Human Resources Business Partner

Wheat Ridge was founded during the 1859 Gold Rush as a rest stop for miners and later named for its golden wheat fields. As unsuccessful miners turned to farming, the area thrived with orchards, vegetable fields, and later, greenhouses, earning the title “Carnation City.” Incorporated in 1969, Wheat Ridge now offers a central location with easy access to Denver and the Rocky Mountains. It operates as a home-rule city with a council-manager government, where the elected council sets policy, and the manager oversees daily operations and budgeting.

CORE VALUES: The City of Wheat Ridge is committed to excellence and ACTION!:

• Accountability: Employees take responsibility for their actions, decisions, and recommendations and are accountable to each other and the community

• Change: Adapts to changing organizational needs, conditions, and work responsibilities.

• Teamwork: Employees value teamwork as a collaborative effort, with each person contributing unique skills, knowledge, and training to achieve common goals.

• Integrity: Employees uphold the highest ethical standards, recognize the importance of public and customer trust and adhere to the values of the organization.

• Opportunity: Employees are empowered to grow professionally, develop best practices, and seek challenges to advance the City.

• NOW!: Employees are proactive, timely, and efficient in responding to the needs of the organization and the community – NOW!

GENERAL PURPOSE: The Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) aligns business objectives with employees and management in designated departments. The HRBP serves as a consultant to assigned departments on Human Resource related issues, with guidance as needed from the Manager of People and Culture; performing professional, technical, and administrative human resources work in major functional areas ranging from employee relations, classification and compensation, training and organizational development, and recruitment and selection.

A successful HRBP will act as employee champion and change agent. The HRBP assesses and anticipates HR-related needs. Communicating needs proactively with our HR department and business management, the HRBP seeks to develop integrated solutions. The HRBP maintains an effective level of business literacy about the business unit’s financial position, its strategic goals, its culture and its competition.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct regular meetings with respective departments. Consult with managers, providing HR guidance when appropriate. Analyze trends and metrics in partnership with Manager of People and Culture or Senior HRBP (SR. HRBP) to develop solutions, programs and policies.

• Manage and resolve routine employee relations issues and escalate more complex issues to Manager of People and Culture.

• Advises managers, supervisors and employees on employee relations issues and disciplinary/grievance processes to ensure compliance with the rules, policies and procedures.

• Works in collaboration with HR team to ensure consistency and a uniform HR presence.

• Maintain knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of employees, reducing legal risks and ensuring regulatory compliance.

• Assists SR. HRBP/Manager of People and Culture in interpreting and explaining federal laws (Americans with Disabilities Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action), City of Wheat Ridge Personnel Policies, and other human resources policies and procedures to supervisors and employees.

• Provide day-to-day performance management guidance to management (coaching, counseling, career development, disciplinary actions).

• Work closely with management and employees to improve work relationships, build morale, increase productivity and retention.

• Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnover, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively to provide quality customer service.

• Provide support and input in conjunction w/ SR. HRBP/Manager of People and Culture on restructures, workforce planning, succession planning.

• Identify training needs for both departments and individuals.

• Participate in evaluation and monitoring of success of training programs. Follow-up to ensure training objectives are met.

• Knowledge of business operations and alignment of HR services to support operational needs.

• May be responsible for a specialized area of HR and serve as a subject matter expert in certain areas such as but not limited to: employee engagement or inquiries, policy, onboarding, benefits, budget, procedures, and training for the City.

• Lead the recruitment process for respective departments, ensuring compliance with current job outlines, policies, procedures, and governmental regulations

• Screen employment applications for consideration ensuring qualifications are met; participate in the interviewing portion of the selection process. Maintains database of applications and interacts with applicant tracking system.

• Assists with the development of job descriptions.

• Work on special and “on-going” projects as requested by the Manager of People and Culture.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education –with course work in human resources, public administration or general business; or

• Experience - Minimum of two years of progressive experience in the Human Resources field. Local government experience preferred; or

• Any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides evidence that the applicant possesses the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

• SHRM/PHR or IPMA-CP certification preferred.

• Knowledge - Fundamental principles and practices of public personnel administration; applicable Federal and State laws and local ordinances relating to personnel administration; working knowledge of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action and Fair Labor Standards, etc; word processing, spreadsheet, and database; of agency policies and procedures; principles of basic mathematics as applied to calculating benefits and payroll information; English usage, spelling, grammar, punctuation.

• Skills - Working knowledge in preparing written reports and projects; skill in the operation of equipment necessary to perform the functions of the job; public relations techniques. Ability to use Microsoft suite of products. Paycom experience preferred.

• Abilities - Plan, coordinate, and organize work to meet deadlines; understand the organization and operation of the City and outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities; prepare and maintain accurate and complete confidential and statistical records and reports; maintain confidentiality; work independently; interpret the state and federal regulations that guide personnel functions, City personnel rules, programs, and policies; communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; develop and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public. Diplomacy, communication and conflict management skills are required; sound judgment and discretion are essential.

HOURS OF WORK, LOCATION, AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: This position is full-time, Monday-Friday. Some evenings and weekends may be required. This position is based at the PNSB office building, with travel throughout the City required.

The hiring range for this position is $64,684-79,917

The City of Wheat Ridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, marital status or any other applicable characteristics protected by law, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification. The City of Wheat Ridge will consider reasonable accommodations for employment to qualified applicants upon request to the Human Resources Office.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position.