New HR director outlines recruiting push and expanded intern program

At the Jan. 14 Service Merit Board meeting, the HR director introduced herself and described recruitment and training plans intended to expand the city's talent pipeline and supervisory capacity.

Nancy (first name only in the transcript) said she joined the city as HR director after Drummond accepted a position with the Boys & Girls Club of America. "When the opportunity was presented to me, I said absolutely," she told the board, and she said one priority from the mayor is to focus on "becoming that employer of choice." Nancy said staff have booked spring career fairs at the University of Tennessee (UTK), University of Chattanooga (UC), Carson-Newman and Merrill College and that the 865 Academies program has moved fully under HR.

She described upcoming training, including a complimentary supervisor training tied to a hosted TASC event and several employees completing PATCHRA CP certification; two HR staff completed the certification and two others are undergoing it. On internships, Nancy said five Baker School interns will start placements on Feb. 2 across parks and rec, communications, fire, city court and neighborhood empowerment; she reported 14 interns total for the spring and said eight scribe positions will turn over from fall to spring.

Why it matters: The board heard these staffing and recruiting steps as part of efforts to strengthen city services and recruit for hard-to-fill roles. Nancy invited board members to flag topics the HR team should address at future meetings.

The presentation was informational; the board did not take formal action on these staffing items.