Westmoreland County commissioners on Monday named Amanda Bernard as the county’s new director of human resources, starting April 28.
It’s a return engagement for Bernard. She served in the position for about two years before she left for another job in 2020 and was replaced by Alexis Bevan, who formally resigned March 18.
“We are thrilled to have her back,” Commissioner Ted Kopas said. “(Bernard) is a seasoned HR executive, and the human resources office is in very good hands.”
The office that oversees Westmoreland County’s more than 1,800 employees will operate for the next month without a leadership team. Bevan’s former top deputy left county government in February. Bevan is off the county payroll as of March 28.
Commissioners said Lacey Perry, the office’s third in command, will serve as the department’s leader for the next four weeks.
During her tenure, Bevan oversaw labor talks with multiple unions representing about two-thirds of the county workforce and an ongoing restructuring of the pay scale that has resulted in increased salaries and bonuses to encourage job retention.
Commissioner Doug Chew praised Bevan’s efforts.
“Our HR department is bolstered by a group of experienced professionals. The commissioners’ suite and the solicitor’s office will work with them daily to resolve any concerns in a timely manner,” Chew said.
Bevan earned $92,775 as department director.
Bernard’s annual salary when she resigned from the position in 2020 was $71,296. Commissioners declined to disclose her new pay, saying it will be set at a public meeting in April.
According to payroll records, Bernard was first hired in 2012 by Westmoreland County as a clerk typist and was promoted to deputy chief clerk to the commissioners in 2014. She was named human resources coordinator for Westmoreland Manor, the county-owned nursing home, in 2016 and was tabbed to head the countywide employment office in 2018 when the county terminated a contract with a private consulting company that had been serving in that capacity.
Bernard was a part-time consultant for the county human resources department through 2024.
“We had two open positions, and we needed someone to step in. She (Bernard) reached back out to us to say she was interested in the position,” Commissioner Sean Kertes said.
No other applicants were considered for the job.
Bernard most recently served as human resources director for Greensburg-based Mutual Ambulance Service Inc.