Senior Human Resources Officer (2 open positions)

About Carlsbad
The City of Carlsbad is ideally situated in north San Diego County, where a great climate, beautiful beaches, scenic lagoons and abundant open space create the ideal California experience. City government serves 115,000 residents and a diverse business community by providing high quality services, including dedicated public safety personnel, well-maintained parks, three pools, 67 miles of city trails and three city-run libraries. The City of Carlsbad is committed to maintaining its small-town beach community character as it continues to grow. An award-winning growth management plan has helped ensure infrastructure has kept pace with new development, while protecting the city’s financial health.   Carlsbad has a AAA credit rating, one of the best funded pensions in the region and healthy reserves.

The Human Resources Department

The City of Carlsbad Human Resources (HR) Department operates in a very collaborative environment where a positive, supportive and can-do approach is valued, and everyone works as a team and across different functional sections as needed.  The work in the department is challenging, rewarding and fulfilling in a fast-paced environment. 

Under general direction, the role of the Senior Human Resources Officer (SHRO) position is to act as a strategic partner by providing HR support throughout the city. The position is responsible for acting as an HR liaison and assisting with a broad range of generalist and specialized HR related services.

The HR Department is currently seeking to fill 2 SHRO vacancies with responsibilities in classification & compensation, leaves, employee relations and talent acquisition.

Ideal candidates for Carlsbad’s current SHRO vacancies are seasoned HR generalists with an analytic mindset and a comprehensive understanding of HR principles across multiple functional areas.

The ideal candidate for the one position will have experience in and knowledge of California leave-related laws and regulations, including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, and ADA, extensive hands-on experience working in HRIS platforms, a solid background in classification and compensation having skills in conducting job analyses, data analytics, developing and updating class specifications, performing market salary studies. 

The ideal candidate for the other position will have experience in advising managers and employees on complex employee relations matters, performance management, investigations, and conflict resolution.

Full- cycle recruitment and selection experience would be highly desirable for either role.

SHRO’s will work collaboratively on issues having citywide impacts and/or which may require insight and help on more complex or challenging matters. SHRO’s will provide strategic input on matters which may have significant and/or citywide impacts for planning and awareness.  They will act as advisors to senior level employees, providing guidance and assistance on all areas of personnel management, regulations, policies, and laws.  A working knowledge of labor relations and the negotiation process, including supporting management in contract negotiations and administering collective bargaining agreements

You belong in Carlsbad
The City of Carlsbad embraces and recognizes the vital relationship of an inclusive, engaged work environment and innovative excellence. An equitable and inclusive work climate comprises personal experiences, values, and views shaped from differences of culture and circumstance. Our organization appreciates belonging, creativity, recognition and retention of its employees and is committed to hiring and developing motivated, productive and talented employees who provide services and enhance our quality of life. We work to embrace open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our responsibility and goal.    

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

Act as a strategic business partner. 

Identify and address human resources and labor relations issues. 

Develop and maintain relationships with employee associations and staff.

Interpret and advise on labor agreements and employment-related policies and procedures.

Conduct and/or provide support for meet and confer and contract negotiations.

Advise on employee relation matters, conduct administrative investigations, review, and recommend rewards, and discipline as appropriate.

Recommend and administer professional development and compliance training.

Assist with recruitment and selection 

Provide guidance on and support the administration of employee benefits. 

Review, research, analyze and report on a variety of classification and compensation matters. 

Advise department management on and ensure compliance with HR related laws, contracts, policies, and regulations and develop HR policies. 

Create, analyze, and interpret HR data analytics and make data driven decisions. 

Perform additional duties/special projects as assigned.

• Ability to effectively manage conflict, develop and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of an organization and diverse working groups including employees at all levels, employee associations, management, elected officials, and other municipal agencies.
• Knowledge of the Meyers Milias Brown Act requirements including meet-and-confer processes, labor negotiations and various labor-related issues.
• Knowledge of federal and state of California laws regarding HR compliance and  employment issues.
• Intellectually curious with strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. 
• Motivated to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing organizational and departmental needs.
• Strong political acumen.
• Strong emotional intelligence and people skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• A genuine focus on enhanced customer service and customer satisfaction.
• The ability to effectively direct and manage a wide range of programs, and projects simultaneously, without losing sight of important issues and goals.
• Strong prioritization and organizational skills.
• Knowledge and experience in interpreting rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge and ability with handling discipline matters and conducting administrative fact-findings.
• Ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment and decision-making skills.
• Strong ability to quickly comprehend and analyze complex issues.
• Capacity and willingness to work under the pressure of deadlines and high volume of work; and
• Genuine commitment and appreciation for the value of diversity. 

A bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Business Management or a closely related field and four years of progressively responsible professional experience in the public and/or private sector that demonstrates your ability to work in the field of Human Resources as detailed above. Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates these qualifications may be qualifying for this position.

The below skills are highly desirable:

• Strong knowledge of municipal operations or public administration
• Knowledge of HRIS (i.e. Workday, Lawson, Cornerstone, etc.)
• Demonstrated expertise in data analytics
• Advanced Excel skills

 Desirable Certification:

• Possession of professional certification(s) as it relates to HR/LR (i.e. PHR, SPHR, CALPELRA CLRM, IPMA, etc.).

 This is an at-will, unrepresented position.