Human Resources Manager

Humane Society of Ventura County; Ojai (CA); On-site; USD 89,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision insurance

Job summary

The Humane Society of Ventura County is seeking an experienced HR Manager to partner with the HR Director in delivering day-to-day HR operations for staff and supervisors. Responsibilities include recruitment, onboarding, benefits, leave, payroll, performance management and compliance.

As the organization grows, the HR Manager will foster a compliant, people-centered workplace and support professional development of a diverse, high-performing team in a shelter environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive HR experience across HR operations and employee support.
• Hands-on experience with HR policies, employee relations, recruitment, compensation, benefits, performance management and organizational planning.
• Strong knowledge of California employment laws including wage/hour, leave administration and accommodations.
• Experience handling workplace investigations, performance concerns and conflict resolution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to explain complex HR policies clearly.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leaders to manage full-cycle recruitment and onboarding processes.
• Administer benefits programs, retirement plan, and open enrollment activities.
• Oversee leave of absence management (FMLA, CFRA, PDL, disability).
• Support performance management processes and provide coaching to managers.
• Maintain HR records, policies, and ensure compliance with employment laws.
• Manage OSHA safety initiatives and workers' compensation claims.
• Coordinate payroll processing and ensure accurate HRIS data.
• Collaborate with vendors (benefits brokers, payroll providers) to ensure smooth operations.
• Promote employee engagement and a respectful, inclusive workplace.

Skills

HR experience

Employee relations

Policy implementation

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

MS Office

HRIS systems

Project management

Independent work

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

Paylocity

Job description

The Humane Society of Ventura County is a compassionate care shelter and nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and adoption of animals in need throughout Ventura County.

Our mission statement is, “The Humane Society of Ventura County, through shelter, adoptions, programs, and services, boldly ensures the welfare of animals in Ventura County.”

We fulfill this mission by:

• Providing a safe environment for animals until they find their forever homes
• Providing adoption services to responsible homes
• Promoting and providing spay and neutering to reduce pet overpopulation
• Offering an organized volunteer program including training and socialization to help our shelter animals
• Offering a foster program to pair animals with volunteer families, giving them a comfortable home environment while they await adoption

Position Summary

The HR Manager is a trusted partner to the HR Director in delivering the day-to-day human resources operations while helping foster a positive, compliant and people-centered workplace. This role is responsible for managing key HR functions, including recruitment, onboarding, benefits and leave administration, payroll processing, performance management support, employee relations and HR compliance for staff and supervisory-level employees.

As the organization continues to grow and professionalize, the HR Manager will play an important role in building and maintaining consistent, compliant, and people-centered HR practices. The HR Manager will champion and foster a workplace that supports the personal and professional development of a diverse, engaged and high-performing team.

Ideal Personality

We are looking for someone who is both people-focused and organized, someone who genuinely enjoys supporting employees while building strong, consistent HR practices. The ideal candidate is approachable, trustworthy, and collaborative, with the ability to balance empathy and sound judgment when navigating a variety of employee and organizational needs.

They are proactive, resourceful, and detail-oriented, taking pride in creating efficient processes while maintaining a high level of accuracy and confidentiality. Comfortable in a dynamic, growing environment, they are adaptable, willing to roll up their sleeves, and eager to contribute wherever needed. They build positive relationships across all levels of the organization, communicate with professionalism and care, and are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to do their best work.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment and Onboarding

• Partner with hiring managers to develop job descriptions and manage the full-cycle recruitment process, including sourcing, screening, interviewing, and preparing offer letters.
• Oversee and coordinate pre-employment processes, including background checks and employment verification, in accordance with organizational policies.
• Deliver a welcoming onboarding and orientation experience that sets new employees up for success and reinforces the organization’s mission, culture and values.

HR Records and Systems

• Maintain accurate, confidential employee records, HRIS data and personnel files in compliance with applicable recordkeeping requirements.
• Ensure personnel files, employment documentation and HR records remain organized, secure and up to date.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR systems, workflows and documentation.

Benefits and Retirement Administration

• Administer employee benefits programs, including enrollment, qualifying life events and annual open enrollment.
• Administer the organization's retirement plan (403(b)), including employee enrollment and contribution processing.
• Monitor benefit plan administration and identify potential compliance issues to the HR Director for review.

Leave Administration

• Manage employee leave of absence, including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, disability and other applicable leave programs.
• Manage unemployment insurance claims, including responding to agency inquiries and maintain documentation.
• Coordinate leave logistics with employees, managers and benefit providers to ensure a smooth employee experience.
• Escalate complex leave, accommodation or legal matters to the HR Director as appropriate.

Performance Management and Employee Relations

• Coordinate the organization’s performance evaluation process and support managers in delivering timely, clear and constructive feedback.
• Coach managers on performance management, employee development, corrective action, and documentation for staff-level employees.
• Serve as a trusted HR resource for employee relations matters involving staff and supervisors, conducting initial fact-finding and recommending appropriate next steps.
• Promote a culture of accountability, respect, collaboration, and constructive communication.

Workplace Safety and Workers' Compensation

• Support workplace safety initiatives and assist with OSHA compliance efforts.
• Manage day-to-day workers' compensation claims administration in partnership with managers, employees and the organization's insurance carrier.

Compliance and Policy Support

• Maintain and communicate HR policies, procedures and the employee handbook.
• Help ensure all HR practices remain compliant with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Support recordkeeping practices that align with applicable employment law requirements.

Vendor and Cross-Functional Partnerships

• Build collaborative relationships with external vendors and partners including benefits brokers, payroll providers, background check vendors, to ensure smooth HR operations.
• Partner with the HR Director to strengthen HR operations, support workforce planning, implement new initiatives and continuously improve the employee experience.

Employee Engagement and Culture

• Support employee engagement initiatives that foster a positive, inclusive and high performing workplace.
• Help plan employee recognition, wellness and professional development programs that strengthen organizational culture.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 5 years of progressive HR experience, with increasing responsibility across HR operations and employee support
• Hands-on experience across the full HR spectrum, including HR policies, employee relations, recruitment, compensation, benefits administration, performance management and organizational planning and development
• Solid working knowledge of California employment laws, including wage and hour, leave administration, workplace accommodations and anti-discrimination requirements
• Demonstrated experience managing employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, performance concerns, corrective action and conflict resolution
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to explain complex HR policies, legal requirements and personnel matters with clarity, professionalism, and diplomacy
• Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects and competing priorities, and effectively balance and meet deadlines with sound judgment and limited resources
• Proficiency in MS Office and HRIS systems

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification
• Advanced knowledge of Paylocity or similar HRIS platforms, and familiarity with applicant tracking systems

This role operates in and around an active animal shelter environment. Regular exposure to animals, animal-related sounds and odors, and shelter conditions is expected. The position requires on-site presence and occasional flexibility in schedule to support operational needs.

Compensation

HSVC offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. The base salary range for this role is $89,000 - $105,000. Final compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, skills, education and qualifications.

• Health, dental and vision insurance

Successful candidates must be able to pass a background check, and reference checks and be able to perform essential functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Humane Society Ventura County is an Equal Opportunity Employer