THE CITY OF KALAMAZOO
H UMAN RESOURCES/LABOR RELATIONS DIRECTOR
“The City of Kalamazoo invites your interest in joining our world-class community and team as Human Resources/Labor Relations Director. Kalamazoo is proud of our arts, culture, diversity, university environment and the Kalamazoo Promise.”
Laura Lam, Chief Operating Officer City of Kalamazoo
73,598
$286,700,000
$119,340 - $171,360
The City of Kalamazoo is blessed with top-notch destinations and is a community of choice. Residents and visitors can enjoy live theater, miles of riverfront trails, college athletics, historic neighborhoods and the diversity that makes Kalamazoo a “special place.” The Kalamazoo Promise is a driving force in our economic development efforts.
Find out more at kalamazoocity.org
WELCOME TO KALAMAZOO
The diverse and welcoming City of Kalamazoo (population 73,598) is nestled in southwestern Michigan approximately 130 miles west of Detroit, 70 miles southwest of Lansing, and 140 miles east of Chicago. It's easily accessible from both I-94 and U.S. 131 and is the county seat of Kalamazoo County.
Kalamazoo is the proud home to the Kalamazoo Promise, three colleges & universities, nationally recognized healthcare systems, diverse and affordable housing, clean and safe drinking water, and many parks, lakes, and golf courses. A wide variety of businesses call Kalamazoo home, including industry leaders in the pharmaceutical, medical science, and craft beer industries. Kalamazoo also offers a huge variety of music, visual art, dance, and theater for everyone to enjoy.
The City of Kalamazoo was founded in 1831, when Titus Bronson (1778-1853) recorded the original plat for the Village of Bronson at the County Register of Deeds Office. Shortly thereafter, Governor Lewis Cass selected the village as the site of the county seat, which spurred the rapid development of the community. Bronson, an eccentric and argumentative man, often found himself at odds with his fellow settlers. After a series of incidents, including being fined for stealing a cherry tree from another settler, his enemies successfully changed the name of the town to Kalamazoo in 1836.
With our world-class facilities, incredible arts and culture, highly acclaimed colleges and universities, endless recreational trails and excellent health care providers, it's no wonder that in 2023 U.S. News and World Report named Kalamazoo as the “4th Best Place to Live in Michigan.”
KALAMAZOO’S ARTS & CULTURE KALAMAZOO INSTITUTE OF ARTS
The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts’ mission is to cultivate the creation and appreciation of the visual arts in Kalamazoo. With a permanent collection of 5,000 works of art, the KIA presents touring and collection exhibitions in 10 galleries.
Kalamazoo is known across Michigan and the Midwest for offering an eclectic array of arts and cultural events. Here is a snapshot of what locals and visitors enjoy about our city.
THE MILLER AUDITORIUM
Since its grand opening in 1968, the Miller Auditorium on the campus of Western Michigan University has become one of the premier performing arts venues in West Michigan. The mission of the Miller is to enlighten, entertain and educate members of the WMU community and beyond.
THE KALAMAZOO CIVIC THEATER
From 1929, to the present, the Kalamazoo Civic Theater has been on the forefront of community theater in America. What started as a tiny band of people producing a few plays in the Lincoln School Auditorium in the summer of 1929, has grown into one of the premier community theaters in America.
THE GILMORE
Created in 1989 to honor the legacy of Irving S. Gilmore, the organization is known for its biennial Gilmore Piano Festival, a three- week celebration of piano music. Gilmore’s mission is to “Inspire and shape the future of piano artistry.”
BRONCOS, HORNETS & COUGARS
The community of Kalamazoo offers students with an outstanding array of options when it comes to selecting a venue for higher education. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College have an excellent record of accomplishments in producing well-rounded college graduates.
WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS
Western Michigan University (WMU) is one of eight research universities in Michigan and is classified “R2: Doctoral Universities conducting premier high research activity.” The University has seven degree-granting colleges, offering 147 undergraduate degree programs. Bronco athletic teams compete at the D1 level in the MidAmerican Conference. With an enrollment of 16,000, WMU has a significant positive impact in the Kalamazoo region.
KALAMAZOO COLLEGE HORNETS
Kalamazoo College, commonly known to locals and graduates as “K-College”, is a highly selective, nationally renowned and globally oriented. Founded in 1833, K-College is listed as one of the Top 100 oldest colleges and universities in the nation. As one national educator put it, “At no Ivy Institution are the students so deeply engaged, so broadly prepared and have a sense of community as Kalamazoo College.”
KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE COUGARS
Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) offers Kalamazoo and surrounding communities an excellent first step in their educational pursuits. With an enrollment of approximately 11,400 students, KVCC was founded in 1968 by the overwhelming support from voters in several local school districts. KVCC offers 50 certificate programs and associate degrees in 60 areas of study. KVCC has a stellar reputation in preparing students for success at four-year institutions. College athletics are readily available as the Cougars compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
THE KALAMAZOO PROMISE
November 10, 2005 is a day that changed the lives of the entire Kalamazoo region. It is a day that so far has impacted 8,100 students with academic support totaling $215,000,000.
The Kalamazoo Promise is a pledge from anonymous donors to pay up to 100% of tuition costs at many Michigan colleges and universities for the graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools. Here is a breakdown of the program:
HUMAN RESOURCES/LABOR RELATIONS DIRECTOR
The City of Kalamazoo is seeking a Human Resources/Labor Relations Director leader who will lead our team with a positive spirit, emotional intelligence and authentic transparency. The Director will lead a team of seven full-time and one part-time team members. The City has 700 full-time team members and works in a cooperative manner with four bargaining groups. The Director reports to the Chief Operating Officer.
The depth of responsibilities are outlined below:
• Prioritizes and monitors projects; determines methods and procedures used for projects; administers policies and procedures; develops and implements short and long range plans.
• Manages a variety of labor relations issues including negotiating, directing and managing union contracts; establishes and maintains working relationships union leadership and employees; responds to grievances and addresses labor concerns; consults with senior level managers on employee and labor relations issues.
• Prepares, reviews and responds to written correspondence, memos and reports.
• Plans, develops and manages projects including vendor selection, policy decisions, and ensuring contract compliance.
• Ensures compliance with City benefits, policies and state and federal guidelines and requirements; monitors and reports outcomes.
• Plans, develops, and counsels managers and employees on various personnel issues.
• Serves as a member of the City's Leadership Team; attends meetings with City Manager and City Commission; determine goals and objectives for the City; ensures that City Commission, administration, and citizen priorities are included in long range planning and development of the City.
• Manages employee development program by ensuring appropriate training for different groups of employees and determining various methods and types of training delivery.
• Develops and manages annual budgets; develops policies for budget development and administration.
• Supervises and evaluates staff including the delegation of work, performance reviews, training and development, and discipline in accordance with City policies, procedures and union contracts.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.
Essential Qualifications
• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources Administration, Business Administration, Industrial Relations or related field; Master's Degree is preferred.
• SPHR or PHR strongly preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, including labor relations experience in a union environment.
• Previous managerial experience required.
• Strong, clear communicator and excellent interpersonal skills; proven ability to effectively and positively communicate with all levels within the organization; excellent customer service skills.
• Skill in negotiating agreements, which accommodates conflicting interests and viewpoints.
• Demonstrates a sense of urgency, prioritizes well, shows energy, responds to opportunities, instills urgency in others, and meets deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office applications.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To join the City of Kalamazoo team, please submit a cover letter, resume and five professional references to Frank L. Walsh, Walsh Municipal Services, LLC. Applications will be received at walshmuni@gmail.com. Please indicate in your cover letter whether you are requesting confidentiality as allowed under the Michigan Open Meetings Act.