Josephine County authorizes new HR Risk, Safety and ADA coordinator position

The Josephine County Board of County Commissioners on July 30 authorized Human Resources to replace a vacant Human Resources Analyst classification with a Human Resources Risk, Safety, and ADA Coordinator and to proceed with recruitment.

Interim Human Resources Director Natalie Eckhardt-Doupe said the proposed coordinator “would be responsible for higher-risk and more complex program areas, including County risk management, workplace safety, workers' compensation, Americans with Disabilities Act coordination, employee education and training, and assistance with questions from employees and members of the public.” Finance Director Matt Eide reviewed staffing history and reported that "The County employed approximately 430 people, representing 400.085 full-time equivalents as of the end of June." The Board authorized the change “without objection.”

Eckhardt-Doupe told commissioners the coordinator would not increase the department’s authorized full-time-equivalent count or adopted expenditures and that the position was intended to improve consistency, reduce organizational risk, and relieve workload pressures on existing HR staff. She proposed posting the job for approximately 12 days and attempting to fill it in time for an August 24, 2026 start; she added that missing that date would likely delay the next practical orientation until mid-September because the following scheduled orientation falls during the Labor Day closure.

Commissioners emphasized that the analyst classification remains important to support paid-leave administration, employee benefits, compensation changes and other personnel processes; Eckhardt-Doupe said existing staff could provide temporary coverage but that Human Resources anticipates requesting an additional analyst through a future supplemental budget. The Board did not open a supplemental-budget process at the meeting.