Acting Human Resources Director Waylen Leopoldino was awarded the permanent position on Friday, eight months after he assumed the acting role when the former director retired.
The Merit Appeals Board unanimously approved naming Leopoldino, the former deputy director, to the position after undergoing the required recruitment process.
Leopoldino has served in various capacities in the department since 2014, with a one-year break in 2018 when he worked as a senior human resources analyst for the City and County of San Francisco.
Board Chairwoman Gabriella Cabanas praised Leopoldino for his leadership.
“You’ve done it with the support of the staff,” Cabanas said. “This is really a historic day for the department and for you in your professional career.”
The department is currently under scrutiny in a followup audit after a scathing 2017 audit found favoritism in county hiring.
The audit found cases in some departments where applicants were offered positions before interviews were conducted, where no references were checked, where the number of interviews were the same as vacancies even though there was a large referred list, where a random number generator, instead of a skills test, was used to winnow applicants, where applications with mainland addresses were discarded and other questionable practices.
Leopoldino will be sworn in Wednesday. The position pays $128,628 annually leading a department of about 50 employees.
“I had faith that you would make a great pick,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “It feels like you’ve been here for most of my administration already and this is just making it official.”
Leopoldino said he was humbled by his selection. He said he didn’t invite his family to the Friday Merit Appeals Board meeting because he wasn’t sure how the selection process would come out.
“I think you all understand my position in protecting and upholding the merit system and that is my priority going forward,” he said, promising to offer “consistent, honest opinions.”
The Human Resources management programs include major functional areas such as recruitment, administrative services, compensation and benefits, health and safety, employee and labor relations, organizational and personnel development.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
