Human Resources Director

Valdosta, Georgia, is a historic yet rapidly growing community of nearly 60,000 residents. The city blends its rich past with dynamic economic expansion and a commitment to diversity, serving as the county seat of Lowndes County and a hub for the region. Operating under a Council/Manager form of government, Valdosta is a service-oriented organization with over 600 employees and an annual budget of $124 million. The city aspires to be a healthy, vibrant, and safe environment where residents live, work, play, and grow in a diverse community that values families and neighbors.

About the role

The City of Valdosta seeks a visionary, strategic, and collaborative Human Resources Director to implement transformational initiatives, modernize the HR Department, and establish it as a trusted strategic partner to city leadership, employees, and the community. The ideal candidate will be passionate about public service and committed to making Valdosta an employer of choice—one that inspires confidence, empowers employees, and develops leaders dedicated to serving citizens.

The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills, along with the emotional intelligence to build credibility and strong working relationships with elected officials, city leadership, department directors, employees, and community stakeholders. The new Director will lead through change, build high-performance teams, manage multiple priorities, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, and innovation.

This role requires an experienced leader who embraces continuous improvement and understands HR as a catalyst for organizational success. The Director will have experience implementing major initiatives such as compensation and classification studies, performance management systems, HRIS/payroll technologies, employee engagement strategies, policy modernization, leadership development, and workforce planning.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public or personnel administration, human resources, business management, or a related field (required); master’s degree preferred.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible management experience in human resources/personnel management or an equivalent combination of education and experience (required).
• Local government human resources experience (desired).
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR Certification (preferred); other professionally recognized certifications will be considered.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• No-cost Medical Clinic.
• Basic Life and AD&D insurance (provided at no cost).
• Long-term disability (paid by the city).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Pension benefit (employee contributes 3%; vested in 10 years).
• Deferred Compensation 457 plan (offered through Empower).
• Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays.

Relocation expenses negotiable.

Pay

Expected starting salary range: $120,000 – $140,000 (depending on qualifications).