Human Resources Director (Dayton)

ABOUT DAYTON, OHIO

Dayton, Ohio, is a mid-sized city situated on the banks of the Great Miami River in southwestern Ohio. A perfect blend of vibrant city amenities and Midwestern warmth, the Dayton region offers a combination of affordability and a strong sense of community that is hard to beat. Known as the Gem City, the Birthplace of Aviation, and the Birthplace of Next, Dayton maintains an impressive legacy as the home of inventors, artists, and visionaries.

Founded in 1796 and incorporated in 1805, Dayton is distinguished by its rich history of innovation and industry. As the hometown of Wilbur and Orville Wright, the city played a defining role in the development of modern aviation. It also served as the origin of major inventions such as the cash register and numerous advancements in engineering, manufacturing, and technologycementing Daytons reputation as a hub of creativity and progress.

Dayton, home to about 135,000 residents within a diverse metropolitan area of over 800,000, boasts a youthful median age of 35 and a vibrant workforce. The city offers an appealing mix of affordability, accessibility, and quality of life, highlighted by a revitalized downtown, rich arts and cultural attractions like the Dayton Art Institute and the National Museum of the United States Air Force, and an extensive network of parks and trails. Its central Midwest location also allows for easy travel to major cities such as Cincinnati, Columbus, and Indianapolis.

The City of Dayton operates under a councilmanager form of government, which combines professional management with elected leadership. The five-member City Commission, including the Mayor, is elected at-large on a nonpartisan basis and is responsible for establishing policy. The City Manager, appointed by the Commission, oversees daily operations and ensures efficient, transparent, and effective delivery of municipal services.

You can visit the City website HERE

POSITION PURPOSE

As a key member of the Citys executive team, the Director of Human Resources shapes and leads a progressive, people-focused HR strategy that advances the Citys mission and values. Responsible for an organization of 1,800 employees, the Director fosters a high-performing, inclusive workplace through innovative approaches to talent acquisition, workforce development, employee engagement, labor relations, and total rewards.

STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL INITIATIVES

Partnering closely with the City Managers Office, department heads, and labor organizations, the Director leads the development of an HR strategy that advances the Citys strategic priorities by emphasizing innovation, service excellence, and organizational effectiveness. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on workforce planning, organizational design, leadership development, and change management, while also championing diversity, equity, and inclusion by ensuring HR policies and programs reflect the Citys commitment to fairness and access for all.

The role drives modernization of HR systems, leveraging technology to improve service delivery and enhance data-driven decision-making. Through the ongoing analysis of workforce trends, metrics, and employee input, the Director drives continuous improvement and supports organizational health. The Director ensures employees have access to effective career and management development opportunities, actively promotes a workplace culture of engagement and well-being, and fosters collaboration, accountability, and equity across the organization so that all employees can thrive and grow.

The Human Resources Director reports to the Deputy City Manager and directs a staff including the Deputy Director of Human Resources and General Labor Counsel, Senior Human Resources Analysts, and the Executive Secretary.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a change agent who guides the City through workforce transformation initiatives, including modernization of policies, systems, and culture
• Build leadership capacity across departments through coaching, mentorship, and targeted development and recognition programs.
• Develop and implement innovative recruitment and retention strategies to attract and retain top talent in a competitive labor market.
• Partner with Finance and IT to ensure alignment of human capital strategy with financial and technical investments.
• Lead the development of a robust succession planning framework for critical city positions.
• Design competitive employee compensation plans that attract and retain quality employees and are affordable for the City.
• Foster a City work environment that promotes employee productivity, open communication, customer satisfaction, and fair treatment for all employees.
• Formulate strategy for union negotiations and preside over grievance processes.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

CORE COMPETENCIES

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies. All employees are held to these Core Competencies :

Job Knowledge

Quality and Quantity of Work

Customer Impact

CUSTOMER SERVICE CORE VALUES

The City of Dayton core values are the standard by which we conduct ourselves and our interactions with our citizens. All employees are held to these Customer Service - Core Values :

Courteous & Professional - I demonstrate courtesy and professionalism in all customer interactions.

Accountability / Ownership - I help customers understand how to resolve their issues.

Take Initiative - I am proactive in problem solving.

SUPERVISOR / MANAGER COMPETENCIES

The following competencies have been identified for employees who supervise or manage others.

Leadership