Sr. Human Resource Business Partner

Sr. Human Resource Business Partner

Location

Skyline Center, 929 N. Front Street, NC

Job Type

Full Time-Regular

Job Number

FY27-00012

Department

Human Resources

Opening Date

08/18/2026

Closing Date

8/31/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Post-Offer Required Pre-Employment Screenings

Driving History Check

Criminal History Check

Education Verification

Drug Screen

Approved Hiring Salary/Range

$79,427.92-$101,270.78

Full Salary Range

$79,427.92-$123,113.38

Working Hours

Monday- Friday, 8am - 5pm

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

The City of Wilmington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Position Description

One City. One Workforce. One Purpose.

Do you have demonstrated experience serving as a strategic HR partner in complex, highly accountable environments?

The City of Wilmington is seeking a Senior Human Resources Business Partner (Sr. HRBP) to be a key strategic partner to executive and department leadership across a high impact portfolio that includes the Police Department, City Manager's Office, City Clerk's Office, and City Attorney's Office. This portfolio requires a strategic HR professional who can effectively support leaders across a range of critical City functions, navigate complex and sensitive workforce matters, and build strong, trusted relationships with executive and department leadership. This position plays a critical role in connecting business needs with comprehensive HR solutions, providing expertise across workforce planning, talent management, employee relations, performance management, organizational development, change management, and employee training.

In addition to serving as a strategic advisor, the Sr. HRBP will take an active role in training and organizational development initiatives and provide recommendations that strengthen leadership capabilities, employee performance, engagement, and organizational effectiveness. The position will work across Human Resources centers of excellence to ensure integrated solutions while maintaining ownership of assigned HR initiatives.

This is an important role within Human Resources that requires strong business acumen, sound judgment, exceptional relationship-building skills, and the ability to translate organizational priorities into effective people strategies and actionable solutions.

Typical Tasks

• Provide stratgic and consultative HR support within complex and highly accountable departments within an assigned portfolio that includes the Police Department, City Manager's Office, City Clerk's Office, and City Attorney's Office

• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders by providing guidance on organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, and talent management strategies

• Lead workforce planning initiatives by identifying current and future staffing needs, workforce risks, and talent gaps, developing proactive solutions to support operational objectives

• UItilize applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage job postings, candidate applications, interview workflows, and hiring documentation

• Track and monitor recruitment metrics, including time-to-fill and candidate flow, and identify opportunities to improve hiring outcomes

• Partner with department leadership to identify current and future staffing needs and prioritize hiring efforts

• Ensure consistent and compliant hiring practices across departments, including structured and equitable selection processes

• Support and reinforce performance management practices, including evaluations, corrective actions, and employee development

• Coach and influence managers on employee performance, accountability, and effective supervision practices

• Serve as the initial point of contact for employee concerns and coordinate with Employee Relations on complaints, investigations, and disciplinary matters

• Ensure consistent interpretation and application of Human Resources policies, procedures, and practices across assigned departments

• Coordinate with Compensation & Classification on job design, reclassifications, and compensation-related decisions

• Collaborate with HR Operations to support onboarding, employee transitions, and overall HR service delivery

• Partner with Organizational Development to align training initiatives with organizational priorities to include the creation, facilitation, and delivery of training content when required

• Maintain accurate and timely recruitment and workforce-related data within applicable systems

• Identify workforce trends, risks, and operational challenges and provide recommendations to leadership

• Support organizational changes, including restructuring efforts, workforce transitions, and role alignment

• Utilize data and workforce insights to inform decision-making and improve workforce outcomes

• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures

• Build and maintain effective working relationships across departments and leadership teams

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of HR service delivery across assigned departments

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that streamline HR processes, improve service delivery, and enhance the employee experience across all city departments

• Mentor and provide guidance to HR Business Partners and other HR professionals to promote consistency, professional development, and HR best practices

• Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

Formal Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business/Public Administration, or related field with a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible human resources experience, including recruitment and employee relations or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required qualfiications

• Valid US drivers license
• HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR) required within one (1) year of employment
• Demonstrated experience partnering with executive and senior leadership to develop and implement strategic human capital initiatives
• Knowledge of principles and practices of human resources, including recruitment, employee relations, performance management, and workforce planning
• Experience working with applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage job postings, candidate applications, interview workflows, and hiring documentation
• Experience leading full-cycle recruitment and developing workforce strategies across multiple business unit
• Familiarity with maintaining accurate candidate records, tracking applicant progress, and generating recruitment-related reports

Skills and Abilties

• Knowledge of HR practices within complex, highly regulated, public-facing, or operationally intensive environments, particularly those requiring strong accountability, confidentiality, and sound judgment
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and employment laws in a consistent and practical manner
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence leadership and build trust
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Ability to analyze workforce data and identify trends to support decision-making
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in sensitive situations
• Strong analytical skills with experience using workforce data and HR metrics to support strategic decision-making
• Ability to build effective working relationships across all levels of the organization

Supplemental Information

• Office Work: Primarily sedentary, involving prolonged sitting, computer use, telephone and office equipment operation, and standard office tasks. Requires visual acuity, hearing, and manual dexterity for reviewing documents, analyzing data, and completing administrative responsibilities.

• Field Work: require standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting or carrying objects up to 10 pounds occasionally. Employees may encounter uneven terrain, traffic, construction areas, and outdoor weather conditions and must use appropriate personal protective equipment.

• General Requirements: The position involves occasional travel to meetings, evening events, and after-hours response, as needed, in support of a 24-hour municipal operation. All work is performed in compliance with applicable State and Federal OSHA regulations, including hazard communication, personal protective equipment, and slip, trip, and fall prevention

Our Core Values:

INCLUSION | COLLABORATION | CREATIVITY | ACCOUNTABILITY

Our Mission Statement: Through forward-thinking policies and responsible stewardship, we are creating a better city every day with excellent core services and quality of life for all.

What we offer:

The City of Wilmington believes that employees are one of our most important resources. We offer an excellent salary and competitive benefits package to serve the needs of our employees and their families. Our benefits package includes:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance + many other insurance options
• Excellent retirement benefits, including a city provided 4.5% contribution each pay period into a 401(k) account and automatic enrollment into the North Carolina Local Government Employees' Retirement System
• Employer-paid health & wellness clinic
• Free on-site city gym access
• Paid sick and vacation leave + 13 paid holidays per year
• 6-weeks paid parental leave
• Paid volunteer & blood donation leave to give back to our community
• Flex schedule and telework availability, depending on your position
• Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives
• Tuition assistance benefits

Applicant Status Updates: After the closing date for this position, applications will be screened by Human Resources. Applicants who meet the minimum and/or preferred qualifications will be referred over to the hiring department. All updates regarding an application can be viewed through your applicant portal.

Health Benefits are offered to employees working at least 30 hours per week.

Health Insurance - The City offers two options for health coverage: a standard PPO plan and a High Deductible Health Plan with an associated Health Savings Account. Coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following hire for employees and their eligible dependents. Both you and the City contribute to the overall cost of coverage.

Dental Insurance - Coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following hire. Employees, their spouse and dependent children are eligible for coverage.

Life Insurance - The city pays to provide coverage valued at one times your annual salary. Supplemental insurance is available for employees to purchase. Optional coverage for dependents is also available for purchase.

Retirement:

• NC Local Government Retirement System - All benefits eligible employees make a mandatory 6% contribution every pay period.
• Deferred Compensation - The city contributes an amount equal to 4.5% of the annual salary to a 401(k) plan regardless of employee contribution. Employees may choose to contribute additional money to the 401(k) or 457 deferred compensation plans, without a match from the City, within the IRS guidelines.

Paid Leave (offered to employees working at least 1,000 hours annually*):

• Sick Leave - 12 days accrued each year
• Annual Leave - Accrual based on years of service and classification. Employees can earn from 10 to 24 days each year.
• Holidays - 13 paid holidays annually
• Paid Parental Leave - Six weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or placement of a child (must run concurrently with FMLA).
• Part-Time Employees will earn paid leave benefits on a pro-rated basis.

Miscellaneous:

• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Cancer & Critical Illness
• Accident Insurance
• Whole Life Insurance
• Credit Union membership

Note: The City of Wilmington is on a bi-weekly pay cycle. New employees should expect to receive their first paycheck approximately 4 weeks after their start date.

This is intended to be a brief overview of the benefits offered. Please visit our website at https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/Government/Departments-Divisions/Human-Resources/Benefits for more information.

01

Please acknowledge that you agree to fully complete all required sections of the application, including work experience, education, and the supplemental questionnaire; and that your responses are truthful and complete and can be verified within your application. Entering "N/A or "See Resume/Application" does not qualify as an acceptable response.

• Yes

02

Do you have a valid US Drivers License?

• Yes
• No

03

Which best describes your highest level of education in Human Resources, Business/Public Administration, or related field ?

• High School Diploma or GED
• Vocational/Technical Training or Certificate
• Some College
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctorate Degree
• None - N/A

04

How many years of progressively responsible human resources experience, including recruitment and employee relations, do you have?

• I have no experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years to less than 7 years
• 7 years to less than 9 years
• 9 years to less than 12 years
• 12 years to less than 15 years
• 15 years or more

05

Please identify the company/agency/organization where you gained the experience described in question and provide detail on responsibilties- specifically in the areas of recruitment and employee relations. #4. Note: These employers must be listed in the work history section on your employment application to receive credit. Entering "N/A or "See Resume/Application" does not qualify as an acceptable response and will not be considered.

06

Please rate your experience with workforce staffing, recruitment life-cycle and legal hiring practices.

• Basic
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• None

07

Please rate your experience working in applicant tracking systems (ATS) to create and manage job postings, candidate applications, hiring workflows and offers.

• Basic
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• None

08

Please rate your experience with employee relations investigations, complaints and disciplinary matters.

• Basic
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• None

09

Please rate your experience with performance management and employee development.

• Basic
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• None

10

Please rate your experience with tracking and montitoring metrics.

• Basic
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• None

11

Do you have experience working for a local government/municipality?

• Yes
• No

12

Please select all the apply:

• PHR
• SPHR
• SHRM-SCP
• HRBP Certification
• NC Mediator Certification
• Other relevant certification
• None, but I am aware I must obtain professional HR certification within 1 year of hire

13

The hiring salary for the position is posted on the job posting. Salary determination is supported by budget availability and qualifications of the candidate to maintain internal equity. Please acknowledge that you understand this process.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Wilmington

Address PO Box 1810

929 N. Front Street, 11th Floor

Wilmington, North Carolina, 28401

Phone 910-341-7840

Website http://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/jobs