Human Resources / Risk Manager

City of Irwindale; Irwindale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Irwindale is seeking an experienced Human Resources / Risk Manager to oversee the City’s HR and risk management programs. This leadership role advises the City Manager, department directors, supervisors, and staff on personnel, labor relations, and risk strategies, ensuring compliant, effective and responsive services for the community.

Ideal candidates will bring public-sector HR expertise, strong communication, and collaborative leadership to implement programs, manage budgets, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, public administration, or a related field.
• Five years of HR experience including two years in administration and supervision.
• Knowledge of labor relations, classification and compensation, recruitment, performance evaluation, training, and risk management.
• Ability to prepare and administer budgets and communicate clearly with staff and officials.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and coordinate the City’s comprehensive HR and risk management programs.
• Represent the City in labor relations and advise on personnel policies and contracts.
• Manage budgets and supervise department staff to meet organizational goals.
• Provide guidance on safety, claims management, and risk mitigation across city programs.

Skills

HR leadership

Labor relations

Budget management

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or Public Administration

Tools

Office software

Job description

The City of Irwindale is seeking an experienced and collaborative professional to serve as its next Human Resources / Risk Manager. This key leadership position oversees the City’s comprehensive human resources and risk management programs and serves as a trusted advisor to the City Manager, department directors, supervisors, and employees.

The Human Resources / Risk Manager is responsible for a broad range of programs, including recruitment and selection, employee and labor relations, classification and compensation, benefits administration, performance management, training and organizational development, workers’ compensation, liability and claims administration, and risk management. The position also provides guidance on personnel policies, workplace issues, performance and discipline, grievances, and the interpretation and administration of labor agreements.

Labor relations is an important component of the position. The Human Resources / Risk Manager represents the City in labor-management matters, serves as Chief Negotiator as assigned, participates in meet-and-confer processes, develops proposals and contract language, and oversees the administration of the City’s labor agreements.

The position also leads the City’s risk management efforts, working closely with claims administrators, legal counsel, insurance providers, and risk management partners to address workers’ compensation, liability, property, and other claims and exposures. In addition, the Human Resources / Risk Manager oversees departmental staff and resources, administers the department budget, and provides professional and strategic support on complex personnel, organizational, labor relations, and risk management matters.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a knowledgeable, approachable, and collaborative public-sector HR professional with strong communication and problem‑solving skills, sound judgment, and the ability to build positive working relationships at all levels of the organization. The successful candidate will be comfortable handling sensitive and complex issues and will understand the importance of being visible, accessible, and responsive in a small organization where relationships matter.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced public‑sector professional who values public service, enjoys a hands‑on role, appreciates working in a relationship‑driven organization, and wants to make a meaningful and visible impact on both the City organization and the community it serves.

About Irwindale

Located in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley, Irwindale is a small and close‑knit community with a strong sense of identity, history, and pride. While the City has a relatively small residential population, it is home to a significant business and industrial community, creating a unique municipal environment and opportunities not typically found in a city of its size.

Irwindale takes pride in providing a high level of service while maintaining the personal and responsive approach of a small organization. With a smaller workforce, the Human Resources / Risk Manager has the opportunity to work directly with employees, department leaders, labor groups, the City Manager, and other City partners and to see the impact of their work throughout the organization.

Human Resources / Risk Manager Job Description

Education and Experience Guidelines -

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in human resources, public administration, or a related field.

Experience:

Five years of increasingly responsible human resources experience including two years of administrative and supervisory responsibility.

License or Certificate:

Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.

Knowledge of:

Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a human resources and risk management program; principles, practices, and techniques of a human resources program, including labor relations, affirmative action, classification and compensation, recruitment, selection, performance evaluation and training, and risk management; claims processing, adjusting, and reporting techniques; principles and practices of public risk management, safety, workers’ compensation, and general liability; office management and record‑keeping principles, methods, and procedures; principles and practices of program development and administration; recruitment and selection techniques and procedures; disciplinary procedures and processes; principles and practices of budget preparation and administration; principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases; pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Ability to:

Oversee and participate in the management of a comprehensive human resources and risk management program; oversee, direct, and coordinate the work of lower level staff; select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff; participate in the development and administration of division goals, objectives, and procedures; prepare and administer budgets; prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports; develop and improve training and safety programs; identify and resolve various labor relations and risk management issues; advise to advise City officials and employees on human resource and risk management programs and services; analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals; research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques; interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential job functions.

Environment:

Normal office setting with some travel to different sites; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends and may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings.

Physical:

Incumbents require sufficient mobility to work in an office setting and operate office equipment; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation.

Vision:

See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read small print, computer screens and other printed documents.

Hearing:

Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Selection Process:

Applications will be reviewed and only those candidates whose applications and resume most clearly demonstrate the job related experience, education, and training sought by the City shall be selected to move forward in the recruitment process, which may consist of a written exam, performance tests, and oral interviews. The final candidate must successfully complete a thorough background which may include: medical exam, drug screening, employment history verification, DMV check, and fingerprinting.

All applicants must be legally eligible for employment in the United States. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract and any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. The City of Irwindale does not discriminate and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.