Human Resources

Department Responsibilities

The mission of the human resources department (HR) is to provide our customers
– management, the roughly 1,000 employees and retirees, applicants and the general public – with efficient, effective and courteous human resources services within legal, professional and ethical parameters.

The department coordinates and administers the recruitment, screening, selection, and onboarding of new employees, consistent with federal and state laws and local civil service ordinance. It manages the classification, promotion, transfer, evaluation, rate of pay and special pays of employees consistent with union contract provisions, civil service rules and city goals and objectives.

HR administers compensation and benefit plans for employees consistent with contract provisions and applicable laws, including leave benefits, tuition reimbursement, deferred compensation, and special pays. This includes 53 different health plans that provide health, dental, vision, life and supplemental insurance for all employees and retirees including monthly billings, liaison duties with providers, and processing of employee/retiree status changes, including Medicare A, B & D (dependents and beneficiaries, etc.). The office maintains applicant, employee and retiree records.

HR assists in negotiating, interpreting and administering nine (9) union contracts, resolving grievances and participating in Act 312 and grievance arbitration.

HR provides counseling and assistance to department heads and employees relevant to
personnel issues and coordinates/facilitates training to meet department and city needs.

The department reports and/or monitors workers’ compensation and unemployment
compensation claims with third party administrators; ensures compliance with the Affordable Care Act, MIOSHA, accident/injury policies and procedures, and collective
bargaining agreements; performs liaison duties with workers’ compensation clinics for employee injuries, new hire physicals and DOT drug testing program and requirements.

HR develops, distributes and monitors city policies such as sexual harassment, EEO, ADA, Family and Medical Leave Act, workplace violence, employee assistance, drug free workplace, nepotism, etc.

The human resources department staffs the Civil Service Board and Fire Civil Service Commission. It also provides representation to employee teams, safety committees and the city-sponsored health & wellness center.

Employment Opportunities

Visit the job openings page to review descriptions of current municipal government job openings with the City of Royal Oak. These descriptions are also available in the Human Resources Department and are posted on bulletin boards in City buildings. The descriptions include the title of the job opening, examples of duties and responsibilities, qualifications needed to apply, compensation and the deadline by which applications must be received.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Royal Oak is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Discrimination against any person in recruitment, examination, appointment, training, promotion, retention or any other personnel action because of political or religious opinions or affiliations or because of race, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, or any other non-merit factor is prohibited.

The City advertises on this website, city Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin pages, Indeed, Ziprecruiter, Michigan Municipal League, college career portals, and professional association websites and Michigan Works! on an as needed basis. Interested parties should watch for advertisements, or contact the Human Resources department for a time frame pertaining to when applications for a specific position will be posted.

Applications for Employment

If you wish to apply for any of the positions currently being advertised, you need to fill out an official application form. Application forms and guidelines for filling them out are available through are careers portal. If you are unable to/have difficulty to complete an online application, please contact us at 248-246-3070 or by email: humanresources@romi.gov. Please note that the Royal Oak Library provides free internet access that can be used to fill out an online application.  

Applications are only accepted for currently advertised vacancies.

Application Review

Applications are reviewed for minimum qualifications. Candidates are then scheduled for an examination and/or interview, and placed on an eligibility list, which is usually good for one year. The Department Head notifies applicants for a final interview as vacancies arise.

Employee & Retiree Benefits

If you are an employee or retiree of the City of Royal Oak and have questions relating to insurance or other benefits, call 248-246-3070.

Click Here (external link - opens in new window) for the Payer Transparency File Application for our Self Funded Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI Medical Insurance (WARNING THIS IS AN EXTREMELY  LARGE FILE THAT REQUIRES SUBSTANTIAL MEMORY TO OPEN)

Please note: Questions about retirement checks, retiree financial statements or other retirement related financial matters should be directed to the City's Finance Department at 248-246-3030.