Employment Practices HR Advisor

PRISM; Folsom (CA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

PRISM is a joint powers authority providing risk management services to public entities across California. The Employment Practices HR Advisor will deliver member-facing HR guidance, covering ADA/FEHA processes, leave programs, recruitment, and performance management, under the Deputy General Counsel.

The role supports development of HR resources and training, partnering with EPL attorneys and external consultants to scale member services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in HR, Business, Public Administration, or related field; HR cert preferred.
• Minimum seven years of HR experience with progressive responsibility including supervision.
• Public sector experience required, with experience working with represented employee groups.
• Knowledge of California employment law, leave administration, and wage/hour compliance.
• Ability to translate regulatory requirements into clear guidance and training materials.

Responsibilities

• Provide member-facing HR guidance and technical assistance to PRISM member agencies.
• Support ADA/FEHA interactive process and reasonable accommodations guidance.
• Lead leave administration guidance (FMLA/CFRA/PDL) for members.
• Advise on recruitment, job descriptions, merit-based selection, and interviewing practices.
• Coach on performance management, documentation, and progressive discipline.
• Develop and maintain member-facing HR resources, tools, and training curricula.

Skills

HR advisory

Employee relations

ADA/FEHA experience

Leave administration

Policy guidance

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/Public Admin

HR certification (SPHR/SHRM-CP) preferred

Tools

HRIS systems

MS Office

Policy templates

Job description

PRISM is a joint powers authority (JPA) that provides risk management and coverage programs for public entities throughout California, including 93% of California counties, 77% of California cities, 30 joint powers authorities, educational organizations, special districts, housing authorities, fire districts and 10 national participants through PRISM’s captive insurance company. Our organization is member driven meaning that our public entity members have numerous opportunities available to participate in the governance of our JPA.

The Employment Practices HR Advisor (HRA) provides member-facing human resources technical assistance to PRISM's public agency member agencies, working in close partnership with PRISM's in-house Employment Practices legal (EPL) advice team. The HRA addresses operational, process-oriented HR matters including the ADA/FEHA interactive process, leave administration, recruitment and hiring practices, and performance management allowing EPL attorneys to focus their time on complex legal matters and member training. The HRA also develops practical HR resources, tools, and training curricula that build capability across PRISM's membership and help reduce reliance on one-on-one, case-by-case guidance. This position works under the oversight of the Deputy General Counsel and collaborates regularly with in-house EPL attorneys and external consultants.

Selected candidate will have the option to work full time in our Folsom office, or remotely from a home location within a commutable distance from our Folsom, CA office, or a hybrid of both options. Candidates must be able and willing to report in person to our Folsom location, attend offsite meetings and travel as the position requires.

The first review of applications will be on October 19, 2026, with tentative in-person interviews scheduled for November 2nd and 3rd.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Receives matters referred from in-house EPL attorneys and serves as a member-facing HR advisor, providing practical, day-to-day human resources guidance and technical assistance to PRISM member agencies.
• Provides interactive process and reasonable accommodation support to member agencies under the ADA and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), including guidance on accommodation options, documentation, and process management.
• Provides leave administration guidance to members, including support with FMLA, CFRA, PDL, and related leave programs.
• Responds to member questions on routine labor-relations matters, escalating complex issues to EPL attorneys as needed.
• Advises members on recruitment and hiring practices, including job description development, merit-based selection processes, and interview practices.
• Coaches and supports members on performance management, including documentation practices, evaluations, and progressive discipline.
• Develops and maintains member-facing HR resources and tools, such as training, workshops, templates, guides, checklists and toolkits.
• Reviews and advises on member policies and handbooks.
• Collaborates with EPL Attorneys to design and deliver HR-related training and workshops to member agencies.
• Tracks member consultations to identify trends, volume drivers, and emerging needs; uses this data to inform new resource and training development.
• Partners with EPL attorneys to identify opportunities to shift member support from reactive, one-on-one assistance toward proactive, scalable tools and training.
• Monitors developments in California and federal employment law relevant to member HR practice; incorporates changes into guidance materials, tools, and training content.
• Maintains confidentiality of sensitive member and personnel information; exercises sound judgment, diplomacy and tact in handling sensitive matters.
• Supports the Director of Human Resources on special projects related to the growth of PRISM's member-facing HR services.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job responsibilities.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field; HR certification (SPHR, SHRM-CP, or equivalent) preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of human resources experience with progressive responsibility that includes management or supervision of others, and the performance of generalist functions, with extensive and direct experience administering the ADA/FEHA interactive process and leave of absence programs.
• Experience in public sector environments required, including experience working with represented employee groups.
• Working knowledge of California employment law, including leave administration and wage and hour compliance;
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Demonstrated experience administering the interactive process, reasonable accommodations, and leave programs (FMLA/CFRA/PDL).
• Working knowledge of HR best practices, employment law, and compliance requirements applicable to California public agencies.
• Working knowledge of public sector retirement systems, such as CalPERS, and experience administering the industrial disability retirement process.
• Ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into clear, practical guidance and training materials for a non-legal audience.
• Excellent consulting, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; comfortable developing and delivering training to groups.
• Experience developing HR tools, templates, checklists, or training curricula.
• Sound judgment in distinguishing routine operational HR matters from those requiring escalation to legal counsel.
• Ability to balance member inquiries, competing priorities and deadlines across multiple member agencies.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and sound judgment.
• Proficiency with standard office software.

Physical Requirements

• See well enough to read fine print and view a computer screen; speak and hear well enough to understand, respond, and communicate clearly in person and on the phone or via Zoom; independent body mobility sufficient to stand, sit, walk, stoop and bend to access the work environment and a standard office environment; manual dexterity and sufficient use of hands, arms and shoulders to repetitively operate a keyboard and to write; and the ability to sit or walk for prolonged periods of time.
• Mobility to work in a typical office setting, use standard office equipment.
• Ability to travel by air or ground transportation to member agencies, training and member networking events monthly or as needed, with a possible increase in travel expectations in the future