Vice Chancellor, Human Resources and Employee Relations

Peralta Community College District (CA); Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Peralta Community College District is seeking a strategic Chief Human Resources Officer to lead the District’s HR function, drive workforce planning, and strengthen organizational effectiveness in service of student success.

The Vice Chancellor of Human Resources will oversee recruitment, compensation, employee development, and labor relations, partnering with leaders across the District to build a high-performing team and ensure compliant, equitable practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a closely related field.
• Eight years of HR experience with five years in management or supervisory roles.
• Experience with labor relations, employee relations, and workforce planning.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all aspects of human resources, labor relations, employee relations, organizational development, and workforce planning.
• Develop and implement comprehensive HR strategy aligned with the District’s mission and priorities.
• Serve as Chief Negotiator during collective bargaining with bargaining units.
• Oversee HR policies, budgets, HRIS, recordkeeping, and compliance.
• Lead accreditation-related workforce planning and reporting to governance bodies.

Skills

HR leadership

Strategic planning

Labor relations

Employee relations

Organizational development

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Peralta Community College District is entering an exciting period of transformation and opportunity. With a renewed focus on organizational effectiveness, employee experience, innovation, and student success, the District is strengthening its human resources function and investing in its people and processes. The Vice Chancellor of Human Resources will have a unique opportunity to help shape this evolution, build a high-performing HR organization, develop and empower a talented team, and partner with leaders across the District to create a workplace where employees can thrive and students can succeed.

Under administrative direction, serves as the District's chief human resources executive and provides strategic leadership for all aspects of human resources, labor relations, employee relations, organizational development, and workforce planning; develops and implements a comprehensive human resources strategy that supports the District's mission, strategic priorities, and commitment to student success.

Examples of duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategic Leadership

• Provides visionary leadership for the District's Human Resources Division and aligns human resources strategies with the District's Strategic Plan.
• Serves as a member of the Chancellor's executive leadership team, advising on workforce planning, organizational development, succession planning, and institutional effectiveness.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates Human Resources policies, procedures, and strategic initiatives that support operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Promotes a culture of equity, inclusion, accountability, collaboration, and excellent customer service.

Human Resources Administration

• Directs all Human Resources functions, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, classification, compensation, employee records, benefits administration, performance management, and employee development.
• Ensures equitable, legally compliant hiring and employment practices for all employee groups.
• Oversees the Human Resources Information System (HRIS), personnel records, and employment documentation.
• Develops and monitors Human Resources budgets and resource allocations.

Labor and Employee Relations

• Serves as the District's Chief Negotiator during collective bargaining with academic and classified bargaining units.
• Provides strategic leadership during labor negotiations, contract administration, grievance resolution, mediation, and disciplinary proceedings.
• Advises the Chancellor, Governing Board, and executive leadership regarding labor relations, legal developments, and employment practices.
• Collaborates with legal counsel on personnel matters, investigations, litigation, and regulatory compliance.
• Fosters productive labor-management relationships built on trust, transparency, and collaboration.

Classification and Compensation

• Directs the development and administration of the District's classification and compensation programs.
• Oversees salary studies, classification reviews, position control, reclassifications, and organizational analyses.
• Ensures compensation practices remain equitable, fiscally responsible, and aligned with District goals.

Performance Management and Organizational Development

• Leads the District's employee performance management systems, ensuring timely and meaningful evaluations.
• Supports leadership development, succession planning, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.
• Partners with District leadership to develop professional learning opportunities that strengthen employee performance and institutional capacity.
• Promotes continuous improvement through effective organizational change management strategies.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Maintains confidential personnel information in accordance with legal requirements.
• Ensures compliance with applicable federal and state employment laws.
• Directs investigations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and employee misconduct.
• Monitors legislative and regulatory developments affecting Human Resources operations and recommend policy revisions as appropriate.

Institutional Leadership

• Supports accreditation efforts through workforce planning, staffing analysis, and compliance reporting.
• Participates in shared governance committees and District-wide initiatives.
• Prepares reports and presentations for the Chancellor, Governing Board, executive leadership, and external agencies.
• Represents the District with governmental agencies, educational institutions, and professional organizations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a closely related field.

Experience

• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience, including five (5) years in a supervisor or management capacity.
• Evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, gender, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and employees.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Human Resources management principles and best practices.
• California Education Code, Government Code, Title 5, collective bargaining agreements, and employment law.
• Public-sector labor relations and collective bargaining.
• Classification and compensation systems.
• Organizational development and change management.
• Human Resources technology and data analytics.
• Budget development and fiscal management.
• Shared governance in higher education.

Ability to:

• Lead a comprehensive Human Resources organization.
• Build collaborative relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds including faculty, staff, unions, administrators, and the Governing Board.
• Exercise sound judgment while managing sensitive and confidential matters.
• Analyze complex personnel issues and develop effective solutions.
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, contracts, and Board policies.
• Develop and implement policies.
• Promote equity, inclusion, and a culture of respect throughout the District.
• Managing multiple priorities in a complex organizational environment.
• Communicate effectively in written and verbal form.