Schuylkill County’s Human Resources Director will resign as of March 10 after about six months on the job.

Andrea L. Whelan was hired by the county on Aug. 11, 2022; she started the $80,000 a year position on Aug. 15, 2022.

County Administrator Gary R. Bender said Whelan is leaving to take a civilian position at Fort Indiantown Gap. She was on active duty with the Pennsylvania National Guard for 20 years before retiring and taking the job with the county.

Bender said the county has received five applications for the director position. The job search was posted Tuesday morning on the employment website Indeed.

“Andrea just settled her first union negotiation, with Children & Youth Services,” he said. “She did a nice job with that, and she was well liked by her staff.”

“I was contacted by some people at the (National) Guard, and I’ve accepted a civilian position with them,” Whelan said Tuesday. She declined to give details about her new endeavor.

Her experience with the county has been a good one, Whelan said.

“I’ve had a lot of professional growth and personal growth. It’s been a positive experience, but this was just too good of an opportunity to turn down,” she said.

“I really loved the people and am a little sad to leave them, but I’m excited about this new chapter in my life,” Whelan said. “Gary Bender has been a wonderful a supervisor; I learned a lot from him.”

“I thank the commissioners and Gary very much for giving me this opportunity,”

The previous director, Heidi, L Zula, resigned on June 3, 2022. She was hired on Dec. 9, 2020, at $79,000 a year. Zula replaced interim human resources director Doreen M. Kutzler, who replaced Deborah A. Twigg.