ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

City of Stockton; Stockton (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Stockton seeks an Assistant Director of Human Resources to assist the Director in planning, directing and managing the HR Department. The role oversees one or more program areas, provides expert professional assistance to management, and may act as Director in their absence.

It emphasizes labor relations, budget administration, policy interpretation, and cross‑training within HR. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in business or public administration and six years of HR

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration plus six years in HR, employment law or policy interpretation; at least three years in management/supervisory roles.
• Substitutions allowed: MS in HRM, MS in IO Psychology, JD, MPA, MBA on a year-for-year basis.
• Public agency experience desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and directing the HR department’s goals, objectives, and procedures.
• Coordinate labor relations and negotiate goals and strategies; may serve as Chief Negotiator.
• Administer program areas, monitor budgets, and ensure compliance with laws and internal policies.
• Provide training and professional development for HR staff; supervise professional and technical staff.
• Represent the City in meetings with agencies, unions, and other stakeholders; implement policy improvements.

Skills

Labor relations

Budgeting

Staff supervision

Strategic planning

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/public administration

MS in HR Management / IO Psychology or JD/MPA/MBA substitute

Job description

MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY

FLSASTATUS: Exempt

FIRST REVIEW DATE: October 18, 2026

The City of Stockton Human Resources (HR) department is seeking to fill one (1) vacancy for the Assistant Director of Human Resources position. Under direction, assists the Director of Human Resources in planning, directing and managing the City Human Resources Department; administers and directs one or more program areas; provides expert professional assistance to City management staff in human resources and related matters; acts as the Director of Human Resources in his/her absence; and performs related work as assigned.

This single position class assists the Director of Human Resources in all activities throughout the City related to the broad function of human resources, including providing day-to-day direction for one or more of the following areas: Workforce Planning, Labor/Employee Relations, Risk Services and/or Employee Benefits. This class is distinguished from Director of Human Resources in that the latter has overall management responsibility for all human resources activities and functions.

The duties assigned typically emphasize one or more of the following areas, but are not limited to those listed below.

• Assists in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the department.
• Prepares and administers the department's budget; recommends allocation of division funds within proscribed guidelines; monitors expenditures to ensure adherence to the final budget.
• Plans, organizes, administers, reviews, and evaluates the activities of professional and technical support staff.
• Confers with City management regarding human resources related activities or problems.
• Coordinates with and advises departments on non-legal questions regarding interpretation of agreements.
• Represents the City or assists in the representation of the City; ensures City compliance with laws governing City employee relations activities.
• Assist in managing the labor relations program, assist in developing, planning and implementing negotiation goals, objectives and strategies; may serve as Chief Negotiator in collective bargaining.
• Provides ongoing contract administration with departments and reviews compliance with contract terms.
• Performs various human resources functions as required for complete cross‑training and cross‑functioning of the Human Resources team.
• Provides management over major divisions and directs activities for City staff.
• Recommends the appointment of personnel; selects staff and provides for their training and professional development; interprets City policies and procedures to employees.
• Directs and conducts analytical studies; develops and reviews reports of findings, alternatives, and recommendations.
• Represents the City in meetings with representatives of governmental agencies, professional and business organizations, employee organizations, and the public.
• Monitors developments and legislation related to human resource matters, evaluates their impact upon City operations and recommends and implements policy and procedural improvements.
• Participates in the establishment of strategic short‑term and long‑range division planning.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Education/Experience

Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited four year college or university with major course work in business or public administration, industrial relations, human resource management or a closely related field; AND six (6) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in human resources, employment law or policy interpretation with a minimum of three (3) years of management or supervisory experience in a generalist capacity in multiple areas of the human resources function. Experience in a public agency setting is desirable.

The following specific advanced degrees may substitute on a year for year basis up to a maximum of three years for the required work experience: MS in Human Resources Management, MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, J.D., MPA in Public Administration or MBA in Business Administration.

Other Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid California driver's license at the time of appointment.

Knowledge of

• Principles, practices, and techniques of public human resource administration;
• Administrative principles and methods, including goal setting, program and budget development and implementation, and employee supervision;
• Sources of data pertaining to public sector employer-employee relations;
• Administrative procedures and practices for processing grievances up to and including arbitration;
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations;
• Budgetary principles and practices;
• The collective bargaining process in the public and/or private sectors, including federal and state labor legislation applicable to local government; standard principles of collective bargaining in a public agency setting, including representation rights, management rights, scope of bargaining, and unfair practices; including preparation of negotiating strategy, tactics, and impasse procedures.

Skill in

• Assisting in planning, organizing, administering, reviewing, and evaluating a broad, centralized human resources program and directing staff in specified day-to-day human resources activities;
• Reading and understanding complex labor laws and court decisions;
• Researching and writing correspondence and reports in a grammatically correct form;
• Coordinating City employer-employee relations with departments, employee organizations, and management negotiating team;
• Working cooperatively and maintaining personal control when meeting with organizations, sometimes under severe emotional pressure and after long hours of negotiations;
• Speaking clearly and concisely before large groups;
• Selecting, training, motivating, and evaluating assigned staff;
• Developing, implementing, and interpreting goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls;
• Analyzing complex problems, evaluating alternatives, and making creative recommendations;
• Exercising sound independent judgment within general policy guidelines and legal constraints;
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work;
• Making recommendations on difficult and sensitive issues;
• Preparing clear, concise, and competent reports, correspondence, and other written materials.

Physical/Mental Abilities:

• Mobility - Constant sitting and standing for long periods of time while operating a keyboard; occasional walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing and pulling;
• Lifting - Occasional lifting of 10 pounds or less;
• Vision - Constant use of overall visual capabilities; frequent need for use of color perception, hand/eye coordination, reading and/or close up work;
• Dexterity - Frequent holding, grasping, typing, repetitive motion and writing;
• Hearing/Talking - Constant hearing and talking of normal speech in person and on the telephone; occasionally speaking in front of large groups of people;
• Special Requirements – May require weekend or evening work;
• Emotional/Psychological - Constant concentration, decision making and public contact; frequent ability to exercise sound judgment, especially under stressful situations; and working alone and traveling;
• Environmental Conditions – Constant work within an office environment; occasional exposure to noise and outdoor conditions; and
• Working Conditions - Primarily performed in an office environment which is typically moderately quiet, but may be loud at times.

This class specification should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirement of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job‑related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Any essential function or requirement of this class will be evaluated as necessary should an incumbent/applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation for the specific disability will be made for the incumbent/applicant when possible.