Non-Represented Closing Date: Open until filled. Applications received by 5pm 07/22/2026 will be considered for the first round of interviews. *This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies* The City of The Dalles is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking leader to serve as Assistant City Manager & Human Resources Director. This executive-level position is a key strategic partner to the City Manager and City leadership and provides direct leadership to several important City functions. The position currently oversees Human Resources, Safety & Risk, Information Technology, Finance, and Library services, with direct supervisory responsibility for assigned department directors and executive-level staff. The portfolio may evolve over time based on organizational priorities and the strengths of the successful candidate. As Human Resources Director, this position also leads the City's small but mighty Human Resources Department and is responsible for the full range of City human resources functions. This is a working director role that requires both strategic leadership and a willingness to personally engage in complex, sensitive, and sometimes difficult personnel matters. The City welcomes candidates who have built their careers through either public administration or human resources leadership. The successful candidate will bring strong executive judgment, demonstrated experience navigating complex employee and organizational issues, and the ability to build trust while addressing difficult matters directly. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned leader who thrives in a dynamic public-sector environment and is committed to building a positive, accountable, equitable, and high-performing organization. About the Role The Assistant City Manager & Human Resources Director serves in a unique dual leadership role, combining broad executive and organizational responsibilities with direct leadership of the City's human resources function. Assistant City Manager Leadership As Assistant City Manager, the position:Serves as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the City Manager on organizational, operational, workforce, and leadership matters.Provides direct leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance oversight to assigned department directors and executive-level staff.Oversees assigned departments and functions, currently including Human Resources, Safety & Risk, Information Technology, Finance, and Library services.Helps translate City Council and City Manager priorities into coordinated organizational action.Leads complex cross-departmental initiatives requiring collaboration, organizational change, problem-solving, and sustained executive attention.Evaluates organizational systems, policies, and practices and advances improvements that strengthen accountability, service delivery, efficiency, and organizational performance.Serves as a leader, trusted advisor and resource on the City's Leadership Team.Assumes leadership responsibility for significant organizational issues and special projects as assigned by the City Manager. Human Resources Leadership As Human Resources Director, the position leads the full range of City human resources functions, including:Recruitment and selection.Labor and employee relations.Performance management.Workplace investigations.Corrective and disciplinary processes.Benefits administration.Classification and compensation.Policy development and implementation.ADA and EEO compliance.Safety and risk management.Organizational development and leadership support. The position serves as a member of the City's labor negotiation team, administers collective bargaining agreements, and serves as the City's EEO Officer and ADA Coordinator. The successful candidate must be comfortable moving between high-level strategy and hands-on service delivery and must be willing and able to personally lead complex personnel matters when circumstances require. Key ResponsibilitiesAdvise and coach executive leaders, department directors, and supervisors on complex organizational, management, and personnel matters.Personally lead or oversee complex employee relations matters from initial concern through resolution.Guide leaders through performance improvement, corrective action, progressive discipline, and employee separation or termination processes.Conduct or oversee workplace investigations, grievances, and other sensitive personnel matters.Facilitate difficult conversations involving performance, workplace conflict, employee conduct, and organizational expectations.Lead organizational planning, policy development, process improvement, and cross-departmental initiatives.Help build a culture of accountability, collaboration, effective communication, and high performance.Serve as a member of the City's labor negotiation team and support collective bargaining and labor-management relations.Lead Citywide recruitment and selection processes and oversee benefits, classification, and compensation.Provide consultation, training, and guidance on HR policies, employment laws, and best practices.Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment requirements.Support risk management, workplace safety, and liability mitigation efforts.Coordinate with Finance on compensation, benefits, payroll, and workforce data needs. Professional Resources and Support The Assistant City Manager & Human Resources Director works within a network of internal and external professional resources. Depending on the nature and complexity of an issue, the position may draw on support from the City's insurance and employee risk services partners, specialized labor and employment counsel, and other professional advisors. The City is also prepared to provide access to experienced senior HR support during the successful candidate's transition and onboarding period to provide continuity, organizational context, and support for long-term success. What Success Looks Like While priorities will evolve based on the needs of the organization, success in the first 12 to 18 months is likely to include:Building trusted working relationships with the City Manager, City Council, department directors, employees, labor representatives, and key partners.Developing a deep understanding of City operations, departmental priorities, organizational culture, and workforce needs.Establishing credibility as an accessible and trusted advisor who provides clear guidance, exercises sound judgment, and addresses difficult issues directly.Providing meaningful coaching, support, accountability, and strategic direction to the leaders of assigned departments.Strengthening consistency and confidence in the City's approach to performance management, employee relations, workplace investigations, and corrective action.Helping supervisors and department leaders address performance and workplace concerns earlier and more effectively.Assessing key Human Resources policies, practices, and systems and establishing thoughtful priorities for improvement.Advancing practical improvements to organizational systems, leadership practices, and cross-departmental coordination.Providing effective executive leadership to assigned departments while respecting the expertise and operational authority of department directors.Contributing effectively to labor-management relations and negotiations.Taking ownership of complex organizational issues and significant cross-departmental initiatives. Ultimately, success will mean helping the City become a stronger, more consistent, and more effective organization-one in which leaders are well supported and accountable, employees understand expectations, difficult issues are addressed thoughtfully and directly, and departments work together effectively to serve the community. Minimum Qualifications Candidates should demonstrate the following combination of executive leadership, management, and complex personnel experience:Five years of progressively responsible supervisory and management experience, including at least two years in an executive or senior-management role.Demonstrated experience personally leading complex employee relations and personnel matters from initial concern through resolution, including substantive responsibility for performance management, workplace investigations, corrective and disciplinary action, and employee separations or terminations.Experience advising and coaching executive leaders, department directors, or other senior managers through sensitive, high-risk, or legally complex personnel matters.Experience developing performance improvement strategies and guiding leaders through progressive discipline and termination processes.Demonstrated ability to facilitate difficult conversations and address challenging issues directly, with the emotional intelligence, judgment, courage, tact, and diplomacy necessary to maintain trust and organizational credibility.Experience with labor relations, including collective bargaining, administration of collective bargaining agreements, grievances, or employee relations in a unionized environment.Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and the ability to interpret and apply legal and regulatory requirements to complex workplace situations.Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships and communicate with employees, supervisors, executive leaders, labor representatives, elected officials, and other stakeholders.A collaborative, communicative, and solutions-oriented leadership style, with demonstrated ability to lead change, improve organizational systems, and balance competing priorities.Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and the ability to learn and effectively use multiple complex software systems. The City recognizes that highly qualified candidates may reach this role through different professional pathways. Candidates may bring a background primarily in public administration with substantial direct experience leading complex personnel and labor matters, or a background primarily in human resources with demonstrated executive, organizational, and operational leadership experience. Preferred Qualifications The most competitive candidates may also bring one or more of the following:Five or more years of progressively responsible human resources experience, ideally in a generalist, management, or leadership capacity.Experience working in municipal government, another public-sector organization, or a complex nonprofit environment.Experience supervising department directors, executive staff, or multiple organizational functions.Experience leading cross-departmental initiatives, organizational change, strategic planning, or operational improvement.Experience providing executive-level guidance on information technology functions, including technology planning, project prioritization, cybersecurity, Citywide systems, or infrastructure.Familiarity with public-sector finance, budgeting, or organizational resource allocation.A bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, public administration, organizational development, or a related field.SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, IPMA-CP, IPMA-SCP, or a comparable professional certification.Written and/or oral Spanish-language proficiency. Our Ideal Candidate Our ideal candidate combines sound judgment with genuine approachability and understands that effective leadership requires both strong relationships and a willingness to address difficult issues directly. The successful candidate will be composed and empathetic in challenging situations, comfortable making difficult decisions, and effective at coaching leaders while holding them accountable. They will be able to build trust across the organization, lead change, improve processes, and challenge practices that are no longer serving the City well. This person will be comfortable moving between executive-level strategy and detailed, hands-on problem-solving; politically astute in working with employees, labor representatives, executive leaders, elected officials, and the public; and curious about a broad range of City operations. Benefits The City offers a competitive benefits package that includes:Medical, dental, and vision benefits.Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and HRA-VEBA.Long-term disability and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.Employee Assistance Program.City-paid retirement contributions of 13.5% after one year of service. Working Conditions Work is performed primarily in an office environment, with some duties requiring visits to other City facilities or outdoor sites to investigate issues or incidents. The position may occasionally require additional hours, including evenings and weekends, during periods of significant workload or time-sensitive activity such as City Council meetings, collective bargaining, major personnel matters, or emergency response activities. The position requires the ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods, including viewing multiple screens, and to travel between work sites as needed. Required Licenses, Certifications, and Additional RequirementsValid driver's license.Must successfully pass a criminal background check.Must successfully pass a credit check.High school diploma or equivalent.Must be at least 18 years old at the time of hire.Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. Want to Learn More? Attend the Informational Session to meet the Hiring Manager and ask questions! Date: Tuesday, 07/14/2026 Time: 5:00pm - 6:00pm (PST) Join Teams Meeting: Meeting ID: 271 861 576 272 06 Passcode: ia6sW6dX About The Dalles:Join a Welcoming Community - Experience the warmth of a small-town spirit where local events, farmers' markets, and festivals bring people together and create lasting connections.Thrive in a Growing Economy - Be part of a diverse and stable economy fueled by agriculture, technology, healthcare, government, and tourism. Your career can grow here.Embrace the Outdoors - With over 300 days of sunshine, enjoy easy access to the Columbia River Gorge for hiking, biking, fishing, and water sports - plus winter adventures are just an hour away at Mt. Hood.Balance Work and Life - Live surrounded by stunning riverfront parks, scenic trails, and a city that values thoughtful growth and a strong industrial and technology presence.Affordable and Accessible - Benefit from affordable housing, quality schools, and healthcare - all just 80 miles from Portland, combining small-town charm with metropolitan convenience.Be Part of Something Bigger - Join close-knit neighborhoods where community support is real and your contributions matter' The City