City human resources director takes Raleigh post
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on January 8, 2017 2:29 AM
Goldsboro Human Resources Director Faye Caviness has accepted a position with the city of Raleigh and will step down from her post on Jan. 27.
Caviness, a city employee of 16 years, will start as a human resources business partner in Raleigh in early February.
"Of course, leaving is bittersweet," she said. "I've worked with my colleagues a long time. I'm also grateful to be given the opportunity as director to grow. I'll definitely miss everyone here.
"It's been exciting and challenging, at the same time, but I'm looking forward to a new challenge and a new professional chapter in my life."
Caviness, originally from Alabama, started working in Goldsboro as a purchasing agent in the finance department, in 2000. She was later promoted to human resources director in 2008.
The decision to work in Raleigh is connected to a family move to the Triangle.
"It's really for personal and professional reasons," she said. "My family decided to move to Durham."
Caviness will be one of the city of Raleigh's three human resource business partners, who work under the human resources director. Her tentative start date is Feb. 6.
She will be working as a strategic partner to Raleigh's assistant city manager, who oversees five city departments and more than 1,100 full-time employees -- nearly three times as many employees as Goldsboro's workforce of 415.
"I'll be involved with those 1,100 employees and identifying and analyzing human resource needs," she said. "It will be a full range of human resource consultant services. It's still with HR and helping with personnel issues and benefits, advocating for employees and managers. It's still HR, just on a different scale for me."
Pamela Leake, senior human resource analyst, will be the city's interim director after Caviness leaves.
The city is currently searching for a new director, and expected to accept applications for at least the next two months, said Scott Stevens, city manager.
The hiring salary range is between $77,696 and $122,760. City leaders are seeking someone with a four-year college degree with a major in human resources management, public administration, business or human service and 10 years of experience in personnel management,
"I've enjoyed working with Faye," Stevens said. "She's been a good director for us. I'm sorry to see her go, but she thinks it's a good opportunity for her and her family."
The city also searching for a director to oversee its public works and public utilities departments, in a newly created combined role.
Stevens said he could start considering applicants later in the month. The position opened up following the October retirement of Karen Brashear, public utilities director, and the resignation of Jose Martinez, public works director, who now works for the town of Apex.
Richard Fletcher is the interim public works director, and Michael Wagner is the interim public utilities director.