What is a human resource director?

A human resource director is responsible for planning, leading, coordinating and developing policies and activities for the company’s HR department. As the head of the department, the HR director typically oversees the following roles:

• HR manager
• HR generalist
• HR business partner
• HR analyst

Their daily duties may include:

• Planning, directing and managing human resources initiatives
• Overseeing training, benefits and employee relations
• Advising managers on labor laws and company policies
• Ensuring employees comply with company policies
• Advising management about cultivating workplace culture
• Reporting on the progress of the HR department to the vice president and company collaborators
• Identifying hiring issues in the company and finding solutions
• Resolving disputes between employees
• Supporting the HR team when hiring for executive-level roles
• Analyzing hiring and performance data to find opportunities for improvement

The top skills to look for in an HR director

Carefully consider the interview questions you’re asking applicants to review these critical HR director skills. This can help you support your skills-first hiring efforts.

1. Communication skills

Communication is one of the core HR director competencies. Successful candidates must have strong written and verbal skills. Written communication is helpful for sending professional emails, outlining documents that dictate company policy and recording information on employee behavior regarding compliance. They also help the HR director share information clearly and succinctly to help employees maximize benefits and company resources.

Because the HR director typically oversees a team, helps with hiring, works closely with employees and collaborates with company leaders, verbal communication is equally important. The director must speak calmly and clearly when explaining company policies, interviewing candidates and enforcing personnel decisions.

Read more: Verbal Communication Skills: How to Interview for Them

2. Employee relations

HR directors motivate, counsel and guide HR staff and other managers. The candidate you hire for your HR director role should have strong interpersonal skills. Conflict resolution, empathy, patience and emotional intelligence can make it easier to communicate challenging topics with employees.

3. Onboarding

HR directors are generally responsible for onboarding employees. Depending on the size of your company and the HR team, the HR director may delegate interactions with new employees to an HR manager. However, the director typically oversees the process.

If your HR director handles onboarding, they are likely the first point of contact for new employees. They set the tone for the company culture and the employee experience. They should have the skills to create a positive impression, make new hires feel welcome and create a sense of trust.

Related: Onboarding Best Practices

4. Scheduling skills

Scheduling is an integral part of the HR director role, which means the successful candidate should have organizational skills. As the head of the HR department, the HR director may oversee the shifts and paid time off (PTO) of the other employees. They must consider labor rules, time-off requests and employee availability.

5. Knowledge of workers’ compensation

The HR department and its director are typically responsible for managing workers’ compensation claims to stay compliant. The HR director ensures your company has an adequate insurance policy.

They also assist in setting and enforcing policies, so if claims arise, they’re processed and handled promptly. HR directors typically have to be familiar with local and federal labor laws. During job interviews, consider asking HR director candidates if they’re familiar with workers’ compensation insurance policies and the claims process.

6. Project management

Whether HR directors are managing an inclusion initiative or developing resource plans, project management skills are essential to success in the role.

There are several subsets of project management skills that can be useful for HR directors:

• Budgeting skills: The HR director manages the finances and resources for the HR department.
• Time management skills: The HR director often divides their time between various projects and delegates accordingly to ensure deadlines are met.
• Leadership skills: The HR director is a decision-maker for the department and acts as an authority on company objectives. They must earn respect and demonstrate leadership to gain employees’ trust.

7. Human resources information software (HRIS)

A Human Resource Information System (HRIS), sometimes called Human Resource Management System (HRMS), is an important software program for HR directors. The system combines HR activities and information technology to meet a company’s core HR needs and improve productivity.

The system collects data about employees and manages all issues relating to human resources initiatives. Candidates skilled in HRIS software can generally process human resources data faster and extract useful insights.

HR director education and training

Even if you’re using a skills-based hiring approach to find an HR director, your company may also require a level of education and experience to qualify for the position. When writing your job description, clearly outline what training or certifications you expect from applicants. Stating these criteria explicitly can help filter applicants who don’t meet the requirements.

You might also consider certifications from accredited institutions, such as the HR Certification Institute or the Public Sector HR Association (PSHRA). Some elements of the position can only be learned in a work environment rather than an educational setting. For this reason, some employers may request past HR director experience or several years of experience reporting directly to an HR director, such as an HR manager or generalist.

Frequently asked questions about HR director skills

How can you assess HR director skills during the hiring process?

You might determine an applicant’s HR director skills from their resume and cover letter by reviewing the descriptions of past jobs. This section often showcases experience with skills such as writing, scheduling or project management.

To evaluate the candidate’s ability in each skill area, you can ask open-ended interview questions, examine sample work products or call references and past supervisors.

Can you train HR directors on relevant skills?

It’s possible to train HR director candidates on certain skills, such as using a specific HR software program. Other skills, such as managing employees, often require experience and formal training. Because the director is a high-level role, it can be more efficient to recruit candidates who already have essential abilities.