- Home
- Departments
- Human Resources
Human Resources
Mission
The Human Resources Department provides consultation and support to current, future and past staff. The Department helps create a safe and healthy work environment encouraging personal and professional growth and opportunity while meeting the City's mission in serving the citizens of Missoula. In addition, it is our mission to be excellent stewards of the resources and funds we have been entrusted with not only to be fiscally responsible, but also to ensure sustainability of the City’s investments.
Vision
The City of Missoula Human Resources Department cultivates a welcoming environment for all staff to understand the services provided and seek trustworthy information to build professional and personal successes throughout their career with the City. The Department is a strategic partner working to ensure the goals and mission of the City are met while protecting the organization's greatest asset, the people, through effective risk management practices.
Core Values
Integrity: We are trustworthy and honest in all actions we take. We are accountable and work to make ethical and legal decisions in all circumstances.
Competence: We honor continued education and understand the importance of ensuring our practices are effective and progressive. We take personal responsibility for developing ourselves as professionals.
Service: Our success comes from seeing others succeed. We provide timely and accurate service to all who connect with our department while honoring differences among those we serve. In addition, we aim to be data-driven and use key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness and efficiencies of the services we provide.
Safety/Wellness: Using a holistic approach, we limit risk through education and support, while accommodating the needs of staff to successfully build and maintain a culture of safety and wellness
Inclusion/Diversity: We recognize the rights of all individuals and advocate for mutual respect. We commit to accepting others without biases based on individual differences.
Contact Us
-
Angela Simonson
Chief Human Resources Officer
Email435 Ryman St.
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 552-6130
Fax: (406) 327-2151
TTY Phone: (406) 552-6131
Meet Our Team
- Angela Simonson
- Dalton Johnson
- Emmalee Plenger
- Jacki Odgren
- Kay James
- Mike Brady
- Shawnae stanton
- Sheri Hansen
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
Angela (she/hers/her) brings over 12 years of experience providing Human Resource services in both the private and public sectors. She earned her Bachelor’s in Social Work and her Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Montana and currently holds numerous national HR certifications. She is a servant leader who is passionate about educating employees and managers on legal and best practices found within high functioning organizations and takes a practical approach to Human Resources while working to help managers build and maintain effective workforces—their greatest asset! When she isn’t providing services to the City of Missoula, she is at work in her garden and spending time with her busy family.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Develop and implement a HR plan that aligns with the overall mission and strategy of the City.
- Provide HR guidance on special projects, talent reviews, training, change management, organizational design and strategic HR planning.
- Develop comprehensive approaches for employee development, retention, and onboarding by refining or creating: compensation and benefits, career paths and employee development, succession planning, and learning opportunities appropriate to the needs of the City.
- Respond to HR demands of the City; assist in articulating HR policy at all levels.
- Manage labor relations to ensure a partnership between the City and employee bargaining units; represent the City as chief spokesperson during collective bargaining.
- Coach and counsel management in developing themselves and their teams to achieve improved performance and engagement.
- Counsel, coach and guide managers and staff in addressing concerns and complaints to assure fair and equitable treatment while ensuring compliance with labor agreements, HR policies, and relevant regulations.
- Mediate employee relations and performance issues while providing counsel to managers on appropriate methods of performance management.
HUMAN RESOURCE GENERALIST II
Dalton (he/him/his), is a skillful leader dedicated to growing and sustaining effective working relationships while supporting collaboration across all organizational levels. He encourages all city employees to learn from our community, to grow and strengthen service delivery, and invite open communication. These endeavors reflect his commitment to transforming and redesigning how government works using Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion as a focal point. Dalton is currently pursuing a Master's of Public Administration from the University of Montana; he received a B.A. in Organizational Communication, minored in Non-Profit Administration, and holds an Associate degree in Accounting and Business Technology.
Roy is a 7-year-old Siberian Husky, who accompanies Dalton. As Chief Happiness Officer, Roy’s only job is to spread joy and bring a smile to people's faces wherever he goes. He enjoys meeting new people and receiving scratches behind the ear.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Develop strong relationships with City leadership and managers throughout the organization to help drive and influence results for a human-centered government.
- Develop, maintain, and analyze various analytical and operational reports within HR which provide operational information and statistical data for management/department use; lead EEO-4 Data collection and reporting.
- Provide guidance and recommendations for current and future operational/administrative policy, procedures, requirements, and guidelines, including assisting with implementation.
- Implement vision, strategies, plans, and goals of the City throughout the employee life cycle; Leads development and implementation of the internal onboarding process for all new hires.
- Attend and participate in employee disciplinary meetings, performance improvement, terminations, and investigations; assist with the interactive process for accommodations under the Americans with Disability Act; assist with labor relations to include interpretation and compliance with Collective Bargaining Agreements.
- Monitor and administers the electronic Performance Evaluation software program and internal processes for formal performance evaluations.
- Represent HR in meetings with the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commission and other City entities as assigned.
RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST
Emmalee Plenger brings over 25 years of Human Resource experience to the City of Missoula serving as the Recruitment Specialist. Having worked for the Montana University System in Bozeman and Missoula, she brings the skills and experience of payroll, benefits, staff training, and recruitment. She has been an employee of integrity that follows the Mission and Vision of each institution.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Create targeted job postings to capture the attention of qualified applicants.
- Implement efficient and effective recruiting methods based on the specific position/industry to ensure the creation of a diverse and highly-qualified pool.
- Assist managers in developing screening criteria used for the application review and interviewing processes, reviewing managers’ selection justifications, and conducting reference and background while confirming the hiring process is in compliance with all laws, policies and Collective Bargaining Agreements.
- Collaborate with managers and other Human Resource staff to assist with identifying starting salaries, incentives, start dates, benefits, targeted recruitment efforts, and other details.
- Collect recruitment and hiring data for tracking key departmental performance metrics.
- Provide guidance to hiring managers on best practices for onboarding and serve as a member of the New Employee Experience team.
HUMAN RESOURCE GENERALIST
Jacki comes to the City with a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. She is passionate about working with people and for a city she shares personal and professional values with. She enjoys the many areas of growth and opportunity the Human Resources profession offers! Jacki brings a strong background in coordinating and communicating multiple, on-going projects and thrives in environments that are engaging, supportive and meaningful. Outside of work, you will find her hiking, baking, gardening, meeting new people and exploring all Missoula has to offer!
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Develop strong relationships with City leadership and managers throughout the organization to help drive and influence results for a human-centered government.
- Provide guidance and recommendations for current and future operational/administrative policy, procedures, requirements, and guidelines, including assisting with implementation.
- Attend and participate in employee disciplinary meetings, performance improvement, terminations, and investigations.
- Assist with the interactive process for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act along with labor relations, to include interpretation and compliance with Collective Bargaining Agreements.
- Manage FMLA for assigned departments, ensuring compliance is met.
- Act as Wellness Coordinator for the City's Wellness Program by developing and carrying out program initiatives, as they relate to a holistic approach for employee wellness.
BENEFITS SPECIALIST
Kay James has 18 years of Human Resource experience, along with 10 years in other capacities at the University of Montana, Missoula County and the City of Missoula. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and graduate coursework in Anthropology. She was also on the Clinton Elementary School board for 10 years. Kay has worked to improve working relationships and conditions of employment in all of her capacities. When not at work, Kay is spending time with her grandchildren passing along understandings and beliefs of tolerance and inclusion.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Administer employee benefits programs, including eligibility determination, new hire enrollments and processing life claims.
- Provide guidance and instructions to employees for life changes.
- Provide support with administering protected and personal leaves of absence.
- Process requests, monitor and track Donated Leave.
- Coordinate services of Allegiance Benefit Plan Management and MPERA (Montana Public Employee Administration).
- Maintain health screening tracking for the reduced deductible health plan.
- Process retiree health insurance payments & health reconciliation.
RISK AND SAFETY MANAGER
Mike has been the Risk/Safety Manager since December of 2019, having served over 30 years in law enforcement with the City of Missoula. Prior to that Mike worked for both Missoula and Mineral counties after earning his BA in Social Work from the University of Montana.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Manage insurance and safety issues which may expose the City to liability and claims.
- Serve as the Health Plan Administrator of the City's self-funded insurance benefit program.
- Oversee management of the City’s Workers’ Compensation programs; serve as liaison with the insurance provider.
- Manage private security hired to screen entry to City Hall and downtown facilities.
- Lead City Wide Safety committee and oversight of the City Safety Plan.
- Evaluate impact of policy, practice and legislation on the City’s insurance, safety and Workers' Compensation programs.
- Review, analyze and evaluate City safety, emergency and disaster plans which are under current development.
HR COORDINATOR
Shawnae comes to the City with a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and 6 years of prior HR experience focused on recruitment and onboarding. She brings a strong background in process building and strives to help others in all aspects of their work life. Her passion for excellent customer service and drive for cultural competency has brought her back to serve her local community. Shawnae previously worked at Oregon State Parks and at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan.
Outside of her work passions, Shawnae is a book enthusiast and can be found with the latest novel or walking her dog through the farmer’s market.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Maintain all personnel files and employee data in various electronic systems.
- Create and maintain forms for use across all departments citywide.
- Maintain the HR webpage.
- Provide exceptional customer service, answering questions and connecting internal and external customers with the appropriate HR team members.
- Coordinate the onboarding of new hires from acceptance to first day logistics.
- Provide general assistance to the department on various projects as needed.
CLASSIFICATION SPECIALIST
Sheri Hansen has been a part of the Human Resources team for a little over 2 years; moving through the ranks from Administrative Assistant to her current role as Classification Specialist, she brings 20+ years of non-profit experience and a desire to find purpose and provide meaningful service to the community. In her continued journey with the City of Missoula she aims to help create an equitable environment through Compensation and Classification.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Evaluate positions to determine classification, and exempt or non-exempt status.
- Develop and maintain job descriptions to ensure accuracy of work performed.
- Maintain position details within the payroll and HR software system.
- Assess need for and develop job analysis instruments and materials.
- Coordinate regular salary surveys for City-wide compensation efforts.