PERSONNEL SPECIALIST

Caltrans; California; Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Caltrans in Sacramento is seeking a Personnel Specialist to ensure payroll, benefits, and leave transactions are processed accurately and on time. The role requires applying California state laws, department rules, and bargaining unit provisions while delivering excellent customer service.

Under supervision at various levels, the Personnel Specialist handles appointments, separations, and related transactions, ensuring compliance and timely processing for state employees.

Qualifications

• Experience with payroll and benefits processing.
• Ability to apply state laws, departmental rules and bargaining unit provisions.

Responsibilities

• Process appointments, separations, payroll, and benefits for Caltrans employees.
• Review and complete payroll and personnel transactions accurately and on time.
• Communicate effectively with internal staff, control agencies, and employees.

Skills

Payroll processing

Leave transactions

Customer service

Interdepartmental coordination

Job description

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug‑free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Position Details

Job Code #: JC-536529

Position #(s): 702-008-1303-XXX

Working Title: Personnel Specialist

Classification: PERSONNEL SPECIALIST

• $4,030.00 - $5,044.00 A
• $4,632.00 - $5,807.00 B
• $4,799.00 - $6,008.00 C
• $5,184.00 - $6,488.00 D

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions: Multiple

Work Location: Sacramento County

Telework: Hybrid

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Caltrans Mission: Improving lives and communities through transportation.

Caltrans Vision: A thriving and connected California.

The Caltrans workforce is made up of diverse and unique individuals who contribute to our organizational success.

Department Website: www.dot.ca.gov

Director’s EEO Policy : https://dot.ca.gov/programs/equal-employment-opportunity

Director’s EEO Policy Statement: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/equal-employment-opportunity

Job Description And Duties

Looking for a job that you can feel passionate about? The Office of Transactions Services (OTS) is seeking hard‑working, resourceful, enthusiastic individuals committed to achieving excellence to work in a fast‑paced environment while delivering quality customer service. The Personnel Specialist (PS) ensures our workforce is paid timely by documenting, reviewing, and completing payroll, personnel, benefit, and leave transactions, while applying related laws, rules, and policies, and meeting deadlines.

Under close supervision of the Personnel Supervisor at the entry level and general supervision at the journey and advanced levels, the PS applies state laws, departmental rules and regulations, and bargaining unit provisions pertaining to a variety of payroll and personnel transactions. The PS is responsible for processing appointments, separations, payroll, and benefits for California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) employees and related personnel transactions functions. All duties require effective communication and excellent customer service with internal staff, employees, and control agencies.

Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Personnel Specialist exam.

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program. Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program: http://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/Home/ManualItem/1/2113 .

PARF#22-26-0205 JC#536529

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Special Requirements

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) serves as documentation of each applicant’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Please follow the instructions below; failure to include and complete the SOQ as instructed may result in the SOQ not being considered and in disqualification from the interview. Each question must be numbered and addressed in the same order as the questions below. The SOQ must be typed, single spaced, no more than one page in length, and 12‑point Century Gothic font.

• What skill or experience do you possess that would make you successful in performing the Personnel Specialist duties?
• Describe your work experience which demonstrates your ability to manage your work assignments in a fast‑paced environment while evaluating project priority deadlines.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are basing your eligibility on education, you must include your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for verification. Unofficial, original, or official sealed transcripts will be accepted and may be required upon appointment. Applicants with foreign transcripts/degrees must provide a transcript/degree U.S. equivalency report evaluation that indicates the number of units and degree to which the foreign coursework is equivalent. Please visit either of the following two websites for a list of evaluation agencies: https://www.naces.org/members or https://aice-eval.org . Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.