Human Resources Department Manager

City of Encinitas; Encinitas (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Encinitas seeks an innovative Human Resources Department Manager to lead critical HR programs and initiatives. This role partners with executive leadership to advance workforce effectiveness and public service excellence, overseeing workers' compensation, leave, disability, benefits, ADA compliance, and labor relations.

They will develop staff, drive organizational initiatives, ensure legal compliance, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and service excellence

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Five years of responsible human resources experience, including supervisory experience overseeing professional, technical, and administrative staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the city's HR programs, initiatives, and services, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and best practices in public sector HR.
• Plan, organize, direct, supervise, and evaluate the work of HR staff; provide leadership, coaching, training, and professional development.
• Manage special projects and organizational initiatives to advance operational efficiency and city priorities.
• Oversee workers' compensation program, claim management, and return-to-work processes.
• Manage employee leave programs (FMLA, CFRA, PDL, military leave, etc.).
• Oversee administration of employee benefits programs (health, dental, vision, life, retirement, wellness).
• Coordinate STD/LTD programs and accommodations related to medical conditions.
• Oversee ADA compliance programs; update policies and maintain ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plans.
• Lead ADA interactive process and reasonable accommodation procedures in compliance with ADA and state laws.
• Serve as SME and compliance liaison for employment laws, labor agreements, and personnel policies.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Labor relations

Regulatory compliance

Workers' comp

Leave administration

ADA compliance

Benefits administration

Employee relations

Education

Bachelor’s degree: HR/PA/Business

Job description

Lead with Purpose. Innovate with Vision. Make a Difference.

The City of Encinitas is seeking an innovative, strategic, and people-focused Human Resources Department Manager to provide leadership and direction for critical human resources programs and initiatives. This role provides leadership and oversight for key employee programs, including workers' compensation, leave administration, disability management, benefits administration, ADA compliance, labor relations, CalPERS liaison and organizational initiatives, while advancing workforce effectiveness and operational excellence.

The Position

Under the direction of the Human Resources Director, the Human Resources Department Manager plans, organizes, directs and evaluates human resources programs and services. The Human Resources Department Manager serves as a strategic partner to departments and executive leadership, leading key employee programs, advancing workforce initiatives, developing staff, and fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, and exceptional public service. The successful candidate will ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, labor agreements, and industry best practices while aligning human resources programs with the City's long-term organizational goals.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking human resources professional who sees beyond day-to-day operations, anticipates organizational needs, identifies opportunities for improvement, and inspires others to achieve excellence. They bring a strategic perspective to human resources and understand how effective programs, policies, and services contribute to a high-performing organization and engaged workforce.

This individual combines strong technical expertise with a practical, solutions-oriented approach. They are skilled at navigating complex workforce challenges, developing innovative and sustainable solutions, and building trusted relationships throughout the organization. As a key member of the leadership team, they serve as a valued advisor to employees, managers, and executive leadership, helping to advance organizational priorities while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will possess strong expertise in workers' compensation self insured program, leave administration, disability management, benefits administration, labor relations, and regulatory compliance, while maintaining a commitment to exceptional customer service and employee support. They will demonstrate sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion when navigating complex personnel matters and organizational challenges.

Key attributes include:

• Strategic leadership and the ability to align human resources programs and initiatives with organizational goals.
• Innovative and solution-oriented thinking to address complex challenges and improve organizational effectiveness.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with employees, managers, labor representatives, and stakeholders.
• A commitment to staff development, mentoring, and fostering a high-performing team environment.
• The ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining a high level of service, accountability, and professionalism.

Key Areas of Responsibility

In addition to overseeing core human resources functions, the Human Resources Department Manager will:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the city's human resources programs, initiatives, and services, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, workforce needs, and best practices in public sector human resources.
• Plan, organize, direct, supervise, and evaluate the work of Human Resources staff; provide leadership, coaching, training, and professional development to ensure the delivery of high-quality human resources services.
• Manage and participate in special projects and organizational initiatives by conducting research, analyzing complex issues, developing recommendations, and implementing solutions that advance operational efficiency, organizational effectiveness, and city priorities.
• Administer and oversee the city's workers' compensation program, including claim management, return-to-work coordination, modified duty assignments, and collaboration with third-party administrators, medical providers, and legal counsel.
• Manage employee leave programs, including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA), Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL), military leave, other protected leave programs and return to work program.
• Oversee the administration of employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, wellness, and voluntary benefits.
• Coordinate and manage Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) programs and employee accommodations related to medical conditions and workplace injuries.
• Oversee the city's internal and external Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance programs; coordinate compliance efforts across departments; monitor changes in federal and state accessibility laws and regulations; develop, implement, review, and update ADA-related policies, procedures, and programs; maintain the city's ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plans, and lead the city's ADA Committee.
• Lead and facilitate the interactive process and reasonable accommodation procedures in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state laws.
• Serve as the subject matter expert and compliance liaison for employment-related laws, regulations, labor agreements, and personnel policies; conduct ongoing policy reviews; recommend and implement policy updates; and ensure human resources practices remain compliant with evolving legal requirements and organizational needs.
• Support the city's labor contract negotiations team and assist with labor contract administration, interpretation, and implementation as necessary.

Training/Experience

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these qualifications is a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field, and five (5) years of responsible human resources experience, including supervisory experience overseeing professional, technical, and administrative support staff.

Professional certifications and continuing education in human resources, finance, organizational effectiveness, or related fields are desirable.

The City of Encinitas and the San Dieguito Water District provide equal opportunity employment for all persons without regard to race, color, religion/religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, age, physical disability, ancestry, genetic information, medical condition, political affiliations, veteran status, Family Leave Act status, AB60 CA Driver's License status or status with pregnancy, child birth or breastfeeding. The City and Water District encourage minorities, disabled persons and women to apply. Qualified applicants who move to the next level of the selection process must notify the Human Resources Office if accommodation is needed. A thorough background check will be conducted for the candidate(s) seriously considered for the position including fingerprinting and reference checking. A contingent job offer may be given pending the results of medical evaluation, which includes a physical, TB test and drug and alcohol screening. Applicants will be required to submit verification of the legal right to work in the United States. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.

Provisions of the California Government Code and Emergency Services Act declare all public employees to be disaster service workers. As disaster service workers, all public employees (except legally employed aliens), are subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Incumbents in a safety-sensitive position are subject to pre-placement drug testing.

Incumbents may be asked to travel on City business. They may use their own vehicle being eligible for mileage reimbursement or a City vehicle, and are required to be in the Department of Motor Vehicles Pull Program.