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Commission promotes in-house HR generalist and authorizes external recruitment for HR director
Summary
Facing multiple HR departures, the Pennington County Commission promoted an internal staffer to HR generalist and authorized an external recruitment (with internal posting option) for a permanent HR director; board also approved a revised HR director job description and a recruitment plan using an outside HR firm.
Pennington County commissioners approved two personnel decisions designed to stabilize the county's human-resources operations and begin a formal search for a permanent HR director. The board promoted the county's recruiter/social-media manager, Sage Nichols, to an HR generalist role with an immediate pay adjustment after commissioners heard staff had performed generalist duties in recent months.
Commissioners then approved a revised HR director job description (minor edits to clarify duties and flexibility on educational/experience requirements) and authorized the commission office to initiate recruitment for the HR director. The board directed that the vacancy be advertised internally and externally and authorized using an external HR firm to handle outreach, prescreening and background checks; the board said internal county applicants should be considered and given opportunity to apply.
Commissioners described the search as a priority because the county has operated without a permanent HR director for several months and recent resignations left the office thin. Jordan, the commission director, told the board the county intends to rely on an experienced external recruiter to produce a vetted short-list; commissioners said they would participate in final interviews and requested frequent updates as candidates are screened.
"We need somebody who can come in and stabilize HR and help implement the structural changes we've discussed," one commissioner said. The board stressed the hire should not be political and should be based on qualifications and fit with county operations.
The county will advertise the position and expect at least a 30-day posting cycle; the board authorized outsourcing the recruitment tasks to a specialized firm to speed the search and provide prescreening and background services.
