Director, Human Resources

Thank you for your interest in the BWL. We think you'll find it a rewarding and nurturing place to grow your career.

The Director of Human Resources directs and manages all aspects of Human Resources (HR), Labor Relations, Payroll & Benefits, Organization Development & Training (OD&T), and Safety functions. This role oversees the development, implementation and administration of organizational policies, programs, procedures and guidelines. The Director of Human Resources originates and leads HR, Labor Relations, Payroll & Benefits, OD&T and Safety, fostering an employee-oriented, high-performance culture that emphasizes empowerment, quality, productivity standards, goal attainment, and the recruitment and ongoing development of a highly skilled workforce and safety driven culture. The Director of Human Resources oversees the implementation of services, policies, labor contracts, and programs; advises company leaders about HR, Payroll & Benefits, OD&T, and Safety matters.

• Provide oversight for HR, Payroll & Benefits, OD&T, Labor Relations and Safety functions ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

• Lead the development, execution and administration of labor contracts with respect to negotiations, grievances, arbitration.

• Participates in leadership meetings and provides counsel and advises organizational leaders on HR, Labor Relations, Payroll & Benefits, Organization Development & Training and Safety matters.

• Oversee the development, implementation and administration of HR, Labor Relations, Payroll & Benefits, Organization Development & Training and Safety policies, programs, procedures, and guidelines to align the workforce with the goals, values, and culture of the company while ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

• Conducts a continuing study of HR, Labor Relations, Payroll & Benefits, Organization Development & Training and Safety policies, programs and best practices to inform decision making and drive improvement; keeps leadership informed of developments, recommending continuous improvement opportunities.

• Oversee all levels of management in investigating and resolving conflict for bargaining and non-bargaining employee matters, including, but not limited to leave of absences, workplace violence, substance abuse, disability, performance issues and disciplinary actions.

• Keeps abreast of current developments in governmental employee relations and public sector labor relations and applies such concepts in carrying out organization's labor relations.

• Sponsor and actively engage in development and maintenance of corporate employee engagement programs, ensuring alignment with the organization's strategic plan.

• Leads short and long-term workforce planning and retention strategies, including organizational succession planning, driving the need for an annual staffing plan, budget and employment branding; leverages company resources to fulfill overall staffing requirements.

• Leads performance compensation management process across the organization in alignment with organizational goals and objectives.

• Develop, maintain, and promote effective employment relations programs.

• Reviews, advises, and approves management recommendations for employment terminations.

• Oversee the Payroll & Benefits function.

• Oversee company's total compensation program ensuring compliance and salary and benefits structures remain competitive based on market research supporting the recruitment and retention of a highly skilled workforce.

• Oversee retirement program administration focused on compliance, employee education, increasing plan assets and promoting plan as a key recruiting tool.

• Oversee the Organizational Development & Training function, supporting ongoing development of employees and company initiatives.

• Oversee the Safety function aligning the workforce with the organization's goals, values and safety-driven culture, including ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Oversee organization's Workers' Compensation, leveraging a positive safety-driven culture to keep work related injuries at a minimum.

• Leads vendor management activities through direct and indirect participation with vendors and service providers.

• Oversee operation and maintenance of Human Resources Information System (HRIS) by evaluating and assigning adequate resources for design, use and upgrading of HRIS platform to remain compliant and achieve organizational priorities.

• Manage the departmental budget.

• Predictable and reliable attendance.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required:

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 10 years of progressive leadership experience in Human Resources position.

• A minimum of 7 years of supervisory experience.

• Experience in utility or manufacturing environment required.

• Broad knowledge and experience in labor relations/contract negotiations, compensation, payroll, time management, benefits administration, organizational planning and development, employee relations, safety, security, staffing and recruiting, compliance, and training and development. 

• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication.

• Ability and experience leading enterprise wide HRIS implementations.

• Excellent interpersonal and coaching skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop staff members.

• Demonstrated ability to serve as a successful participant on the managerial leadership team that provides company leadership and direction, including the ability to interact effectively with the company Board of Directors/Commissioners.

• Working knowledge of basic office software programs; previous experience with HRIS.

• Ability to maintain high level of confidentiality.

• Strong negotiation skills and ability to bring issues to resolution.

• Solid focus on continuous improvement and automation.

• Demonstrated personal leadership and positive can-do attitude.

• Flexible and able to work in fast paced and varying environments.

• Ability to work well with others in a team environment.

• Leading by demonstrating ethics and integrity, displaying drive and purpose, exhibiting leadership stature, increasing capacity to learn, managing self, increasing self-awareness.

• Leading others by communicating effectively, developing others, valuing diversity and difference, building and maintaining relationships, managing effective teams and work groups.

• Provides model behavior to demonstrate organizational values.

Preferred:

• SHRM or HRCI Professional Certification preferred.

• SPHR or PHR preferred.  

• Previous utility experience preferred.

• Serve as an active member on a local/community board.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to remain in a stationary position for the majority of the working day.  The person in this position needs to move about inside the office environment. Constantly operates a computer and other office equipment. Ability to adjust focus, especially due to concentration on a computer screen. Must communicate frequently with other departments and employees both verbally and in writing. May need to lift and carry up to 30 pounds and/or position the body to reach items on the floor/ below the knee level or reach above head. On occasion, may need to use stairs

Constantly works in a temperature-controlled office environment.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position.  They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills that may be required of the employee.  Management reserves the right to add, remove, or otherwise alter these duties, responsibilities, and skills at any time.

Why Should You Apply?

Competitive wages, employee development, and opportunity for professional growth.
 
Robust time off benefits including vacation, free choice, sick leave, parental leave and 11 paid holidays.
 
Comprehensive benefits package offered including medical, prescription, dental, life insurance, long-term disability, employee assistance program.
 
Voluntary benefits including vision, supplemental and dependent life insurance, flexible spending, AFLAC options, LifeLock anti-theft, long term care, tuition reimbursement, and BWL's  Home Purchase Plan – Forgivable $5,000 loan for purchase of a home in Lansing.
 
Retirement programs including 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan (DC) (100% company paid up to 9.5 % of base salary for BU positions and up to 13% of base salary for NBU positions), 457 Deferred Compensation matches up to $2,500 per year. 
 
Post retirement benefits offered at the respective level of coverage, co-pays and health care premium, at the same level as active employees.
 
Two fitness centers located on site open 24/7, work life balance program, employee assistance program, free parking and much more 
 
About BWL:
The Board of Water & Light serves Lansing, Michigan, and surrounding areas with electricity, water, and steam. Lansing's city charter vests the BWL with full and exclusive management of water, steam, and electric services for or the city. The American Public Power Association has honored the Lansing Board of Water & Light as one of the country's best publicly-owned utilities.
 
The Location:
Lansing lies at the heart of the Great Lakes State and offers all the beauty and splendor of the four seasons. A haven for swimming, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, golf, and hunting, mid-Michigan is also just a couple hours from premier skiing and one of the most beautiful freshwater lakeshores in the world on our Lake Michigan Coast. Lansing itself is only minutes and miles away from two of the nation's premier universities, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, and boasts miles of walking, running, biking trails, Potter Park Zoo, professional sports, the arts, and fine dining.
 
 

THE BOARD OF WATER & LIGHT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER