Description

THE CITY OF LAKELAND, FLORIDA

Invites your interest in the position of

Human Resources & Civil Service Director

The City of Lakeland, Florida is seeking its next Human Resources and Civil Service Director to lead the organization in the delivery of professional and responsive human resource services to an employee base of 2,700 full and part-time City employees. The Director serves as the lead staff person responsible for planning, directing, and managing the City’s centralized human resource programs and services. This key position provides strategic guidance and leadership in the areas of talent recruitment, employee and labor relations, classification and compensation, and employee development. The Director maintains responsibility for compliance with all federal, State, and local employment laws. 

ABOUT LAKELAND

The City operates under the Commission/Manager system of government and has done so for over 85 years. The elected City Commission comprised of six Commissioners, and a Mayor establish the policies of the City. A City Manager, appointed by the City Commission, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the City. The City Manager is charged with the responsibility for appointing department directors including the Human Resources and Civil Service Director. The City enjoys a long history of stable leadership at the senior management and department director levels, a testament to both the quality work environment and the organization’s proactive focus on maintaining a robust workforce. 

Lakeland offers its residents a full array of municipal services including water/wastewater utilities, solid waste & recycling, a municipal-owned electric generation and distribution utility, planning, zoning, parks, recreation, cultural arts, libraries, public works, financial administration, and public safety police and fire operations. The City owns and operates the Cleveland Heights Golf Course, the RP Funding Center (convention and civic center), and an international airport.

COMPENSATION AND APPLICATION PROCESS

The expected hiring range for the position is $180,000 to $190,000 based on qualifications and experience. The City provides excellent employee benefits including medical, dental, vision, a flexible spending account, employee assistance program, and dedicated Employee Wellness Clinic. Annual vacation and sick leave are provided to employees, as is employer funded basic life insurance, long-term disability coverage, and a range of voluntary benefit opportunities. The City offers a secure pension plan for full-time regular employees.

For additional information regarding the position, the City of Lakeland government, and the community, please refer to the Recruitment Brochure for this job advertisement at   www.slavinmanagementconsultants.com.

To Apply:

The recruitment will remain open until the position is filled. The first review of applications is scheduled for Friday, June 26, 2026. To apply, please email a letter of interest, a detailed resume, and salary expectations to: 

Robert E. Slavin or Tom Gates

SLAVIN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

e-mail: slavin@bellsouth.net

Electronic submissions are required.

Phone (770) 449-4656

Note: Under Florida Law, resumes are public documents and will be provided to the media upon request. Please call prior to submitting your resume if confidentiality is important to you.

Lakeland is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Requirements

The ideal person for this position is a seasoned human resources professional with considerable experience managing human resource programs, is innovative, committed to effective public service and understands the fundamental value of an engaged modern workforce. 

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

                     Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or a related field.

                     Ten years of progressively responsible professional human resources experience, including at least three years in a supervisory or senior leadership role. Public sector HR experience in local government preferred.

                     A strong understanding of current human resource practice, policy and laws governing a municipal workforce.

                     Proven ability to manage diverse teams and foster an inclusive work environment.

                     Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.

                     Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, human resource programs, and services to employees of the City.