CITY OF CLEVELAND, TENNESSEE
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR
Job Grade: 41
Starting Salary: $100,873.02
The City of Cleveland is accepting applications from qualified individuals for the position of Human Resources Director. This position works under the general supervision of the City Manager and coordinates the development, implementation, and management of comprehensive human resources and risk management programs for the City.
The Human Resources Director plays a key role in ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws; administering employee benefits and classification/compensation plans; overseeing safety and risk management programs; and supporting employees and department leadership across the organization.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
- Supports management by providing human resources and risk management direction, advice, and counsel.
- Administer or oversee human resources programs including, but not limited to:
- Compensation, benefits, and leave administration
- Employee relations, disciplinary matters, disputes, and investigations
- Performance management, employee recognition, and morale
- Occupational health, safety, and risk management
- Compliance with EEO, ADA, FMLA, Department of Labor regulations, Workers’ Compensation, and OSHA requirements
- Serves as organizational Title VI coordinator.
- Monitors and ensures compliance with federal, state and local employment laws and regulations and recommends best practices; reviews and modifies policies and practices to maintain compliance.
- Develops and implements departmental budget.
- Confidentially maintains all personnel files and records.
- Orientation of new employees, including explanation of all benefits, assuring all new employee paperwork is complete, scheduling required medical processes and background checks.
- Assists Department Heads with probationary and annual employee evaluations.
- Coordinate with medical facility to contract and facilitate annual employee physicals and vaccines.
- Administer drug testing program; assuring all safety sensitive employees are informed of testing policy and all policy requirements are met; work with Department Heads on reasonable suspicion testing and coordinate with third-party certified company for random/post-accident drug testing as required by City policy.
- Facilitates professional development, training and certification activities for human resources and payroll staff.
- Updates job knowledge by participating in conferences and educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
- Advocate for employees’ needs and act as liaison between employees and management.
- Investigates complaints regarding harassment, discrimination and other employee issues.
- Serve as advisor for the Human Resources Committee; annual review of current policies and developing new and/or revised policies.
- Maintains personnel manual and distributes updated manuals to all employees.
- Work in close partnership with HR business partners, legal partners and organizational leadership to iterate on and improve existing policies and create awareness.
- Plans and coordinates organizational annual employee events.
- Develops and implements a Risk Management program in a manner that fulfills the mission and strategic goals of the City while complying with state and federal laws and standards related to safety and risk management.
- Facilitates and advises departments on Risk Management programs within their own department to reduce work-related accidents and increase safety measures for employees and the public; implement changes in operational procedures that will provide a safer workplace for City employees.
- Manages insurance procurement, develops and implements risk management and compliance policies/procedures and manages claims and litigation.
- Manage relationships with third party service providers including brokers, underwriters and other third-party administrators.
- Coordinates with insurance provider and manages grants that become available to be used for various equipment, processes and training for safety improvement to reduce and/or prevent loss in all areas of insurance.
- Evaluates and provides recommendations regarding selection of policies, including but not limited to: Property, Casualty, General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Directors and Officers and Cyber-risk policies.
- Coordinates, prepares renewal applications and submits the insurance renewal data.
- Partners with all departments regarding incident reports and claims or losses.
- Investigates, resolves and responds to all property and liability claims.
- Provides timely notification of claims to insurance carriers.
- Develops and communicates plans to address loss events.
- Works with the company’s insurance brokers to respond to requests for certificates of insurance and claims history documentation.
- Identifies potential risk exposures, recommends solutions, and implements approved programs and best practices related to risk management.
- Manages all phases of the claims process from intake and investigation through litigation, settlement, and/or trial, and consults and/or participates in negotiations, conferences and mediations with adjusting companies, outside legal counsel, staff, claimants, and other involved parties.
- Manages the workers’ compensation and incident reporting program and processes, assesses and reports claims to carriers as appropriate.
- Manage access, cleaning and maintenance of city-owned gym.
- Assess needs and order new and/or replacement gym equipment and machines for employee use.
- Demonstrates reliable and consistent attendance to fulfill the responsibilities of this role.
- Demonstrates ability to work cooperatively with others.
- Performs related work as required.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has supervisory responsibility for the Human Resources Department staff.
Minimum Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
- Five (5) years of related professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge and skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel required
- Risk Management and OSHA experience preferred
Application Process
Applications may be submitted electronically through the City of Cleveland website at www.clevelandtn.gov. A resume is required and may be emailed to [email protected].
Application Deadline: Thursday, November 19, 2026 @5:00 p.m.
The City of Cleveland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.