When Amy R. Martin arrives next week to take on her role as Laurinburg human resources director, there will be a number of projects on her desk.

City Manager Ed Burchins said his new HR director is well prepared to complete all of them.

Martin, who served a similar role for the Maidenform plant Raeford, will begin her job with the city on Nov. 5.

“Amy brings a number of key strengths to our organization, including her ability to assess problems objectively and to work together with key stakeholders to solve problems and implement solutions,” Burchins said.

Having worked with private firms employing thousands as well as a company that ran all of the community services for United States Marine Corps bases in Japan, Martin should be able to apply that wealth of experience here, Burchins said.

Included among those assignments is an employee succession program which has become a priority for the city. the city has about 125 employees.

“Our council has a real focus on our organization and developing employees as well as having a keen eye on people within our organization that can grow into department head positions — our concern also is that we have in place people who are ready to go to takeover when employees leave,” Burchins said. “(Martin) has worked in organizations much larger than ours, and that has given her the ability to help us understand how we should be approaching our organizational needs.”

The city is also trying to improve relations between employees and management through programs like the recently inaugurated employee advisory committee. The next steps in that effort, which will include improved training as well as the initiation of a merit-based pay system.

Martin will also be tasked with cultivating the city’s ongoing partnership with Richmond Community College.

“What we will try to do is work closer with RCC,” Burchins said. “In the past we have had a close working relationship with (RCC), but we have not really worked as closely in training and development programs. RCC has been more than willing to, but we just need someone who has the ability to assess the organization and understand our training and developmental needs.”

Martin replaces Bob Bell, who left as human resources director this summer. Martin will be paid $78,056 a year. Bell was paid about $76,800 a year.