Human Resources / Risk Manager

City of Barstow (CA); Fontana (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Barstow seeks an experienced Human Resources/Risk Manager to lead HR and risk management programs, strengthen labor relations, and provide strategic guidance to department leaders. The role emphasizes integrity, collaboration, and public service in a forward-thinking organization.

Under the City Manager’s direction, the incumbent will supervise staff, manage recruitment, compensation, and benefits programs, and develop policies to improve operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, risk management, or a related field; five years of HR experience including labor negotiations.
• Master’s degree is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of public sector labor relations, employee relations, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, and supervises recruitment and selection processes, including job ads, interviews, and eligibility lists.
• Supervises benefits administration and workers’ compensation programs; conducts surveys.
• Oversees EEO, ADA, training, orientation, and personnel records maintenance.
• Develops HR and risk management policies to improve operations and efficiency.
• Analyzes proposed legislation and its impact on employees and the city; prepares positions.
• Represents the city in meetings; manages budgets and procurement related to HR/risk.
• Manages employee evaluation system and training needs; develops programs.
• Develops classification and compensation systems; updates job descriptions.
• Selects and trains HR personnel; oversees disciplinary processes.
• Prepares public employee handbooks and related publications.

Skills

Public administration

Budget preparation and analysis

Human resources

Management

Organizational development

Policies and procedures

Supervision/leadership

Communication with diverse groups

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, risk management, or related field

Five years of HR experience including labor negotiations

Master’s degree (desirable)

Tools

Microsoft Office

HRIS/HR software

Job description

The City of Barstow is seeking an experienced forward-thinking Human Resources/Risk Manager ready to make a meaningful impact. This key leadership position will help to continue shaping the City's workforce, strengthen employee and labor relations, oversee comprehensive risk-management programs, and bring practical solutions to complex workplace challenges. If you are a collaborative leader who values integrity, innovation, and are dedicated and passionate about public service, we encourage you to apply for this great opportunity!

Under the direction of the assigned administrator, the Human Resources/Risk Manager plans, coordinates, and supervises staff and activities involved in the administration of the city’s human resources programs, risk management programs; provides complex and technical human resources and risk management-related assistance to department directors, division managers, the Assistant City Manager and/or the City Manager.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Exercises direct supervision over professional and administrative support staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND TASKS:

The following list of functions, duties, and tasks is typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform other closely related or department-specific functions, duties, and tasks from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Plans, directs, and manages the recruitment and selection process, including the development of job announcements, placement of ads in newspapers and professional journals, scheduling of interviews, administering tests, and preparing eligibility lists.
• Supervises benefit administration, including annual open enrollment for health, dental, and vision plans; and supervises and participates in conducting compensation and benefits surveys and studies, gathering information from other cities and agencies; and supervises the city’s workers’ compensation program with employees and third-party administrator.
• Supervises EEO, training and orientation programs, ADA administration, Personnel records maintenance, workers’ compensation, and risk management programs.
• Develops policies, procedures, forms, and practices to improve human resources and risk management operations and efficiencies; and assists supervisory personnel with the disciplinary process of subordinate personnel.
• Analyzes proposed legislation, identifying its impact on employees, employers, and the city’s human resources program; and prepares letters of support or opposition.
• Represents the city during meetings and conferences; costs proposals; develops recommendations regarding proposals and counter proposals, modifications to Memoranda of Understanding, personnel rules and regulations and related policies; and prepares and monitors the department’s budget.
• Manages the employee evaluation system, including the development of evaluation forms and processes; and reviews completed performance evaluations for city-wide consistency; and identifies employee training needs, develops training programs, and provides training seminars and classes.
• Develops and maintains a classification and compensation system, including the development of and modifications to job descriptions.
• Select, train, and evaluate Human Resources personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; participate ii discipline and termination procedures.
• Direct the preparation and maintenance of personnel records and reports, employee handbooks, orientation manuals, and other publications on employee working conditions and benefits.

OTHER DUTIES

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles of public administration, budget preparation and analysis, human resources, management, organizational development, systems, and procedures
• Classification and compensation systems, theories, polices, and procedures
• Federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, policies, and procedures
• Survey techniques, statistics, and report writing
• Computer usage including related software
• Principles of supervision, employee training, and performance evaluation

Skills and Abilities to:

• Collect and analyze data, present findings objectively, clearly, and concisely, and prepare reports with conclusions and recommendations
• Train, supervise, evaluate, motivate, and discipline subordinate personnel
• Follow directions and policies with minimal supervision
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, commissions, the City Council, the city manager, and the public
• Understand and respond to the public’s and staff’s requests for assistance both on the phone and in person
• Communicate effectively in the English language at a level necessary for efficient job performance
• Relate well, communicate, and work effectively with diverse groups of stakeholders who represent a range of ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds
• Provide administrative and professional leadership and direction for Human Resources and Risk Management
• and perform all essential functions as assigned by an authorized employee, supervisor and/or manager with or without reasonable accommodation

(At time of application and in addition to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities listed above.)

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s Degree in public administration, business administration, risk management, or a related field and five (5) years of experience in human resources, including labor negotiations, or an equivalent combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge, abilities, and skills is qualifying. Master’s Degree is highly desirable.

LICENSE(S) REQUIRED:

• Valid, current driver’s license and a good driving record is preferred

(Must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations)

• This position works primarily in an indoor office environment.
• Positions in this class typically require reaching, standing, walking, sitting, gripping, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, talking and hearing, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (up to 1/3 of workday) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS:

Applications and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly reviewed and evaluated based on the qualifications and experience most relevant to the position. The most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the interview process, which is anticipated to take place in October 2026.