Director of Human Resources

Western Municipal Water District

$184K — $274K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in public-sector human resources
  • Proven track record in labor relations and compliance
  • Expertise in employee relations and safety practices
  • Strong strategic thinking and people management skills
  • Experience in classification and compensation frameworks

Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage the full cycle human resources function
  • Collaborate with executive leadership to align HR initiatives with organizational goals
  • Embed best practices for HR and safety within operations
  • Coach cross-functional teams to enhance employee experience
  • Drive employee engagement and cultural alignment initiatives

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance with significant employer contribution
  • Flexible spending plan for pre-tax medical and childcare expenses
  • Life and accidental death/disability insurance provided
  • Short and long term disability coverage after six months of employment
  • Access to an Employee Assistance Program for personal and workplace issues
  • Participation in retirement savings plans including 457(b) and 401(a)
  • Generous paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave
Full Job Description
Salary : $184,115.00 - $274,026.00 Annually
Location : 14205 Meridian Parkway Riverside, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 26-16
Department: Human Resources
Opening Date: 06/29/2026
Closing Date: 7/24/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Description
Western Municipal Water District is seeking a Director of Human Resources. As Director of Human Resources, you will serve a critical leadership role in shaping the direction, culture, and operational excellence of a growing and respected water district. Working in partnership with the General Manager, Deputy General Manager, and executive management team (EMT), this role provides the opportunity to: shape the full cycle human resources experience, embed best in class HR and safety practices into business operations, and coach cross-functional teams to deliver a consistent, high quality employee experience.
The ideal candidate is a strategic and people-centered leader who aligns workforce initiatives with Western Water's vision, strategic priorities, and C.A.R.E. culture. They'll bring deep expertise in public-sector human resources, labor relations, employee relations, classification and compensation, benefits, investigations, safety, and compliance.

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Supplemental Information

Position FLSA Status
This position is at-will, exempt, unrepresented, and non-classified. Western Water employees are expected to work overtime, weekends, evenings and holidays as required to accommodate the agency needs, in addition to responding as a Disaster Emergency Service Worker.

Click the link to view the full job classification description
HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS

Notice: Benefits listed below assume full-time regular status.


Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in these benefits effective the first of the month following date of hire. Effective January 1, 2026, Western Water contributes up to $2,992.11 toward the cost of medical, dental and vision insurance. Employees will pay any costs exceeding this amount through bi-weekly pre-tax payroll deduction. Employees may choose between four medical plans--Anthem Blue Cross California Care (HMO), Anthem Blue Cross Prudent Buyer Advantage (PPO 500), Anthem Blue Cross Prudent Buyer Classic (PPO 200) or Kaiser Permanente (HMO). There are two dental plans to choose from--DeltaCare (DMO) and Delta Dental (PPO). The Standard provides us with two vision options, Vision Service Plan (VSP) or EyeMed.

Opting Out of Medical Coverage
Employees with medical insurance through another provider can opt out of Western Water's medical plan. By opting out, employees will receive a flat monthly rate of $690. Proof of other coverage is required on an annual basis during the open enrollment period. Employee must enroll in a dental plan and the vision plan. Enrollment for eligible dependents, in these plans, is optional.

Flexible Spending
Effective the first of the month following date of hire, employee may participate in the flexible spending plan. This plan provides you the opportunity to pay for certain medical, dental, vision and childcare expenses with pre-tax dollars resulting in substantial tax savings.

Life Insurance
This benefit is provided by the District through Lincoln Financial Group ("Lincoln") and is effective the first of the month following your date of hire. You are provided with up to $50,000 in life insurance for you and $1,000 for your eligible dependents.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)
This benefit is for the employee only and is provided by the district through Lincoln. AD&D is effective the first of the month following the date of hire and provides payment for specified losses sustained through dismembering or fatal accidents. The maximum amount of AD&D insurance is equal to the amount of life insurance.

Supplemental Life Insurance
Effective the first of the month following the date of hire and employees may purchase supplemental life insurance for employee and eligible dependents through Lincoln. This supplemental life insurance provides a guaranteed issue amount for employees up to $150,000, up to $30,000 for a spouse and $10,000 for child(ren).

Short Term Disability
Western Water provides short term disability (STD) insurance through Lincoln. Coverage is effective on the first (1st) of the month following six (6) months of consecutive employment. STD benefits begin on the 1st day of disability for an accident or 8th day of disability for an illness and provide up to 60% of your base salary.

Long Term Disability
Western Water provides long term disability insurance through Lincoln. Coverage is effective on the first (1st) of the month following six (6) months of consecutive employment. LTD benefits begin on the 91st calendar day of a medically certified disability and provide up to 60% of your base salary.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Administered by Lincoln's EmployeeConnect, the EAP assists in dealing with problems affecting an employee's personal life and/or job performance. Use of this benefit, paid 100% by the district for up to five meetings with EAP staff, is strictly confidential. Other services provided through Lincoln's EmployeeConnect EAP are referrals or advice on topics such as legal consultation, parenting, senior care, childcare, pet care, and healthy rewards.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Deferred Compensation 457(b)
Employees may participate in a Deferred Compensation Program (457(b) Plan) to save toward retirement and, at the same time, reduce bi-weekly taxable income.

401(a) Retirement Plan
Western Water contributes into a 401(a) Retirement Plan for those employees covered under the Confidential unit (COU). Contributions, in the amount of 2% of base pay, are made on a bi-weekly basis. Eligible employees are 100% vested in this benefit upon date of hire.

California Public Employees Retirement System
Western Water contracts with the State of California Public Employees Retirement System ("CalPERS") for employee retirement benefits. New employees, who are hired on or after December 16, 2012, and who formerly worked for another PERS agency, or an agency with a reciprocal retirement system, and who meet certain eligibility requirements, shall be enrolled in the 2% at 55 PERS retirement plan. These employees will be obligated to pay the 7% employee contribution rate. The 2% at 55 retirement plan shall provide for benefits based on the highest three-year average salary.

Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, who are defined as "New Members" by California law (essentially those individuals who have not previously been a member of a public agency retirement system) shall be enrolled in the statutorily required 2% at 62 PERS retirement plan. New Members will be obligated to pay 50% of the "normal cost" of their retirement benefits as required by State law (Currently 7.75% of base pay). The 2% at 62 retirement plan shall provide for benefits based on the highest three-year average salary.

Retiree Medical
Upon retirement from the district, eligible employees may be entitled to lifetime retiree medical benefits. Refer to the Employee Association (MOU) or Management/Professional/Confidential unit (COU) for detailed information on the vesting schedule for this retirement benefit.

Social Security and Medicare
As an employee of Western Water, you pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. Western Water pays the same Social Security and Medicare tax, dollar for dollar, on your behalf.

COMPENSATION

Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)
Western Water provides all employees an annual cost of living adjustment. Details of the cost-of-living adjustment are provided in the Employee Association (MOU) or Management/Professional/Confidential unit (COU) agreements.

Longevity Pay
Western Water provides longevity pay to certain employees who have completed five or more years of continuous service. Refer to the Employee Association (MOU) or Management/Professional/Confidential unit (COU) agreements for detailed criteria and amounts of longevity pay.

PAID TIME OFF

Vacation
During the first four (4) years of employment, vacation is accrued at the rate of 3.08 hours per pay period. This is equivalent to 10 days per year. During the fifth (5th) through ninth (9th) years, accrual is 4.62 hours per pay period and during the tenth (10th) and subsequent years, accrual is 6.16 hours per pay period. These are equivalent to 15 days and 20 days per year, respectively. Vacation can be used after the completion of the probationary period. The maximum vacation accrual is 480 hours. In addition, eligible employees may cash out up to a maximum of eighty (80) hours of your accrued vacation time, once per calendar year, provided the employee has have no less than eighty (80) hours remaining following the cash out.

Holidays
After two full work weeks of employment, new employees receive pay, at their current straight time hourly rate, for Ten (10) holidays. Those holidays are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

After completion of the probationary period, employees may take three (3) additional workdays per fiscal year as "floating holidays". These holidays are taken at your discretion, in full day increments, and are subject to approval by the supervisor/manager. Floating holidays not taken during the fiscal year are converted to vacation time for each unused floating holiday.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees accrue 96 hours of sick leave per year. After completing a full calendar year of employment and using no more than eighteen (18) hours of sick leave during said calendar year, you may be compensated for up to forty (40) hours of accrued sick leave at your then current rate of pay. Sick leave can be used after 90 calendar days of employment and shall be cumulative to a maximum of 1,600 hours. Sick leave is paid on a specific scale upon termination of employment.

Administrative Leave
After completion of the probationary period, employees covered by the Management/Professional/Confidential unit (COU) receive thirty-two (32) hours for non-exempt and forty (40) hours for exempt positions of paid administrative leave. Administrative leave hours not taken during the fiscal year are converted hour-for-hour to vacation time hours.

Additional Benefits
9/80 work schedule, Educational Assistance (subject to available budgeted funds), Certification Reimbursement Program and Interest-Free Computer Loan Program.

*** To review the full agreements between the Employee Association (MOU) and Confidential unit (COU) with Western Water please use the following links:

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