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How to hire a director of personnel

Director of personnel hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring directors of personnel in the United States:

  • There are currently 76,908 directors of personnel in the US, as well as 15,302 job openings.
  • Directors of personnel are in the highest demand in Irvine, CA, with 2 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a director of personnel is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new director of personnel to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a director of personnel, step by step

To hire a director of personnel, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a director of personnel:

Here's a step-by-step director of personnel hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a director of personnel job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of personnel
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a director of personnel, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A director of personnel's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, directors of personnel from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    Here's a comparison of director of personnel salaries for various roles:

    Type of Director Of PersonnelDescriptionHourly rate
    Director Of PersonnelHuman resources managers plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization. They oversee the recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new staff; consult with top executives on strategic planning; and serve as a link between an organization’s management and its employees.$21-56
    Human Resources SupervisorA human resources supervisor is a professional responsible for developing and administering human resources programs so that the company can achieve efficient operations. Human resources supervisors coordinate all stages of the hiring process, such as checking all candidates' backgrounds, conducting interviews, and drug screening... Show more$22-42
    Human Resources Vice PresidentHuman resources (HR) vice presidents play a vital role in the effective administration and operation of an organization's HR department. These executives are responsible for directing an organization's staffing goals and developing strategies to support the company's profitable and productive business operations... Show more$55-118
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Payroll Processing
    • Safety Program
    • Personnel Policies
    • Disciplinary Procedures
    • Human Resource Functions
    • Workers Compensation
    • Training Programs
    • Organizational Objectives
    • EEO
    • Labor Relations
    • Disciplinary Actions
    • Background Checks
    • Professional Development
    • Performance Management
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage personnel time, payroll through ADP, personnel, & HDFC insurance policies.
    • Manage HRIS and payroll systems, ensure timely entry of data, provide reports and certify payroll.
    • Manage UAB and HSF faculty recruitment, staffing needs, terminations, compensation, records management, employee relations and retention.
    • Direct the implementation of a new HRIS system.
    • Process and review all FMLA's, personal leaves of absences and emergency leaves.
    • Implement EEO initiatives according to government contract requirements.
    More director of personnel duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your director of personnel job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A director of personnel salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a director of personnel in Louisiana may be lower than in California, and an entry-level director of personnel usually earns less than a senior-level director of personnel. Additionally, a director of personnel with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average director of personnel salary

    $73,637yearly

    $35.40 hourly rate

    Entry-level director of personnel salary
    $45,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 18, 2025

    Average director of personnel salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$113,607$55
    2New York$97,968$47
    3District of Columbia$75,462$36
    4Florida$66,795$32
    5Illinois$66,497$32
    6North Carolina$64,792$31
    7Texas$57,546$28
    8Missouri$53,704$26

    Average director of personnel salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Star One Realtors$73,811$35.49
    2UC Santa Barbara$57,526$27.66
    3University of North Carolina$57,067$27.44
    4CA BOCES$53,992$25.96
    5City of St. Louis$45,348$21.80
  4. Writing a director of personnel job description

    A good director of personnel job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a director of personnel job description:

    Director of personnel job description example

    Posting Details

    I. JOB OVERVIEW

    Job Description Summary:

    The George Washington University Office of Faculty Affairs provides innovative resources and meaningful guidance to ensure that all faculty members and librarians thrive throughout their life cycle at the university and are well-positioned to transform students into citizen-leaders through high-quality instruction and expand the frontiers of knowledge through faculty scholarship and research. From recruitment to retirement and beyond, Faculty Affairs works collaboratively with all campus stakeholders to establish and maintain a vibrant, diverse, inclusive, and internationally recognized academic community of scholars at the university.

    Reporting to the Executive Director, Faculty Affairs, the Director for Full-Time Faculty Personnel Administration partners with schools and colleges as well as with other departmental staff to coordinate and administer duties pertaining to the life cycle of GW's full-time faculty members. The incumbent is responsible for the following:

    • Manages the generation and dissemination of faculty appointment letters; ensuring that data are correctly entered into Banner, letters are created, proofed, mailed, and scanned to departments
    • Assists in the annual merit allocation process, including working with schools to collect and review merit allocations and to create appropriate files and reports;
    • Oversees timely follow-through on all faculty workforce actions, i.e., change of status, supplemental compensation, overload compensation, summer compensation, reimbursement of faculty relocation expenses, and corrections to payroll accounts;
    • Maintains up-to-date information and files related to faculty appointments and reappointments; for example, tenure probationary periods, promotions, sabbatical eligibility, leave status, retirement schedules, and emeritus requests;
    • Generates applicable reports as necessary for the overall management of faculty workforce administration, including reports related to tenure and promotion, sabbaticals, supplemental compensation, faculty workload and others.
    • Works continually with HRIS, DIT, and other departments to investigate technology solutions, including developing and updating existing electronic systems, to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of faculty appointment and compensation processes.
    • Supports the Executive Director by managing day-to-day operations of the Office of Faculty Affairs; including identifying and setting measurable goals, targets and deadlines.
    • Provides oversight and supervision of support staff, including establishing goals/expectations and learning opportunities to support accuracy and timely completion of all assigned duties.
    • Develops and maintains strong ties with administrators, schools, and departmental stakeholders to improve communication and outreach, promote an understanding of and adherence to annual deadlines, and obtain timely feedback for process improvements.
    • Works in partnership with the schools and departments to develop and update systems/processes and provides training, as needed, to ensure accuracy and timely processing of forms and requests.
    • Contributes to and participates in University-related projects as requested.
    • Uses excellent written and verbal communication to communicate clearly and professionally with staff and stakeholders at all levels
    • Keeps department and school administrators informed about process and systems changes in the administration and all aspects of the full-time faculty life cycle; responds to requests for information in a timely and professional manner.
    • Works with other Faculty Affairs staff to update the relevant sections of the Faculty Affairs website.


    The position is based at GW's Foggy Bottom Campus in Washington, DC. The incumbent may perform other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

    Minimum Qualifications:

    Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 6 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master's degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 4 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

    Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:

    Preferred Qualifications:
    • Experience in a higher education institution working with faculty, including research faculty
    • Thorough knowledge of HR policies, procedures, and practices, benefit programs, HRIS systems, salary administration, relocation procedures, etc.
    • Demonstrated ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment in an organized and efficient
      manner
    • A proactive, service-oriented manner and ability to deal effectively with stakeholders demands
    • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and
      PowerPoint


    Typical Hiring Range
    Commensurate with Experience

    II. JOB DETAILS

    Campus Location:
    Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

    College/School/Department:
    Academic Affairs

    Family
    Academic Affairs

    Sub-Family
    Faculty Affairs

    Stream
    Management

    Level
    Level 2

    Full-Time/Part-Time:
    Full-Time

    Hours Per Week:
    40+

    Work Schedule:
    Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 5:00pm

    Will this job require the employee to work on site?
    Yes

    Employee Onsite Status
    Hybrid

    Telework:
    No

    Required Background Check:
    Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

    Special Instructions to Applicants:

    Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

    Internal Applicants Only?
    No

    Posting Number:
    S011441

    Job Open Date:
    09/02/2022

    Job Close Date:

    If temporary, grant funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:

    Background Screening
    Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

    EEO Statement:

    The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
  5. Post your job

    To find the right director of personnel for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with directors of personnel they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit directors of personnel who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your director of personnel job on Zippia to find and recruit director of personnel candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as hrcrossing, ihirehr, hrjobs, shrm hr jobs.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit directors of personnel, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of personnel

    Once you've selected the best director of personnel candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a director of personnel?

There are different types of costs for hiring directors of personnel. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new director of personnel employee.

You can expect to pay around $73,637 per year for a director of personnel, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for directors of personnel in the US typically range between $21 and $56 an hour.

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