Human Resources

The City's Human Resources Department supports efforts to attract, develop and retain a diverse, well-qualified and productive workforce that enhances the livability of our community. We provide internal support to employees for new hire on-boarding, policy development and interpretation, time entry and payroll functions, benefit management, and performance evaluation management.

Enhancing Livability is our calling, but our true passion lies in supporting our employees and creating an environment for our employees to thrive. With everything that we do, we look to create a working environment that stimulates team spirit, passion, engagement, innovation, fulfillment, safety, and achievement, to instill a performance culture based upon making the City of Victoria the Employer of Choice.

• Sustaining adequate and equitable compensation structures to support employee retention, job satisfaction and talent acquisition.
• Address employee issues as soon as they surface and ensure employees have a safe work environment to strengthen the organization's relationship with its workforce.
• Maintain a knowledgeable recruitment staff, streamline the selection process, and create a comprehensive orientation and on-boarding program.
• Perform internal services with integrity.
• Address ineffectiveness with current processes by enhancing on-line solutions.
• Enhance employee and leadership development by developing career paths and succession planning.

• Pandemic response initiatives including on-going employee communication, flexible work arrangements, hazard pay, federal leave program implementation, and staffing of community COVID hotline operations. Coordinated internal COVID-19 task team efforts including Employees Helping Employees initiative and employee vaccine clinics.
• Enhanced benefit value for employees by implementing new Health and Wellness programming, new mental health program, employer paid life insurance benefit, increased voluntary benefits, and transitioned to a new medical health care provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.
• Implemented Fire and Police new salary step plans in line with compensation and classification study.
• Implemented NeoGov on-line application system.
• Implemented new Parental Leave policy.
• Inclement Weather response initiatives during February's ice event, including employee communications, staffing of emergency hotline, and inclement weather pay.
• Coordinated various employee engagement events, including American Heart Association Heart Walk and Habitat for Humanity.
• Supported City departments by on-boarding 57 employees.
• Coordinated Police Chief finalist process including greet/meet event for community stakeholders and Police Department personnel.

• Implementing HR’s NeoGov platform will streamline workflow processes for City departments, eliminating manual and redundant work.
• Updating Employee Guidelines and Policies will support operating efficiencies, apply consistent approach in employee related matters, and provide common supervisor/employee expectations.

• Implement on-line platforms with NeoGov, including time/attendance, payroll, CoreHR, application system, eforms, performance management, benefits enrollment, and onboarding. This initiative will support streamlining all HR on-line platforms into one.
• Implement updated City-wide salary structure and updated job descriptions for each position within the City.
• Update and implement employee guidelines and personnel policies. Include incorporating new policies such as flexible work arrangements, leave donation, and paid time off policies.
• Develop and implement Code of Conduct/Ethics Booklet.
• Implement new training and development programs, including Leadership Academy for Supervisors.
• Develop first City of Victoria Hiring Fair.
• Develop and implement employee brand for future employee engagement, on-boarding and job recruitment.
• Develop City-wide internship program to promote education and career growth opportunities for our organization.
• Collaborate with VISD, VC and UH-V to support strengthening the community workforce.

• Personnel & Benefits increased by $68K, the result of $50K to add one extra staff member to support Training and Development program, 18K for Phase II of the Compensation Plan, and $325 for baseline adjustments.
• Supplies decreased $417 mainly due to office supplies.
• Contractual Services increased $3K, mainly due to an increase in Pre-Employment Screenings.
• Other charges decreased $6K, mainly due to a decrease in Education and Development.
• Capital expenditures are budgeted at $75K, which includes $69K for time clock replacements and three replacement computers.

• In Fiscal Year 2022, added one (1) Training Specialist.

Department High-Level Personnel Descriptions:

Director - Provides leadership and direction to the personnel practices of the City. Administers major programs in the areas of benefits, recruiting, compensation, payroll, employee records, performance reviews, employee relations, communications, employee safety and workers compensation. Provides leadership and direction to the HR/Safety Department.

HR Manager - Designs, coordinates, administers, and implements various human resources programs such as compensation, benefits, performance management, training, and employee relations to effectively manage, retain, and develop the City of Victoria's team of employees. Work closely with the Director of Human Resources and other members of the HR department and City departments to ensure accuracy and efficiency of the City's payroll processing and application of the City's benefit programs.

Payroll/Benefits Specialist - Designs, coordinates, administers, and implements various human resources programs such as compensation, benefits, and performance management. Works closely with the HR Manager and other members of the Human Resources department and City departments to ensure the accuracy and efficiency of the City's payroll processing and assures compliance with State and Federal reporting requirements.

Recruitment Specialist - Designs, coordinates, administers, and implements various human resources programs such as recruitment, selection, and employee relations to effectively staff and retain the City of Victoria's team of employees. Responsible for establishing and maintaining resources (colleges, high schools, trade schools, Workforce Solutions, etc.) to promote the City as an Employer of Choice and to provide a sufficient pool of qualified candidates for various positions. Works closely with the Director of Human Resources and other members of the Human Resources department and City departments to ensure that appropriate candidates are communicated with and taken through the hiring process effectively and efficiently.

Training & Development Specialist - Designs, coordinates, administers, and implements strategies for training initiatives, including leadership and employee development, at all levels. Responsible for establishing and maintaining employee development that helps promote the City as an Employer of Choice. Works closely with the Director of Human Resources and other members of the Human Resources/Safety department and City departments to ensure that training and development of employee population is connected to the City’s vision and goals.