Senior HR Manager — Public Sector Leader (Hybrid)

Public Sector HR Association; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary advancement

Paid time off

Professional development

Health premium contributions

Post-retirement health benefits

Retirement pension

Parental leave

Additional benefits

Job summary

The County of Sonoma is seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager to lead the Human Resources team within the Human Services Department. The role focuses on directing the department’s comprehensive HR program, supervising managers, and guiding organizational workforce planning and policy interpretation.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate strong leadership, expertise in employment law, and the ability to advance equity and efficiency across a large government workforce, including training and

Qualifications

• Experience supervising and leading a team of individuals with diverse backgrounds, preferably in a public sector organization, or a field with similar complexity, regulatory requirements, and labor structures.
• The ability to be a trustworthy and approachable leader who can respond to critical situations and apply sound judgement.
• Experience leading or supporting organizational change initiatives.
• A strong understanding of employment laws, County policies, labor relations practices, and collective bargaining environments.
• The proven ability to manage and prioritize multiple high-impact assignments simultaneously, ensuring timely completion and consistent follow-through with minimal oversight.
• The ability to assess issues, identify systemic patterns and causes, and develop sustainable solutions while paying close attention to critical details.
• High emotional intelligence and the ability to create an environment of trust across all organizational levels.
• A commitment to strengthening the Department’s workplace culture and organizational performance.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing concise written guidance and formal documentation for leadership and managers.
• The ability to explain complex HR concepts in a clear, supportive, and actionable manner.
• A passion for providing ethical and accountable leadership committed to transparency, responsible use of public resources, and equitable service delivery in support of the Department’s mission.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key advisor to the Department’s executive management team, guiding workforce planning, organizational development, and consistent policy interpretation related to human resources functions
• Cultivate collaboration between the Human Resources team and the Department’s executive management team to evaluate, improve, and implement human resources processes, tools, and initiatives that promote an equitable, efficient, and service-oriented workforce
• Interpret, apply, and maintain compliance with all County and Department policies, ordinances, Civil Service Rules, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations
• Champion Department-wide efforts that support employee wellbeing, workplace culture, equity, compliance, and organizational priorities
• Oversee and manage complex employee and labor relations matters, including investigations, performance management, corrective action, and conflict resolution
• Lead departmental classification and compensation activities, including position reviews, reclassifications, and organizational structure assessments
• Coach and support managers and supervisors on HR practices, County policies, and labor agreements; and develop and deliver related training
• Design, improve, and implement HR processes, tools, and initiatives that support an equitable, efficient, and modern workforce

Job description

The County of Sonoma is seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager to lead the Human Resources team within the Human Services Department. The role focuses on directing the department’s comprehensive HR program, supervising managers, and guiding organizational workforce planning and policy interpretation.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate strong leadership, expertise in employment law, and the ability to advance equity and efficiency across a large government workforce, including training and