Chief People Officer

Sacramento Area Sewer District (CA); Rancho Cordova (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Sacramento Area Sewer District seeks a dynamic Chief People Officer to lead the People Services Department and shape enterprise-wide workforce strategies. This executive role reports to the CEO and will influence organizational effectiveness, policy, and risk management.

The CPO will oversee HR, payroll, administrative services, training, safety, and labor relations, driving organizational change and performance in a complex public agency environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, public administration, business administration, risk management, or related field.
• Progressively responsible experience in HR, organizational development, administrative services, risk management, or related area.
• Master’s degree in related field is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Advise CEO and Board on workforce strategy and enterprise priorities.
• Direct People Services including HR, payroll, admin services, training, safety, and risk management.
• Develop enterprise-wide workforce policies and programs aligned with goals and laws.

Skills

Executive leadership

Labor relations

HR strategy

Organizational development

Payroll management

Education

Bachelor's in HR/public administration

Master's degree preferred

Tools

HRIS systems

Payroll software

Data governance

Job description

The Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer) is looking for a dynamic executive leader to fill the Chief People Officer position. This is a new position within SacSewer’s executive team.

SacSewer is currently transitioning to a new organizational structure that includes Chief-level executive positions. While the agency’s website continues to reflect existing executive titles, current executive team members are expected to be formally appointed to their new Chief roles in early 2027, pending Board approval. The Chief People Officer will be a key member of this newly structured executive leadership team.

Under policy direction from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), currently titled the District Engineer/General Manager, the Chief People Officer serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and is responsible for the strategic leadership, policy development, and administration of SacSewer’s People Services Department, including human resources, payroll, clerical and administrative services, training and organizational development, safety, and risk management.

This is a single-incumbent executive classification responsible for SacSewer’s development and implementation of comprehensive people and administrative services strategies. The incumbent exercises a high degree of independent judgment and discretion in establishing policy direction, resolving complex and sensitive organizational issues, and ensuring alignment between workforce strategies and SacSewer’s mission, vision and values.

• Serves as a member of the executive leadership team, advising the CEO and Board of Directors on workforce strategy, organizational effectiveness, labor relations, and enterprise priorities.

• Directs SacSewer’s People Services Department, including human resources, labor relations, payroll, clerical and administrative services, training and organizational development, safety, and risk management.

• Develops and implements enterprise-wide workforce strategies, policies, and programs aligned with organizational goals, operational needs, and applicable laws and regulations.

• Leads labor relations, collective bargaining, contract administration, employee relations, talent acquisition, classification and compensation, performance management, and workforce compliance.

• Directs workforce planning, succession planning, leadership development, organizational change, and employee engagement initiatives to strengthen organizational capacity and performance.

• Oversees payroll, human capital management systems, data governance, and administrative service delivery, promoting accuracy, efficiency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Establishes strategic direction for workplace safety, workers’ compensation, claims management, and enterprise risk mitigation to support employee well-being and organizational resilience.

• Leads and develops management and professional staff, establishes performance expectations and accountability measures, and fosters a collaborative, ethical, and high-performing organizational culture.

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of education, experience, and executive leadership capabilities that support success in this role. A typical background may include a bachelor's degree in human resources, public administration, business administration, risk management, or a related field, along with progressively responsible experience in human resources, organizational development, administrative services, risk management, or a related area. Experience in a senior management or executive leadership capacity is highly desirable, as is a master's degree in a related field.

SacSewer welcomes candidates whose diverse professional backgrounds and leadership experiences have prepared them to lead complex organizational functions, advance workforce strategy, and support enterprise-wide performance.

If you have questions and for additional information regarding this position, please contact the SacSewer Human Resources Team at [e-mail].

Sacramento Area Sewer District is an equal opportunity employer.