City hires new Chief Human Resources Officer
David Bell brings 26 years of experience, most of it in the public sector
The City of Boulder announced today that it has hired a new Chief Human Resource Officer. David Bell, who currently oversees human resources (HR) for the Jefferson County School District, will assume the leadership role on July 11.
Bell was chosen after an intensive national search and will be a critical partner as Boulder seeks to recruit, support, and retain its greatest asset – city employees.
Bell brings 26 years of professional HR experience, with much of it in service to local government. For the past 15 years, he has worked for the school district, serving in progressively more complex roles. Previous employers included HR departments in Jefferson County and Whatcom County in Washington, as well as a variety of private sector employers.
With expertise in several timely, high-priority areas, including classification and compensation systems and fostering positive relationships with labor unions, Bell rose to the top in a competitive candidate pool. In previous leadership positions, he has demonstrated an ability to balance strategic thinking with detail-oriented support and brought a calm and stable presence in times of rapid change.
“I am excited to welcome David to our organization,” said City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde. “I was impressed by his clear knowledge of his field and his understanding of the challenges facing employers as we come out of this worldwide pandemic. He also struck me as approachable and able to participate in conversations as an active listener. These are traits I admire in a servant leader.”
Bell has a Master’s degree in community counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in English/journalism, both from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo.
“I am delighted to join a solid team of HR professionals and the engaged workforce in Boulder,” Bell said. “This is an organization that shares my values and continually strives to learn and improve. The times we are in call for creativity and collaboration in all areas of interest to employees. I look forward to being a part of these efforts.”
