Director of Human Resources - Denver International Airport

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. What We Offer The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization between $135,000-$177,000 We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to: A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 457B Retirement Plan 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date Location & Schedule The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. In this position you can expect to work onsite at Denver International Airport (DEN) 3–4 days per week. Specific scheduling requirements for this position include availability during core business hours and occasional evening or weekend support during operational needs or emergencies. Who We Are & What You’ll Do About DEN Denver International Airport (DEN) is the third busiest airport in the United States and one of the top ten busiest airports in the world, connecting our community globally through flight and business. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $36.4 billion for the region annually and employing nearly 40,000 people. We are currently seeking a Director of Human Resources to join our team! As the Director of Human Resources, you will lead a group of HR Business Partners, overseeing HR strategy, labor and employee relations, employee experience and engagement, and workforce planning. You will serve as a strategic advisor to DEN executive leadership, aligning HR practices with airport-wide goals and operational excellence. The ideal Strategic HR Director will be able to think big but also dive deep, with a strong HR toolkit and proven track record of delivering results.

Requirements

• 10 years of professional level human resource experience
• Proven experience driving HR strategy in large, complex, and operationally intensive environments (i.e. airport, transportation, or public sector)
• Deep expertise in HR leadership, employee relations, organizational development, and workforce engagement
• A strong change agent who can challenge the status quo, has courage of convictions to express views openly, independently, and with confidence
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of an organization
• Experience using data and metrics to drive HR strategy, decision-making and business solutions
• Prior strong experience managing staff and leading and developing a high-performing HR team, fostering their professional growth and ensuring the HR function delivers exceptional service and support to the organization
• Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Experience Requirement: Five (5) years of professional level human resources experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included management of subordinate supervisors.

Responsibilities

• Leading, mentoring, and developing an HR Business Partner team to deliver data-driven insights, ensuring compliance, and enhancing employee engagement to support strategic company objectives.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to DEN executive leadership on organizational and people issues.
• Collaborate with citywide HR leadership, including the Office of Human Resources (OHR), to implement enterprise-wide initiatives and ensure compliance with city policies and employment laws.
• Translate DEN’s strategic objectives into a cohesive multi-year HR strategy that strengthens operational excellence, workforce readiness, and organizational performance.
• Set a clear vision for HR service delivery and hold the team accountable for high performance, strong partnership, and measurable business outcomes.
• Leverage workforce analytics and people metrics to diagnose trends, build business cases, and influence executive decision-making.
• Partner with DEN operational leaders to redesign teams, structures, and workflows to improve efficiency and performance, while leading change management strategies for major airport-wide initiatives.
• Shape and lead DEN’s approach to complex employee and labor relations matters, ensuring consistent, equitable, and compliant practices.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including compensation, benefits, and leave programs.
• Build strong, trust-based partnerships with business leaders, frontline teams, unions, and key stakeholders, establishing HR as a proactive, solutions-oriented partner.
• Develop clear, concise executive-level communications such as workforce dashboards, briefings, and strategic recommendations that support informed decision-making.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director