Director, Human Resources

Job Description

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department is one of the state's largest employers with over 46,000 employees that span 11 Secretariats and 70 plus agencies. From Accountants to X-ray technicians with hundreds of titles in between, we are one employer with many career opportunities. The Commonwealth is looking for leaders, thinkers, creators, and innovators. We are a diverse workforce that reflects the diverse population that we serve.

The Human Resources Division (HRD) is an agency within the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. HRD provides support to state agencies in all matters relating to the Commonwealth's classification, compensation, benefits, recruitment, training & employee development, civil rights, collective bargaining and workers compensation administration.

Position Overview:
HRD is pleased to offer an exciting career opportunity to a highly motivated, organized and talented human resources professional within its HR Operations Unit. As a subject matter expert in HR, this candidate will be relied upon to provide insights, guidance, and solutions to various business partners. The Director of Human Resources will develop and lead human resource strategies and initiatives to promote a culture that attracts and retains high performing employees and ensures that the HRD workforce reflects the diversity of the Commonwealth members that we serve. Reporting to the HR Executive Operations Administrator (Administrator), the Director of Human Resources manages the human resources team the provides support and administers human resources and payroll to employees and agency business partners with the Executive Office for Administration and Finance secretariat. The departments directly served by the HR Operations Unit include but are not limited to the following: the Governor's Office, the Executive Office for Administration & Finance, Human Resources Division, Supplier Diversity Office and the Division of Administrative Law Appeals. This is a hybrid position, offering the flexibility to work both remotely and on-site.

In addition to the daily oversight of the HR/Payroll functions, the Director of Human Resources will provide direct support to the HR Executive Operations Administrator on all HR strategy, services and support needed throughout the Executive Office for Administration & Finance secretariat (Secretariat). Specific areas of focus include HR strategic initiatives, policy implementation, classification and compensation, employee relations matters, recruitment and retention, benefits and leave administration and learning and development. Other areas of focus and duties include the following:

• Aligns, develops and implements HR strategy and initiatives across the Secretariat.
• Oversees and collaborates with HRD HR/Payroll staff to improve overall efficiency of internal HR processes and compliance.
• Provides direct management and oversight in an effort to streamline and improve certain HR functions and processes; including recruitment and retention, the pre-hire to hire employee experience, employee orientation, onboarding/offboarding processes, benefits and leave administration and DEI initiatives.
• Conducts ongoing assessments of all human resources policies, programs, and practices in collaboration with internal departments and keeps current with significant changes in employment law to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and administrative regulations.
• Designs, recommends, implements and monitors changes and updates to HR policies, systems, processes, and procedures.
• Works with the HR team to ensure that agency business partners in the Secretariat receive data and analysis on staff demographics, applicant recruitment trends, hiring and attrition statistics, performance management and succession planning.
• Ensures that HR staff are up to date on all HR policy implementations and/or updates to be responsive to employee inquiries in all aspects of HR.
• Assists in matters relative to collective bargaining agreements including contractual guidance and salary administration, etc.
• In collaboration with senior leadership and the HR Executive Operations Administrator, provides guidance and direction on various HR matters and assists to ensure HR tasks are tracked and completed.
• Liaises with HRD Legal to ensure compliance in workplace investigations and other disciplinary matters.
• Maintains excellent communication with Secretariat leadership and other external agency partners such as the Comptroller's Officer, Group Insurance Commission, State Retirement Board, etc.
• Special and critical HR projects as assigned.

• At least six (6) years of full-time professional/managerial experience with advanced levels of knowledge of human resources programs, policies and practices.
• Demonstrated success in human resources leadership with a comparable or larger sized organization.
• The ability to think from a long-term perspective about the evolving needs of the organization and of the HR strategies and programs that will be required to meet these needs and accomplish the agency business partners' objectives.
• Experience in a government agency or public sector HR preferred.
• Familiarity with unionized environments is strongly preferred.
• Experience with workforce planning and development a plus.
• Working knowledge of labor and employment laws, regulations, and HR best practices.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, objective setting, and measurement skills.
• Experience effectively coaching, delivering feedback, motivating, and developing staff.
• Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of program data, to draw conclusions, and to make appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to persuade, influence and gain the buy-in of others.
• Demonstrated ability to drive multiple projects to successful completion.
• Ability to adjust to changing situations, be flexible to meet changing priorities, and work with ambiguity.
• Must maintain a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations is a plus.
• Solution- and team-oriented.
• Excellent written and verbal communicator with strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence.
• Experienced in building strong relationships and collaborations, as well as alliances and productive partnerships in a complex, matrixed organization.
• Willingness to serve as hands-on manager taking personal ownership of some projects while directing staff on others.
• Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Excel and Outlook.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Access and/or the Commonwealth's Information Warehouse (CIW) and ability to create and generate reports using the Human Resources Compensation Management System (HR/CMS).