HR Policy Manager

Human Resources Division
HR Policy Manager
Administrator VII

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Branch is one of the state's largest employers with 45,000 employees that span 11 secretariats and 70 plus agencies. From accountants to X-ray technicians with hundreds of titles in between, we are one employer with many career opportunities. The Commonwealth is looking for leaders, thinkers, creators, and innovators. We are a diverse workforce that reflects the diverse population that we serve.

The mission of the Human Resources Division (HRD) is to attract, engage, educate, develop, and retain a high performing and diverse workforce. 

The Commonwealth offers competitive, comprehensive benefits, a diverse and inclusive culture, and an opportunity to serve. We share a commitment to make Massachusetts a great place to live, work, and raise a family – while delivering a customer-service-oriented state government that is as hard-working as the people of the Commonwealth.

Job Summary:

As the HR Policy Manager, you are a senior member of the Policy, Classification & Compensation Unit (C&C), reporting directly to the Director of Policy, Classification & Compensation. In this role, you will lead the development, modernization, and implementation of HR policies.
C&C’s work spans three interconnected areas:

• Policy creation and development: Designing, updating, and implementing HR policies that support modern, equitable, and effective workforce practices.
• Strategy and innovation: Maintaining, updating, and innovating the Commonwealth’s classification system and compensation structures in order to hire and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce.
• Compliance and oversight: Ensuring all salary administration, classification decisions, and hiring practices align with relevant laws, policies, collective bargaining agreements, and other HR guidelines.

You will own the full policy lifecycle, from researching and drafting through engagement, implementation, and continuous improvement, while serving as a trusted advisor to Commonwealth agencies.

C&C is a small team that works closely together to deliver services to our constituent agencies. While your role will focus on HR policy, key projects and initiatives, we are an “all hands-on deck” unit and often pitch in to help each other.

Responsibilities:

• Lead HR policy development and modernization

• Research, analyze, and draft new and revised HR policies and procedures

• Translate legal requirements, collective bargaining agreements, and operational needs into clear, practical policy guidance

• Continuously evaluate and improve existing policies based on feedback from secretariat and agency HR, data, and best practices

• Ensure HR policies remain current and accessible

• Drive policy implementation and change management

• Lead the rollout of new and updated policies across executive departments, in partnership with secretariat and agency HR

• Establish and implement policy acknowledgment processes to promote awareness, accountability, and consistent adoption of HR policies across executive department agencies

• Develop communication strategies to ensure clear understanding and adoption

• Create supporting materials such as guidance documents, FAQs, and training resources

• Partner closely with the Office of Emplo