August 2026 Message from Director of People and Performance Cynthia Shaffer

August 5, 2026

More Than a Title: Understanding the Role of People and Performance

In 2021, People and Performance became a department at the City of Port Townsend. Today, our small team supports applicants and employees across the organization throughout their City careers.

Since joining the City in 2023, I’ve often been asked what People and Performance means. Many are familiar with the term Human Resources, or HR, which is traditionally associated with hiring, policies, employee relations, and ensuring organizations meet their responsibilities as employers. Whether it’s called Human Resources or People and Performance, much of our work happens behind the scenes.

For me, the title People and Performance reflects more than our responsibilities. It represents a philosophy. Organizations are not successful because of policies alone. They succeed because of the people who make up an organization. The role of People and Performance is to help create an environment where employees have the support, tools, and opportunities they need to do meaningful work and perform at their best.

The word people is a reminder that every employee brings unique talents, experiences, and perspectives. Our role is to help attract, develop, and retain individuals who are committed to serving our community.

The word performance may sound like the focus is on evaluations or productivity. In reality, it is about helping people succeed, which means setting clear expectations, providing meaningful feedback, developing leaders, supporting professional growth, encouraging collaboration, and creating an environment where employees can thrive.

At the City, the People and Performance department is responsible for many traditional Human Resources functions, including recruiting, onboarding, labor relations, organizational development, leadership and employee development, performance management, policy development, conflict resolution, training, succession planning, and fostering a workplace culture built on respect and continuous improvement.

Payroll, benefits administration, employment verifications, and related services are managed by our Finance and Administrative Services Department, and we work closely together to support our employees.

Some days, we are helping a new employee begin their career with the City. On other days, we are coaching a manager through a difficult conversation, developing training opportunities, updating policies to reflect legal requirements and best practices, or planning for the workforce of the future. Every day is different, yet our purpose remains the same: helping people and the organization succeed together. When our employees succeed, the community benefits through stronger public service and a more resilient organization.