HR Operations is a consolidated entity that originates and leads Human Resources practices and objectives. The division fosters an employee-oriented, high performance culture that emphasizes goal attainment, team spirit, superior customer service, quality work, high efficiency and productivity.
HR Operations Objectives
- Supports city departments with reliable and responsive HR service; aligns programs with overall department’s HR goals and priorities.
- Streamlines processes and develops metrics; identifies opportunities for improvement.
- Plans, develops, implements, and monitors various strategic HR initiatives, activities, programs, and systems to meet the department’s needs.
- Effectively administers and implements the city and departmental policies and procedures; timely processes Family Medical Leave Requests and various personnel actions; ensures that the practice is in compliance with Federal and State regulations and laws.
- Develops positive and professional working relationships with internal/external business partners and customers.
- Attracts and retains a diverse workforce for the client departments.
Senior Staff
View the HR Operations organizational chart.
Iashia Robertson
Assistant Director
On-Boarding & Verification Services, Shared Services, Staffing & Drug Testing
Jessica Cooper
Client Relations Manager
City and Community Services Cluster / CTR, FMD, GSD, DON & PDD
Jacque Ray
Sr. Client Relations Manager
Houston Fire Department, Houston Emergency Center
Rennice Smith
Sr. Division Manager
Client Relations
& Supporting
Business Administration &
Processing Cluster
Marsha Arbuckle
Client Relations Manager
Environmental Services Cluster / Solid Waste Management
Ceasar De La Rosa
Client Relations Manager
Environmental Services Cluster | Parks & Recreation Department
Client Services
Client Services, comprised of Client Relations Managers (CRMs) and Senior Client Relations Managers (Sr. CRMs), is the command center of HR Operations. CRMs act as immediate first-contact resources to department directors, designees and liaisons for all HR matters.
Additionally, CRMs oversee the daily operations of their respective groups, ensuring that the HR business needs of each client department are effectively met.
Employee Relations
The Employee Relations section of General Relations ensures all employee relations activities are compliant with applicable city policies/procedures, Code of Ordinances, federal, state and local laws and regulations. It is also the city’s agent for sustaining effective employment relationships in the workplace.
General Relations / Staffing
The Staffing section of General Relations is responsible for staffing the city’s departments with top talent and provides recruitment of high level candidates for the clients they serve through comprehensive postings, sourcing and high level screening techniques of applicants.
Shared Services
Shared Services teams are responsible for the effective processing of personnel actions that result from employment status changes such as promotions, transfers, terminations, salary increases and leaves of absence. Other services provided by Shared Services teams include the requisitioning of temporary employees and administering Family Medical Leave.
Shared Services teams work collaboratively with their client(s) to provide a high level of communication and a well-regimented partnership.
On-Boarding & Verification Services
Formerly Employment Resource & Services (ERS), On-Boarding & Verification Services (OVS) provides a broad range of services to ensure applicants, candidates for employment and current City of Houston employees are aware of policies and procedures relative to application submissions, employment eligibility requirements, and management of employee data.
An integral function of OVS is the certification and maintenance of information and processes which deem an employee to be in compliance with city, state and federal employment guidelines as careers begin and are advanced within the City of Houston.
Classified Careers & Services
Classified Careers & Services (CCS) supports the Houston Fire Department through Classified Recruiting, Classified Reinstatement, Classified & Civilian Staffing and Classified Promotions.
While the overall scope of responsibility to the City of Houston and the Houston Fire Department is wide ranging, CCS strives to professionally manage each component of its tasks efficiently, dedicated to ensure the client receives the utmost customer services.
Classified Testing
Classified Testing provides professional testing services which support the hiring and promotional process of the Houston Fire Department and Houston Police Department. Classified Testing’s mission is to implement professional testing practices which align with industry standards in order to ensure the best candidates are identified to serve as the City of Houston’s public safety representatives.
Executive Talent Acquisition
Executive Talent Acquisition delivers quality executive recruitment services for all city departments and aims to find top-tier applicants to fill executive level positions across the city through effective social media recruitment campaigns to seek out qualified candidates for hard-to-fill positions.
Drug Testing Team
The Physical Exam and Drug Testing section of the On-Boarding & Verification Services division is responsible for conducting physical screenings and drug tests. While physical screenings are conducted on police, fire, aquatics, and 911 telecommunications applicants and employees only, drug tests are given to all applicants and city employees.
Bereavement Services
The City of Houston bereavement liaison is here to help when a city employee or a member of the employee’s immediate family dies. The bereavement liaison is your single point of contact to help you navigate through the various benefits and services available.
