Salary : $122,588.34 - $147,583.49 Annually
Location : Countywide, Santa Barbara County, CA
Job Type: Full-time, Regular Status (benefitted)
Job Number: 2607CHRO
Department: Administration
Division: Human Resources
Opening Date: 07/15/2026
Closing Date: 8/3/2026 4:00 PM Pacific

Description

This management position is responsible for developing and administering a comprehensive human resources program which includes recruitment and selection, personnel rules and policies, classification and compensation, salary and benefits administration, equal rights, safety and workers' compensation, proposed personnel actions, and staff development and training. Also oversees labor relations, supervises assigned staff, maintains personnel records, and conducts studies and surveys.
Examples of Duties

The following is a partial listing of the typical management responsibilities for the Chief Human Resources Officer:

• Directs, plans, organizes, prioritizes, and manages, directly and/or through subordinate staff, the human resource functions of the Court.
• Develops, implements, and interprets court human resource policies, programs, and procedures; consults with and advises managers and supervisors of their human resource management responsibilities and the application of court personnel policies, standards, and procedures.
• Works with the executive management team for resource and succession planning, review and implementation of best HR practices, and ensures court procedures are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations.
• Keeps abreast of changes in court legislation as well as State and Federal legislation that affect employment related issues; evaluates impact of legislation, develops implementation plans and advises managers and supervisors of changes.
• Oversees and participates in labor negotiations; represents the Court in meet and confer; solicits input from management, develops and recommends bargaining position for contract negotiations.
• Supervises personnel transactions; supervises establishment and maintenance of employee records; gathers, tabulates and analyzes salary and benefit data and prepares related statistical data, correspondence and reports.
• Develops, implements, monitors and administers the comprehensive employee benefits program.
• Oversees leaves of absence and workers' compensation program.
• Manages Court's ADA compliance program, serves as the Court's ADA Coordinator.
• Oversees the performance management program including: performance evaluations, performance improvement plans, discipline, and grievance processes.
• Develops, implements and monitors compliance with the Court's risk management, safety, equal opportunity, ergonomics, and worker's compensation programs.
• Performs supervisory duties, including hiring and training staff, prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, participating in disciplinary actions, and resolving employee grievances.
• Compiles and completes HR related metrics and reports.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Employment Standards
Any combination of training and work experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a major in business, public administration, management or a closely related field, and at least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources including at least three (3) years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of training and work experience.

Knowledge of: Principles, functions and practices of public personnel administration; pertinent Federal and State laws, rules and regulations pertaining to HR; principles, methods and techniques of position classification and compensation; elements of recruitment and hiring strategies; selection procedure development; interviewing and training; salary administration; job analysis methods and techniques; benefits administration; Workers' Compensation laws and regulations. Ability to manage, supervise and perform the full range of professional human resources work; understand and interpret complex regulations and technical information, communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing, use standard office computer software, maintain confidentiality, establish and maintain effective work relationships with judicial officers, court personnel, employee representatives and the public; exercise discretion and judgment.

Requirements: Independent travel between Court facilities in Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara is required. Successful candidate must pass a security background check.
There are a variety of benefits available to regular status employees of the Superior Court of CA, County of Santa Barbara. These benefits include: medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance programs, retirement program, flexible spending account (health care, dependent care, transportation and parking), employee assistance program, and deferred compensation program.

General Benefits
Paid Holidays - Full-time Court employees receive 14 paid holidays, plus 1 floating holiday
Paid Sick Leave - Full-time Court employees accrue 12 paid sick days each year
Paid Vacation - Full-time Court employees accrue paid vacation time based on their years of service as follows:
Vacation Accrual
0-2 years - 12 days per year
2-4 years - 16 days per year
4-10 years - 19 days per year
10-14 years - 22 days per year
14+ years - 25 days per year
NOTE: Individuals from other federal, state and/or local public agencies who are entering employment with the Court may receive service credit towards vacation accrual.

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
The Court pays:
100% of employee health premium
100% of the premium for Employee + dependent and Employee + Family
100% of employee dental premium, this amount is applied to all levels of coverage
Coverage for spouse, children and domestic partner are also available. For more information regarding the cost of the medical, dental and vision plans, and the Court's contribution please see the following links (amounts are based on full-time employment, or 40 hours per week):

NOTE: All Court health plans for part-time employees are the same, but the Court's contribution towards the premiums, and the biweekly cash allowance are provided on a pro-rated basis.

Alternative Transportation Benefit
Regular employees using alternative transportation (i.e. walking, biking, public transportation, carpool, vanpool, etc) may be eligible to earn an additional .62 hours of paid vacation time biweekly. This may result in an overall benefit equivalent to 2 additional vacation days per year (based on full-time employment).

Retirement
2% at age 62, 3 year final average salary. The Court makes a considerable biweekly contribution to the retirement plan on behalf of employees. All regular employees of the Court are required enroll in the General Retirement Plan administered by the Santa Barbara County Employee's Retirement System (SBCERS). More information regarding the rates of contribution by the employee and employer, vesting, and retirement options may be found at the following link: If you have previous public employment, you may qualify for a different retirement plan.

The Court also offers a Deferred Compensation plan administered by Empower. This is a voluntary program which allows the employee to contribute a portion of their salary, before federal and state taxes, to an investment account to supplement retirement income. The Court also offers a Roth option.

Flexible Spending Account
Flexible spending accounts (FSA) are among the most significant tax shelters allowed by the IRS. Employees may choose to contribute a portion of their salary, before federal and state taxes, to this account to be used throughout the benefit plan year to cover out of pocket health care, dependent care and transportation and parking costs. More information regarding Flexible Spending Accounts can be found at the following link:

Life, Disability & Accident Insurances
The Court provides Basic Life Insurance coverage to the employee in the amount $75,000 at the Court's expense for most employees in this unit. Additional, Supplemental Life Insurance coverage for the employee, spouse and/or children may be purchased by the employee.This includes a life insurance plan with a long-term care provision.

All benefit eligible employees working over 20 hours per week are enrolled in Long Term Disability Insurance at no cost to the employee. The monthly benefit percentage is 60% of monthly earnings.

Critical Illness insurance coverage may be purchased by the employee. This insurance pays a one-time, lump sum benefit on top of any health insurance benefits that you currently receive upon the diagnosis of a covered disease or illness.

Accident/Specific Injury insurance may be purchased by the employee. This insurance pays you a specific amount on top of any health insurance benefits you currently receive, for specific injuries resulting from a covered accident.

Personal Accident Insurance & Death and Dismemberment Insurance may be purchased by the employee. This insurance pays a one benefit based on death or extent of injury/disability.

Further information regarding the above Life, Disability & Accident Insurances, costs and coverage can be found at the following link:

Employee Assistance Program
This program is available to all employees of the Court at no cost to the employee. This plan is there to ensure Court employees have the support needed to manage the many challenges life may present.