Hoping to break the impasse between the county and its two unions, Charlotte County administration officials have tapped a 10-year public schools system veteran with extensive background in contract negotiations to be the county’s new Human Resources director.

Heather Bacus, a Michigan resident and human-resource professional with more than 16 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, was the lead candidate in a nationwide search to replace former Charlotte County Human Resources director Pam Stein, who stepped down in July, according to Assistant County Administrator Kelly Shoemaker.