Assistant Director of Human Resources
City of Salem · Salem, VA, USA
A completed application must be submitted with a resume and cover letter. The position will remain open until filled with evaluations started 10/22/2026.
General Definition of Work
Performs complex professional, administrative, and management duties to support the overall delivery of City-wide human resource services. Plans, implements, administers, and communicates employee benefit programs. Exercises considerable independent judgement in developing and implementing objectives. Works at a high level of interaction with employees, managers and third parties. Works under the administrative supervision of the HR Director.
Essential Functions:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Works with the HR Director to plan, develop and implement City-wide human resource services that support the workforce and achieve City goals and objectives. Serves as a resource for developing HR professionals.
- Assists the HR Director in operational and administrative leadership of the HR department including strategic planning, policies and procedures development and interpretation, employee relations, performance management, investigations, compensation and classification, budget preparation, and overall transactional support.
- Plans, implements, and administers employee benefit programs including health, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, retirement, flexible spending, retirement, wellness, deferred compensation, retiree insurance, workers’ compensation, voluntary benefits, and other plans. Provides direct support to employees and retirees and may delegate components of the work to other staff while maintaining overall responsibility for benefits’ operations.
- Works with the HR Director to ensure that benefit offerings are competitive, cost-effective, and aligned with organizational goals. Recommends benefit plan changes to leadership to improve competitiveness, innovation, and cost efficiency by studying requirements, trends, and developments in the benefits arena; completes Requests for Proposals (RFP), as needed.
- Provides timely, consistent and accurate guidance, procedures, and change information to current and former employees. Coordinates data transfers to external vendors, plan providers, auditors, and consultants.
- Develops and delivers clear, engaging communication materials and presentations for open enrollment and ongoing employee education.
- Develops, recommends, and monitors budget allocations for employee benefit programs in conjunction with the Director and other staff.
- Meets with employees to discuss Virginia Retirement System (VRS) options and assists them throughout the retirement process, including the transition of retirees from pre-65 to post 65 statuses, ensuring proper coordination of benefits and documentation. Provides direct support to employees and retirees, trains other staff in the retirement system and may delegate duties as appropriate.
- Oversees, and serves as a resource, to ensure monthly invoices and bills for retiree insurance, Medicare, and dental insurance for retirees and employees are paid timely and accurately.
- Works with the Nurse Practitioner to coordinate the City Clinic’s services with employee wellness and other benefits programs. Assists the HR Director in developing, leading and maintaining Clinic services.
- Reviews forms, reports, and documents such as enrollment forms, personnel actions, performance evaluations, and leave forms for accuracy, consistency, and policy compliance.
- Completes required ACA notices and other benefit related reports and notices.
Other Duties:
- Assists in the planning and implementation of employee orientation and delivers orientation meetings as assigned when necessary.
- Assists with goal setting, design, and delivery of leadership development, compliance training, and organizational development initiatives.
- Performs other related duties as apparent or assigned.
- Acts in the absence of the Director of Human Resources, as needed.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Comprehensive knowledge of methods, practices, and objectives of public human resources administration; comprehensive knowledge of state and federal employment laws and regulations, with the ability to comprehend, interpret, apply and explain laws, regulations, policies and related information; knowledge of HRIS systems; strong problem solving and resolution skills; strong analytical skills; thorough knowledge of the organization and function of municipal government; ability to learn and use City’s personnel policy, payroll processes, insurance programs, and benefit programs and processes thorough knowledge of best practices related Human Resources; ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form; ability to provide consulting services to employees fairly and reasonably; ability to exercise tact and courtesy in difficult situations with employees, staff, and citizens; ability to conduct effective personnel interviews; ability to conduct detailed analytical evaluations and studies and to prepare related reports and recommendations; ability to plan, direct, and supervise the work of others; ability to maintain technical records; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, employees, and the public.
Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university with major work in human resource management, industrial psychology, business or public administration or related field; five to ten years related experience and/or training in human resources and administrative management; supervisory experience is required. Excellent communication skills. Experience in local or state government human resource, highly preferred. Any combination of education and experience may substitute for the specific criteria listed.
Special Requirements
SPHR or PSHRA-SCP or other relevant professional certification highly preferred.
Valid Driver’s License and acceptable driving record according to City of Salem criteria. Criminal background check and pre-employment drug and alcohol screening required.
Physical Requirements
This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions, frequently requires standing and reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and pushing or pulling; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound, and observing general surroundings and activities; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).