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About Us

About Us

The Michigan Civil Service Commission

The Michigan Civil Service Commission is a bipartisan, four-member body, appointed by the governor. The current commissioners are Chair Jase Bolger, Nick Ciaramitaro, Jeff Steffel and Gail M. Wilson. Article 11, Section 5 of Michigan's Constitution requires the commission to:

  • classify all positions in the classified service according to their duties and responsibilities,
  • fix rates of compensation for all classes of positions,
  • approve or disapprove disbursements for all personal services,
  • determine by competitive examination and performance exclusively on the basis of merit, efficiency, and fitness the qualifications of all candidates for classified positions,
  • make rules and regulations covering all personnel transactions, and
  • regulate all conditions of employment in the classified service.

Administering the commission's powers is vested in the state personnel director, who is a member of the classified service and responsible to and selected by the commission.

Tentative Meeting Schedule

  • February 22, 2023 Cancelled
  • May 10, 2023 Cancelled
  • April 27, 2023
  • July 12, 2023
  • September 13, 2023
  • December 13, 2023

Public meetings for the commission are typically held at 10:00 a.m. in the lower level of the Capitol Commons Center at 400 S. Pine Street in Lansing.

Commission Meeting Minutes

2022

2021

2020

2010s

2000s

 

Contact Us  

Our Mission:

Provide an equitable, responsive employment system to effectively serve Michigan.

Our Vision:

Deliver exceptional, innovative HR services.

Our Values:

Innovative: Take a creative, strategic approach to change.

Effective: Deliver timely, accurate results.

Accountable: Take ownership of our work with integrity and diligence.

Collaborative: Work together respectfully, supportively, and inclusively.

 

Strategic Plan Summary
Strategic Plan Update: February 2023

State Personnel Director John Gnodtke

The state personnel director is responsible for implementing the commission's policy and program directives. The director also oversees the following organizational areas:


Financial and Administrative Services is responsible for the fiscal control and compliance with state and federal administrative guidelines. Duties include budget development, projections, travel reimbursement, procurement of goods and services, and many other accounting and purchasing functions. Duties also include telecommunications, IT, and inventory management activities. In addition, mail and building services are provided for the Capitol Commons Center.

The Office of the General Counsel provides direct legal services to the Civil Service Commission and state personnel director. The office conducts legal research, drafts commission decisions, and drafts and publishes rules and regulations.

The Office of the General Counsel also includes the:

External Relations oversees Central Communications and Career Services in addition to performance as legislative liaison, public information officer, FOIA coordinator, and in other roles. Central Communications oversees communication planning for projects and process changes; the MCSC internet and intranet and GovDelivery email messaging platform; SharePoint Team Room development and maintenance; online training tutorial creation and maintenance; MCSC conference room support; and accessibility reviews and advisement. Career Services offers state employees and applicants access to the job application process and career planning resources; plans and attends career fairs; resume and cover letter advice; and help connecting qualified applicants to in-need and critical state job openings.
Office of Human Resources (OHR) staff performs HR services for the MCSC and is separate from Human Resource Operations, which performs service for other state agencies. Services include providing assistance in determining organizational structures and realignments, preparing position descriptions, processing HR transactions, recruiting staff, ensuring conformance with agency work rules, assisting management with labor relations issues, serving as the agency's advocate in grievance hearings, and assisting agency employees with various HR issues.

Deputy Director Jonathan Patterson

The deputy director assists in formulating and implementing the commission's policies and directives. The deputy director oversees the following organizational areas:


  • Employee Benefits Division: provides assistance with state group-insurance programs for state employees and retirees at 800-505-5011 and www.mi.gov/employeebenefits.
     
  • Disability Management Office (DMO): a service center that administers, approves, and processes FMLA leaves, medical leaves of absence, and workers' compensation claims at 877-443-6362 and www.mi.gov/dmo.
     
  • MI HR Service Center: a service center that provides state employees a single contact for a wide variety of payroll and human-resource transactions, including benefit enrollments and updates due to life events, payroll changes (such as deposit and deduction changes) and HR Self-Service assistance at 877-766-6447 and MI HR Service Center.
     
  • Employee Service Program: provides state employees and eligible family members confidential assistance with personal and work-related concerns at 800-521-1377 and www.mi.gov/esp.

BDAS coordinates within the Civil Service Commission and across other state agencies responsible for interrelated processes in the Human Resources Management Network (HRMN). HRMN is the state's enterprise software system for managing employees' personnel, benefits, and payroll information. BDAS is responsible for allocating resources, budgeting, purchasing, contract administration, program planning, data access, and data reporting. DBAS facilitates use of the HRMN and other system and applications through different work teams. BDAS includes teams for:

  • Production Support to serve as the research and development arm for HRMN; help design and test new and innovative application of existing technology; and ensures the system supports, day-to-day, the ongoing efforts of the HR community to serve the needs of state employees and program managers.
  • Project Management to assist agency staff and system users with NEOGOV modules (recruitment/selection, performance management, onboarding, and forms delivery); the State of Michigan Learning Center (SOMLC); and HR-focused projects and lean-process-improvement initiatives.
  • Special Initiatives to investigate upgrades and improvements to agency applications and lead other future-focused projects.

Division of Data Management

The Division of Data Management oversees teams for:

  • Security, Automation, and Self-Service to govern access to the statewide HRMN system; establish data access roles and protocols; develop automated processes to improve operational effectiveness; and manage agency privacy, security, and control procedures.
  • Data Management and Reports (DMR) to provide access to data within HRMN and the Management Information Database (MIDB); establish and maintain standard reports; design and execute special reports and data inquiries; develop interfaces with other data systems; and creatively apply system information to enhance HR-related processes.
Human Resource Operations (HRO) staff is housed in participating agencies to assist appointing authorities with their HR needs. Services include providing assistance in determining organizational structures and realignments, preparing position descriptions, processing HR transactions, recruiting staff, ensuring conformance with agency work rules, assisting management with labor relations issues, serving as the agency's advocate in secondary negotiations and grievance hearings, and assisting agency employees with various HR issues.

This area is dedicated to meeting the differing needs of our customers; from job-seekers to state employees and agency human resources personnel. Agency Service Teams are assigned to each state department to help meet the needs of our customers. Other services provided by the Office of Classifications and Selections include HR operations, examination scheduling, exam administration, exam security, career planning, and compensation. Visit the Office of Classifications and Selections page for more information on their services.

The Human Resource Training and Development division's mission is to increase employee effectiveness by providing training and development opportunities. Our curriculum includes technical learning and leadership and business skills training. Through our high-quality programs, we strive to equip state employees with skills to succeed.
Current vacancies with the Michigan Civil Service Commission
Pursuant to PA 166 of 2022, the commission posts this notice that it has adopted a hybrid policy that includes in-person, remote, and alternative work arrangements. The commission has authority to assign and schedule its employees and determine their work locations. This policy provides work options contingent upon the commission's operational needs. Approval is at the commission's discretion and can be changed or rescinded based on operational needs. The policy includes which positions may qualify for work options, how to request, and approval requirements.