SENIOR PERSONNEL SPECIALIST

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services; California; Híbrido; USD 63.000 - 79.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Free Parking

On-site Gym

Health insurance

Excellent CalPERS pension

Flexible schedules

Descripción de la vacante

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) seeks a Senior Personnel Specialist to manage disability and leave programs, ensure accurate processing, and support payroll operations. The role requires coordinating case timelines, conducting research, and advising staff and management on HR processes.

The position offers hybrid telework, with in-office days as needed, and involves partnering with the Workers’ Disability Unit to maintain compliance with laws and bargaining unit

Formación

• Experience processing complex personnel, payroll, benefits, disability leave transactions.
• Knowledge of state and federal leave laws and programs.
• Ability to interpret Civil Service rules, bargaining unit contracts, and departmental policies.

Responsabilidades

• Process and administer disability and leave programs (FMLA, CFRA, SDI, PFL, PDL, etc.).
• Key in complex leave transactions and track case status and timelines.
• Provide guidance to staff and management on payroll and personnel issues.
• Assist in coordinating new employee orientations and staff trainings.

Conocimientos

Leave management

Payroll familiarity

Research ability

Analytical skills

Herramientas

SCO systems

Descripción del empleo

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

JC-538243 - Senior Personnel Specialist

$5,663.00 - $7,097.00 per Month

Final Filing Date: 11/20/2026

Join the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and be part of an organization that serves as a leader in emergency management and homeland security through dedicated service to all. We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our team. If you are interested in a challenging opportunity in a high-energy, team-oriented environment, you are encouraged to apply.

Job Summary: Under the general direction of the Supervisor I, the Sr. PS has primary responsibility for the processing and technical administration of the Department’s disability and protected leave programs, including Workers’ Compensation (WC), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA), Non-Industrial Disability (NDI), State Disability Insurance (SDI), Paid Family Leave (PFL), and Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL). The incumbent is responsible for keying complex disability and leave transactions, tracking case status and timelines, reconciling information with control agency requirements, and ensuring all required documentation is received, accurately processed, and maintained. The Sr. PS conducts research to resolve discrepancies, consults with internal stakeholders regarding technical processing needs, and provides continuous updates to the Workers’ Disability Unit (WDU). The Sr. PS performs professional work in support of complex personnel transactions, payroll corrections, quality assurance reviews, data reporting, and procedure development. The incumbent researches and interprets applicable laws, rules, regulations, and bargaining unit provisions; evaluates issues; develops recommendations; and assists in implementing process improvements and internal controls. The Sr. PS provides consultative assistance to Personnel Specialists and management and may lead assignments requiring independent judgment, problem solving, and program evaluation consistent with the Sr. PS classification. The incumbent also assists in coordinating and delivering New Employee Orientations (NEOs), onboarding activities, and other Division-wide trainings to ensure new hires and staff receive accurate and consistent information related to personnel and payroll processes. The Sr. PS independently monitors and tracks assigned work through completion, ensuring timely follow-up, resolution of issues, and proper documentation of actions in accordance with Departmental standards and control agency requirements.

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

Working Conditions

Hybrid Telework: This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule. Additional in-office days may be required based on the business need.

Minimum Requirements

• SENIOR PERSONNEL SPECIALIST

# of Positions

1

Work Location

Hybrid

Job Type

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture by hiring and retaining individuals from a variety of backgrounds and personal experiences. Our employees are empowered with the tools and resources necessary to meet our mission, while continuing to expand equity and inclusion efforts at all levels of the organization. We are committed to the spirit and work required to ensure the safety and resilience of every community in California. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is an emergency response, homeland security, and disaster recovery agency and as a result, is a dynamic and exciting place to work in a team-oriented environment. Cal OES provides training to enhance the understanding of emergency and incident management to all employees. The Finance & Logistics Administration Directorate oversees sections managing Cal OES operations including budgeting, fiscal analysis, accounting, grants management, human resources, labor relations, staff recruitment, examinations, organization and professional development, disaster and internal logistics support. The Directorate is comprised of four sections: Administrative Services, Human Resources, Grants Management and Logistics. In the event of an emergency, employees may be contacted and requested to report to work in the event of an emergency. This contact may be outside of your normal working hours (evenings/nights, weekends, and holidays). This service may require irregular work hours, work locations other than the official duty location, and may include duties other than those specified in your official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and you may be required to relocate to emergency sites. Finance & Administration | California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience independently processing and resolving complex personnel, payroll, benefits, disability leave, and leave accounting transactions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of state and federal leave laws and programs, including FMLA, CFRA, Catastrophic Leave, and disability-related benefits administration.
• Experience interpreting and applying California civil service laws, State Personnel Board rules, CalHR policies, bargaining unit contracts, and departmental personnel policies.
• Knowledge of State Controller's Office (SCO) personnel and payroll systems, processes, and reporting functions.
• Experience researching complex personnel issues and providing recommendations, guidance, and technical expertise to management, supervisors, and staff.
• Ability to analyze, evaluate, and audit personnel transactions to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and mandated timelines.
• Experience serving as a lead worker, subject matter expert, trainer, or mentor in personnel, payroll, benefits, or human resources operations.
• Ability to organize and prioritize a high-volume workload, manage competing deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive employee information with professionalism and discretion.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and research skills with the ability to identify issues, develop solutions, and implement process improvements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex personnel and benefits information to diverse audiences.
• Experience developing, updating, and implementing procedures, conducting audits, and recommending operational efficiencies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, Outlook, and other systems used to track and report personnel and payroll activities.

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Cal OES employees are eligible for a number of benefits and working for us is a great opportunity to join a committed team. Benefits include but are not limited to the following:

• Free Parking
• On-site Gym and Locker room
• Electric Carport
• Excellent CalPERS state pension plan
• 401(k) and 457(b) Plans
• Flexible Schedules
• Generous paid time off
• Health, dental & vision insurance for the employee or the employee's family
• Investment in careers development
• Located near many local eateries, financial institutions, and the Light Rail Station

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: http://www.caloes.ca.gov

Human Resources Contact:
HR Unit - CH
[phone]
[e-mail]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Officer
[phone]
[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice)TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Statement of Qualifications

All applicants must provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring manager’s review. Failure to include an SOQ may disqualify an applicant from consideration.

A resume in lieu of the SOQ responses may disqualify an applicant from consideration. A standard or generic SOQ may disqualify an applicant from consideration.

Please review the Duty Statement for the Senior Personnel Specialist.

SOQ FORMAT INSTRUCTIONS:

• No more than one (1) page with one-inch margins
• Submitted in 12-point Arial font, single sided, and single spaced
• Include your first and last name in the right-hand corner of the page
• Include the question below with your response in the order listed on the bulletin

PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:

• Describe your experience administering and/or advising on employee disability, leave, and benefits programs. Include your experience interpreting and applying FMLA, CFRA, Non-Industrial Disability Insurance (NDI), State Disability Insurance (SDI), Catastrophic Leave, workers’ compensation-related leave, and other leave and benefit programs. Provide a specific example of a complex case you managed, the research and analysis you conducted, and the outcome.
• Describe your experience processing and resolving complex personnel and payroll transactions. Include your experience using the State Controller's Office (SCO) systems, auditing transactions, researching and interpreting personnel laws, rules, regulations, bargaining unit provisions, and departmental policies, and providing recommendations or guidance to management or staff. Describe a situation where you identified and resolved a complex personnel or payroll issue.

Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025):

Effective July 1, 2025, CalHR implemented the temporary Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025), which reduces employee pay in exchange for leave credits. The reduction amount and leave credits vary by bargaining unit. Salary range(s) listed do not reflect this temporary reduction.

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.