Job Details

Salary: $151,350.00 - $230,000.00 Annually
Location : City of Wichita - City Hall, KS
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: DEPT DIR HR 2026
Department: Human Resources
Division: CMO City Manager's Office
Opening Date: 04/10/2026
Closing Date: 5/8/2026 11:59 PM Central
Bargaining Unit: NONE

The City of Wichita is NOT an E-Verify Employer.
Distinguishing Features of Work
The City of Wichita is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as its next Director of Human Resources. This is a high-impact role with the largest city if Kansas and a Top 50 U.S. city that offers the opportunity to shape the workforce and culture of an organization that delivers essential services to a growing and dynamic community.

Serving a workforce of approximately 3,300 employees, the Director will influence how the City attracts, develops, and retains talent while strengthening organizational performance to enhance service delivery across all departments. This role offers both scale and visibility, with the ability to drive meaningful change that directly supports service delivery to residents.

The Director works closely with a new and dynamic City Manager and executive leadership team to align workforce strategies with organizational priorities. This is an opportunity to further integrate HR strategy into organizational decision making, modernize systems and practices, and prepare the workforce for future challenges.

Wichita offers a unique combination of professional opportunity and community impact. The City is committed to continuous improvement and values leaders who bring practical solutions, build strong relationships, and focus on results.

The Role

The Director of Human Resources leads the City's comprehensive HR function and serves as a key member of the executive leadership team. This position is responsible for setting direction, establishing priorities, and ensuring effective delivery of human resources services across the organization.

Core areas of responsibility include talent acquisition, workforce planning, employee relations, labor relations, compensation and benefits, learning and development, organizational effectiveness, and HR systems.

This role requires a leader who can operate at both a strategic and operational level, providing clear direction while also ensuring execution. The Director ensures consistent, fair, and effective application of policies, practices, and agreements while supporting a positive and productive work environment.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a practical, forward-thinking leader who brings both strategic perspective and a strong foundation in human resources operations.

They will be:

• A confident and credible advisor to the City Manager and senior leadership
• Skilled at building relationships and navigating complex organizational dynamics
• Solutions-oriented, with sound judgment and the ability to make decisions in a public sector environment
• Experienced in leading teams, managing change, and improving organizational performance
• Comfortable balancing competing priorities while maintaining a focus on outcomes
• Experience in a unionized environment is important, along with the ability to approach labor relations in a collaborative and results-focused manner.

Core Competencies

Strategic Leadership: Aligns HR strategies with the City's strategic plan and organizational priorities, including attracting, developing, and retaining a high-performing workforce.

HR and Business Expertise: Applies broad HR knowledge, sound judgment, and data to guide decisions and solve complex issues.

Relationship Management and Communication: Builds trust, communicates clearly, and works effectively with employees, leadership, and stakeholders.

Leadership and Team Development: Leads and develops staff, sets expectations, and fosters a high-performing team environment to establish Wichita as a leading employer of choice.

Problem Solving and Decision Making: Navigates complex situations, manages conflict, and makes timely, informed decisions.

Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates professionalism, maintains confidentiality, and ensures fair and consistent practices.

Adaptability and Innovation: Leads through change, embraces new approaches, and leverages technology to improve outcomes.
Examples of Work Performed

• Establishes policies and procedures related to the personnel program; develops methods and procedures to improve the quality and efficiency of personnel functions.
• Directs recruitment and selection activities, position classification and compensation, training, payroll and record keeping, the equal employment opportunity and affirmative action program, and employee relations.
• Directs studies and surveys, and recommends and implements appropriate revisions.
• Investigates and resolves problems related to reallocation of positions, working conditions, disciplinary actions, and employee grievances.
• Interprets the personnel program to departmental officials, employees, and the public.
• Assists departmental officials with their personnel needs.
• Administers employee benefit programs.
• The examples of work performed are not intended to be all-inclusive.
• The City of Wichita reserves the right to assign additional responsibilities as needed.

Requirements of Work

• Thorough knowledge of public sector human resources principles and practices
• Ability to lead and manage a comprehensive HR Department with 16 staff and an annual budget of $2.4 million
• Ability to develop and implement long-range workforce and organizational strategies
• Strong organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to direct the work of others
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across a complex organization
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• An employee shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Experience and Training
Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, public administration, business, or a related field
• Seven years' experience in human resources leadership, including oversight of multiple Human Resource functions
• Experience advising senior leadership and leading organizational initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and manage complex organizational issues

Preferred:

• Master's degree in a related field
• Three years' public sector experience as a human resources director or Assistant Director
• Experience in labor relations and working with collective bargaining agreements
• Professional HR certification

A cover letter including major responsibilities and accomplishments plus a detailed resume is required at application (submit online, in the attachments section). A minimum of three (3) professional references is preferred.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. Please find more information under the following links:
CITY OF WICHITA

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

1. VACATION - Most employees with less than five years employment earn 10 days of vacation per year. After five years, accrual rates increase at varying rates to varying maximums, depending on work schedule and/or union representation. Employees can accumulate and carry forward up to 240 hours each year.

2. HOLIDAYS - There are eleven paid holidays. Employees also receive one Personal Holiday that is granted after the first six months of employment.

3. SICK LEAVE - Sick leave accrual begins at one-half day per month. After five years, sick leave accruals are one work day per month. Employees can accumulate and carry forward all unused sick leave each year. Employees who use 24 hours (3 days) or less of sick leave in a calendar year earn a "Well Day." An additional "Well Day" can be earned following a year of perfect attendance.

4. HEALTH INSURANCE - UMR / United Healthcare provides two levels of medical and prescription drug plans. Both medical plan are PPOs and do not require selecting a physician or referrals for specialty care. Both medical plans include Teladoc virtual care (primary care/mental health benefits at no charge), Dario healthy living programs, and VSP Vision benefits. Pre-tax premium deductions are offered. The City contributes 80% of the premium cost towards medical, prescription drug and vision insurance.
5. DENTAL INSURANCE - Two Delta Dental plans are offered - Preferred and Traditional. The Delta Preferred plan requires using a dentist from a smaller network for a lower premium. The Delta Traditional plan allows use of any dentist, although benefits are higher using a dentist from the large Delta network. Benefits under both plans are the same (with the exception of some Orthodontic benefits) Pre-tax premium deductions are offered.
6.LIFE INSURANCE - Low-cost voluntary term life insurance is available. Employees pay one-third of the cost. The amount of Basic Life coverage is two times annual pay up to a determined maximum amount. Dependent coverage is available at $20,000 spouse / $10,000 child(ren) for an additional $0.14 per pay period. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included. The plan is through MetLife.
7.SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE - Additional voluntary employee-paid term life insurance is available from MetLife at low group rates. Participation in Basic Life is required. The Life Insurance plans are portable.
8. LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE- The voluntary employee-paid group disability plan from MetLife provides 60% of pre-disability income for injury or health related disabilities. Premiums are determined by income and age.

9.VOLUNTARY ACCIDENTAL DEATH & DISMEMBERMENT - Voluntary employee-paid AD&D from MetLife offers coverage for accidental death and dismemberment.

10.RETIREMENT - The City offers two retirement plans - Wichita Employees (WER) Plan 3, and Commissioned Police & Fire Plan C-79. The WER plan is a defined contribution plan; Police & Fire is a defined benefit plan. Both are contributory - employees and the City share the cost.

11.FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - Employees may elect to make FSA pre-tax deductions for dependent care and/or unreimbursed medical expenses, reducing the cost of these expenses by eliminating taxes on the amount deducted.
12. LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE - This plan from UNUM offers facility and home care benefits for employees, spouses, and some other family members. Several options for benefit amount and duration, and specific plan features, are available.
13.MORE BENEFITS & SERVICES
Deferred Compensation Investment Program
Employee Discounts and Wichita Employee Association (WEA)
Bereavement Pay
Employee Emergency Assistance Fund
Voluntary Shared Leave Program
Training Programs
Longevity Pay
Credit Union
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Injury Leave (on-job injury)
Community Volunteer Events
01

The following verifies my highest level of education..

• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College
• Associates Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctorate
• I do not have any of the degrees or education listed above.

02

My bachelor's degree and/or master's degree is in the following discipline(s)...

• Human Resources
• Public Administration
• Business
• Related Field
• Other Discipline
• I do not have a bachelor's or master's degree.

03

I have the following years experience in human resources leadership, including oversite of multiple Human Resource functions.

• Less than one years' experience in human resources leadership, including oversite of multiple Human Resource functions.
• 1 to 3 years' experience in human resources leadership, including oversite of multiple Human Resource functions.
• 4 to 6 years' of experience in human resources leadership, including oversite of multiple Human Resource functions.
• 7 to 9 years' of experience in human resources leadership, including oversite of multiple Human Resource functions.
• +10 years of experience in in human resources leadership, including oversite of multiple Human Resource functions.

04

I have supervisory experience that includes the responsibility for directing work and making employment-related decisions at the following FTE staff levels....

• 1 to 10 employees
• 11 to 20 employees
• 21 to 30 employees
• 31+ employees
• I do not have supervisory experience directing work or making employment-related decisions.

05

What is your philosophy and/or strategy for creating a successful team under your leadership?
06

Describe your most challenging experience in labor relations or union agreement management. What was the issue, what was your role, and what was the outcome.
07

Describe your work with diversity and inclusion initiatives, and lessons learned or successes from those initiatives.
08

I have the following years of experience in Labor Relations as a negotiator

• Less than 1 year
• 1 to 3 years
• 4 to 7 years
• 8+ years
• I do not have experience in Labor Relations as a negotiator.

Required Question