Assistant Human Resource Director

Negotiating Salary Range: $111,626.45 - $150,000 Travis County is seeking an innovative and strategic Assistant Human Resources Director to help lead our organization toward its vision of being a trusted, high-performing, and inclusive employer of choice. In this critical leadership role, you will support the development of a workplace culture grounded in support, psychological safety, innovation, and flexibility. Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), the Assistant HR Director will play a key role in aligning HR strategy with county-wide goals. You will champion a culture of service excellence, continuous improvement, and employee engagement—working to attract, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce. This position requires a strategic forward-thinking leader with a track record of transformational leadership, and data-informed decision-making. The ideal candidate brings strong communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to drive organizational change through people, processes, and technology. The Assistant Human Resources Director (AHRD) plays a key leadership role in driving strategic HR initiatives across the organization. Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, employee relations, talent acquisition, workforce development, performance management, people analytics, work-life balance initiatives, and change management. The AHRD will help establish departmental and functional goals, provide expert consultation to executive and managerial staff on HR strategies, programs, and policies. As a member of the Human Resources leadership team, the AHRD will oversee and evaluate the performance of assigned staff and serve as acting CHRO in their absence. Here are the key skills we're looking for in an ideal candidate: • Strategic HR Planning • Aligning HR initiatives with organizational goals and community needs. • Workforce planning and succession management tailored to government roles. • Knowledge of Public Sector HR Policies & Compliance • Expertise in local government laws, labor regulations, collective bargaining agreements. • Ensuring adherence to public sector employment standards and diversity/equity policies. • Leadership & People Management • Leading HR teams effectively. • Coaching and developing managers across departments. • Driving change management initiatives. • Talent Acquisition & Retention • Developing strategies to attract and retain skilled public servants. • Building employer branding specific to government work culture. • Employee Relations & Conflict Resolution • Managing employee grievances and disciplinary processes. • Fostering a positive workplace culture. • Performance Management • Implementing appraisal systems that support transparency and meritocracy. • Linking performance to organizational objectives. • Data-Driven Decision Making & HR Analytics • Using HR metrics to guide strategic decisions. • Reporting workforce trends to leadership and stakeholders. • Budget Management • Overseeing HR budget in alignment with organizational financial constraints. • Optimizing resources for training, recruitment, and employee programs. • Change Management • Leading initiatives during organizational restructuring or policy shifts. • Communicating changes effectively within the public sector framework. • Stakeholder Engagement & Communication • Collaborating with elected officials, unions, and community representatives. • Transparent communication of HR policies and organizational changes. Distinguishing Characteristics This is a job classification within the management job family. The AHRD is a senior level human resources management position for a corporate functional management department, reporting to the Chief Human Resource Officer. This classification may require a flexible work schedule to meet the needs of the department. • Oversees and leads functional staff. Serves as backup in the absence of the Chief Human Resource Officer. • Provides strategic direction and planning to executives on the design, implementation, communication, and administration of HR programs. • Continuously evaluates the effectiveness of our HR programs to ensure they are aligned with business strategies and makes recommendations for changes, as appropriate. • Develops and executes total rewards strategies. Leads, directs, and coordinates strategic initiatives with staff, peers, and customers to ensure fair, equitable and competitive total rewards programs including but not limited to compensation, benefits, and work-life effectiveness. • Keeps abreast of market and legislative or regulatory trends. • Coordinates with the Commissioners’ Court, division, departments, agencies, and organizations to accomplish organizational goals and objectives. • Manages and evaluates the performance of human resources management and/or professionals within the division. • Oversees and leads large and complex HR projects to ensure continuously improved employee experience. • Advises, consults, and collaborates with Elected and Appointed Officials, Department Heads, department management, and employees on proposed, new and or existing HR programs, policies, and operational procedures. • Collaborates on complex tasks and projects that may comprise a combination of cross-functional entities. • Plans, organizes and directs tasks and projects by applying research and assessment, and cost benefit analysis methodologies. • Develops and administers related implementation parameters for executing innovative HR solutions. • Presents recommendations to Commissioners Court for policies, procedures, programs, and actions for HR programs. Presents technical information clearly and logically in a manner that is easily understood by Commissioners Court, and other various and diverse audiences. • Advises and serves on County committees as assigned. • Performs other job-related duties as assigned. Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Personnel Management, Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a directly related field AND seven (7) years of directly related demonstrated experience in Human Resources. Must have five (5) years of experience in a responsible position within Total Rewards, including three (3) years of mid-to-senior level supervisory or management experience. Prefer candidates who demonstrate requisite job knowledge and additional competencies including organizational commitment, teamwork, negotiations, change management, adaptability, conflict resolution, initiative, and project management. Experiences should include training delivery; OR, Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job. Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements: Valid Texas Driver’s License. Preferred: Master’s degree in Personnel Administration, Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Business Administration or a directly related field. Certified Compensation Professional (CCP). Certified Benefits Professional (CBP). Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR); OR, Professional in Human Resources Certification (PHR). Society of Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP); OR, Society of Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). Knowledge of: • Best practices in employee relations, talent acquisition, workforce development, and performance management • Core principles of Human Resources management, leadership, and organizational development • Effective collaboration, teambuilding, and interpersonal relationship strategies • Change management theories and practical implementation methods • Current and emerging trends in Human Resources • Federal, State, and Local employment laws and regulations, including but not limited to: • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act • Equal Pay Act • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requirements • Form I-9 compliance • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) • Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) • Affordable Care Act (ACA) • HR-specific procedures, terminology, and regulatory codes • Principles and techniques of negotiation and conflict resolution • Strategic planning, budgeting, and program evaluation methods • Compensation, classification, and benefits administration best practices • Budgetary processes, planning systems, and financial trends in state and local government • Innovative and forward-thinking HR strategies and solutions • Project management fundamentals, including scheduling, budgeting, and resource planning • Availability and use of regional and national HR resources and networks Ability to: • Influence, engage, and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization and with external stakeholders • Lead, manage, and support both professional and administrative staff in a dynamic work environment • Motivate, coach, supervise, and evaluate staff to enhance performance and professional growth • Establish clear goals, promote accountability, and foster a team-oriented, inclusive culture • Lead organizational change by identifying challenges and implementing effective solutions • Apply sound judgment and strategic thinking to make informed decisions • Interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with HR-related policies, procedures, and applicable laws and regulations • Communicate complex HR information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, including executives, managers, and employees • Develop and facilitate engaging and informative employee training and development programs • Manage time and competing priorities effectively while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment • Work independently with minimal supervision, demonstrating initiative and adaptability • Maintain compliance with legal, policy, and procedural requirements • Prepare and deliver impactful public presentations tailored to various audiences • Build and sustain strong working relationships with internal teams, leadership, and public officials • Analyze compensation data and leverage insights to design and improve HR programs • Use HR systems, data tools, and software platforms with a high degree of technical proficiency • Collect, interpret, and present data to support strategic planning and operational decisions Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions. We appreciate your interest and want to keep the process transparent and efficient. Please note the following proposed interview schedule: Panel Interview Date: October 8th, 2025 (TEAMS) Final Interview Date: October 22nd, 2025 (In-Person) Expected Onboarding Date: November 10th - November 17th, 2025 These dates are subject to change, but we’ll keep candidates informed throughout the selection process. Thank you for considering this opportunity—we’re excited to potentially welcome you to the team! Work Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday Department: HRMD Location: 700 Lavaca St. Austin, TX 78701 Criminal, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required. This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job