Post-date: January 22, 2025

Closes: Open until filled; first review of applications February 12, 2025

Status: Full-time; Exempt

Location: Maricopa Association of Governments; 302 N. First Ave., Suite 300, Phoenix, AZ 85003

This is a hybrid position with in-office work expected a minimum of 4 days per week.

Are you looking to advance your career in public sector HR in the Phoenix area? Are you ready to showcase your broad skill set in HR leadership, with an emphasis on strategic planning, core HR business operations, and training and leadership development? Will you help us integrate a new HRIS and classification and compensation system throughout our organization? Then we encourage you to apply for the Maricopa Association of Governments HR Director position.

MAG is a regional planning agency dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Phoenix area through effective public services and collaboration. As HR Director, you will lead all HR functions, including talent acquisition, employee relations, and organizational development. You will also spearhead the integration of a new HRIS and classification and compensation system.

If you're an experienced HR leader passionate about public service and ready to drive impactful change, we encourage you to apply. Join our team and help shape the future of MAG!

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum of seven years of progressive HR leadership experience, including supervisory and operations roles in a public sector environment. Bachelor’s degree in human resources, public administration, business administration or related field is required. Master’s degree or senior Human Resources certification preferred.

THE ORGANIZATION

The Maricopa Association of Governments is a regional planning agency that develops solutions in areas such as transportation, air quality, and programs that meet the human needs of the region. MAG is a council of governments and the designated metropolitan planning organization for large-scale regional transportation initiatives. MAG has approximately 120 employees, largely working in technical and knowledge-based jobs, of which the vast majority require college or advanced degrees and training.

MAG serves a thriving region of more than five million people. Our members include 27 cities and towns, three Native nations, Maricopa County, and portions of Pinal County. Our planning area encompasses over 10,000 square miles. MAG conducts extensive applied research to help frame public policy and further our core mission of strengthening the Greater Phoenix region. Through innovative tools, we make data accessible to the public for a broad range of uses.

This position is a direct report of the MAG executive director.

YOUR ROLE

MAG is actively recruiting an experienced, public sector HR director that can effectively lead and engage with all facets of the HR function. From strategy to operations, this is a challenging opportunity to showcase your skills across the broad spectrum of HR specialties. In this hands-on role, you will have the chance to make a significant impact as we move toward implementation of a new HRIS, advance our talent acquisition outreach through social media and related tools and approaches, and partner with our Fiscal Services team to ensure accurate and timely delivery of all HR transactions for the workforce. Utilizing your cutting-edge technology skills, you will learn and assess business processes with a focus on change that serves the agency efficiently in building and maintaining a high-performance culture. The position will lead strategic people and operational activities at MAG in support of agency mission and goals, including recruitment, staffing, onboarding/offboarding, compensation and benefits, performance management, immigration assistance, employee development and training, employee relations, and administration and legal compliance. A passion and talent for training and mentoring supervisors and leaders will be a key competency in this role.

This job is a mix of strategic and tactical responsibilities. The role includes work with the executive director and executive team on strategic HR system and process development, as well as line-level supervision and a need to understand and support transactional HR work and day-to-day employee relations and interactions.

YOUR TEAM

You will supervise a team of five, including a senior analyst, specialist and three administrative support personnel (Office Services) that provide support to the organization on an enterprise level.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner with executive leadership to provide organizational strategies, including succession planning, to position MAG as an employer-of-choice now and in the future.
• Lead HR operations by learning and training staff in a variety of platforms and systems related to recruiting, employee benefits, orienting, training, coaching, compensation, and performance management.
• Manage HR staff who are responsible for the tasks related to bi-weekly payroll, benefits entry and a wide range of transactions and business processes, while recommending and implementing process improvement strategies.
• Develop metrics that will assist leadership in establishing policies and best practices to provide the comprehensive talent needed to deliver services to our partners.
• Develop, maintain, and deliver a training and development program to grow and build employees for future opportunities and support agency succession planning.
• Serve as a key member of the ERP implementation team.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to management in the core areas of HR, including talent acquisition and retention, training, performance measurement, employee relations, classification and compensation, and employee benefits.
• Gain proficiency and become the agency’s subject matter expert in all HR platforms, including the future HRIS.
• Implement a new employee performance management system currently under development for fiscal year 2026.
• Conduct research of member agencies, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and comparable organizations to recommend competitive pay and benefits strategies to achieve a comprehensive total compensation strategy.
• Execute and own a successful position management process to assist the organization with workforce planning, budgeting and organizational development.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, while monitoring regulatory changes, including in the areas of FMLA, ADA, Equal Pay, FLSA, etc. MAG is a member of the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
• Manage and mitigate company risk in all HR functions.
• Conduct day-to-day activity meetings with employees, developing employee advocate relationships, collaborating with leaders on employee motivation and performance, and answering employee questions regarding policy and procedures, payroll, benefits, immigration support, etc.

Required Knowledge

Knowledge of standard and best practice HR programs and processes, compensation systems, benefit design and administration, labor laws, and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; proven ability to learn additional new HR applications. Knowledge in recruiting and sourcing high-performing talent. Familiarity in immigration law, including F1, H1B, PERM or green card.

Required Skills

Customer service approach and detail orientation; effective oral and written communications; effective collaboration; active listening; organization and project management. Ability to learn and actively engage with a variety of platforms used in the administration of HR business processes, including employee benefits and payroll. Ability to effectively coordinate with external legal counsel on sponsorship of candidates for immigration status for qualifying specialty occupations within the organization.

Required Competencies

Strong sense of accountability, modeling high integrity, productivity, and creative and innovative approaches for the organization.