Salary: $109,309.00 - $143,363.00 Annually
Location : Detroit, Michigan, MI
Job Type: Certified-Regular Civil Service
Job Number:
Department: Human Resources Dept
Division: Policy, Planning, & Opera
Opening Date: 08/26/2026
Closing Date: 9/13/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Bargaining Unit: 9002-Senior Management

Description
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT - POLICY, PLANNING AND OPERATIONS DIVISION

GENERAL MANAGER POLICY
The Policy General Manager serves as the internal consultant for City Departments developing or revising employee-related policies, administrative directives, procedures, and standard operating practices. Leadership is provided for policy programs and functions, including the responsibility for developing, interpreting, and recommending program goals and objectives, policies and procedures, and courses of action. This position is responsible for managing policy and compliance related activities according to established guidelines and sound administrative practices in accordance with the organization's mission, values, and goals.

The General Manager position reports to the Chief Policy and Planning Officer and has macro level responsibility for leading the policy function to effectively and efficiently provide service to internal customers while ensuring that all laws, rules and regulations are met and applied. The position collaborates with department leadership, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Civil Service, the Law Department, and executive leadership to ensure policies are legally sound, operationally effective, aligned with collective bargaining agreements, and consistent with the City's strategic priorities.

Examples of Duties

• Provides vision, leadership, planning, project coordination and management for the development and facilitation of policy operations, processes, and procedures to meet current and future business demands and needs.
• Plans, directs, trains, and supervises employees on a daily basis, including assignment of work, performance reviews and recommendations regarding career development and progression.
• Supports the planning, management, and coordination of the Policy function and activities.
• Acts as a liaison between customer departments and the Human Resources Department by developing, implementing, and maintaining employee-related departmental policies and programs, administrative directives, and standard operating procedures.
• Proposes strategic advice for city-wide leaders on policy matters to drive organizational effectiveness, mitigate risk, and ensure compliance with city-wide HR policies, Civil Services rules, applicable laws, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Supports consistent application of HR policies and procedures and conduct audits to identify and address compliance issues with the appropriate parties.
• Consults with directors/division heads to roll out compliance initiatives and participate in internal investigations relative to policy violations.
• Assists with creating, establishing, and maintaining policy best practices in conjunction with the Chief Policy and Planning Officer.
• Assists with the development and assessment of compliance metrics, performs risk analysis, and develops strategies to evaluate policy effectiveness.
• Identifies opportunities to reduce risk by strengthening and/or modernizing policies, recommending revisions, and providing training to managers/employees, as needed.
• Interprets federal and state employment laws and regulations, including but not limited to FLSA, FMLA, ADA, and HIPAA.
• Assists with the development of detailed justifications for proposals or initiatives in the budget development process.

• May perform additional duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualifications (required):

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or other related field of study.
• Must have a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in employment law, human resources, policy development and governance, or public administration, which includes five (5) years of direct experience over human resource functions.
• Significant experience directly handling and providing guidance on a variety of Human Resource compliance matters.

Qualifications (preferred):

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree strongly preferred.
• Experience practicing employment law.
• Experience in the public sector and/or a unionized environment.
• Experience developing enterprise policy and governance frameworks.
• Experience drafting and interpreting employment policies, administrative directives, and procedures.

Licenses, Certifications, and Other Special Requirements:

• Michigan Bar membership preferred
• Designations from the Society of Human Resources Management, International Personnel Management Association - HR
• SHRM - CP / SCP Certifictoin preferred

Equivalency

• Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Supplemental Information
Evaluation Plan

• Writing Sample: P/F
• Interview: 70%
• Evaluation of Training, Experience & Personal Qualifications: 30%
• Total of Interview and Evaluation T.E.P: 100%

LRD: 07/28/2026
Knowledge Of:

• Thorough knowledge of management and supervisory principles.
• Thorough knowledge of HR methods, practices, and procedures.
• Detailed knowledge of HR laws and regulations, including FMLA, FLSA, ADA, EEO, and other federal, state, and local employment laws.

Skill In:

• Routinely conferring with HR leadership on the implementation of HR initiatives.
• Interaction with senior leadership to ensure best practices are developed and applied.
• Application of best principles, practices, and procedures of Human Resources and compliance.
• Advanced problem solving, decision making and statistical data analysis and interpretation.
• Developed skills to effectively communicate in oral and written formats.
• Development and evaluation of strategic management plans.
• Project management application.
• Customer service and service orientation.
• Initiative and self-management.
• Teamwork and team development.
• Conflict and crisis management.

Ability To:

• Foster and maintain positive relationships with human resources constituents and customer base with internal and functional team members to ensure effective definition of and delivery of work assignments.
• Display a high level of interpersonal skills to maintain effective relationships with all levels of the organization.
• Lead and cultivate a climate of integrity and ethics.
• Display professionalism and credibility.
• Develop an environment of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Think systematically and inspire change.
• Leverage diversity and inclusiveness within staff and organization.
• Apply change management principles, strategies, and techniques required for effective planning, implementation, and evaluation of change in the organization.
• Work with clients and customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations.
• Maintain a high level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Work with others towards agreement and negotiation to find mutually acceptable solutions.
• Identify and resolve operational and organizational problems.
• Provide leadership, vision, and direction to employees.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate process improvement initiatives.
• Acquire additional training and knowledge of contemporary principles and best practices of compliance.

Physical Demands

• The work is characterized as sedentary.
• Human Resources positions sit comfortably to do their work.
• Some site visits may be required.

Work Environment

• Work is performed in a comfortable office environment which is appropriately lighted, heated, and cooled.
• The work environment contains no significant hazards.
• Some work may require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the work site.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to the class. Incumbents may be required to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Specific job duties may vary from position to position.
EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
The City of Detroit offers a competitive and comprehensive employee benefit package. We pride ourselves on the longevity of our employees. Part of the reason for the low turnover rate is the exceptional benefit package listed below. Benefits include, but are not limited to the following:

HEALTH

• Medical - Eligible for hospital, surgical, and prescription drug benefits.
• Dental
• Vision

INSURANCE

• Life Insurance - Optional group insurance available to employee and their family. The City pays 60% of premium for first $12,500 of employee life insurance. Employee may purchase, at own expense, life insurance for spouse and each dependent.
• Long-Term Disability Insurance (Income Protection Plan) - The City offers disability insurance through payroll deductions for persons who become disabled and who are not yet eligible for a service retirement.

PAID TIME OFF

• Sick Leave
• Vacation
• Holidays

OTHER LEAVE BENEFITS
The City also has the following paid and unpaid leaves; funeral leave, Family and Medical Leave, jury duty, military duty leave, unpaid personal leave,

RETIREMENT BENEFITS
City Employees Retirement System
As a regular City employee you automatically become a member of the General Retirement System. This entitles you to a retirement allowance after:
• Completion of thirty (30) years of service;
- At age sixty (60) if you have at least ten (10) years of service, or

- At age sixty-five (65) with eight (8) years of service.
• In the event of disability, other eligibility rules apply);
- An early, actuarially reduced, retirement is offered after you have attained at least twenty-five (25) years of service;
• Employees are vested after ten (10) years of service, regardless of age.

ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES - Employees have many opportunities for growth and career advancement throughout all City departments and divisions.
01

Please indicate your highest level of education completed

• High School Diploma/GED
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• PhD/J.D.
• No Education experience

02

How many years of progressively responsible experience do you have in employment law, human resources, policy development and governance, or public administration?

• Less than 7 years of experience
• 7 - 10 years of experience
• 10 or more years of experience
• No Experience

03

How many years of direct experience do you have over human resource functions?

• Less than 5 years of experience
• 5 - 10 years of experience
• 10 or more years of experience
• No Experience

04

Describe your knowledge with HR laws and regulations, including FMLA, FLSA, ADA, EEO, and other federal, state, and local employment laws.
05

Describe your work experience drafting and interpreting and implementing employment policies, administrative directives, and procedures.
06

Describe your work experience practicing employment law, working in a public sector and/or unionized environment, developing policy and governance frameworks.
07

What Human Resources Certification do you posses?

• Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
• Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
• Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
• International Personnel Management Association - HR (IPMA)
• Certified Employee Relations Professional (CERP)
• National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
• Certified Labor Relations Professional (CLRP)
• No Certification

08

Did you attach your cover letter and resume to your application?

• Yes
• No

Required Question