Human Resources Department Manager

Salary : $122,345.60 - $189,779.20 Annually
Location : City Hall, 505 S. Vulcan Avenue, Encinitas, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 26-57
Department: Human Resources
Opening Date: 10/29/2026
Closing Date: 11/12/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

The Position

Under the direction of the Human Resources Director, the Human Resources Department Manager plans, organizes, directs and evaluates human resources programs and services. The Human Resources Department Manager serves as a strategic partner to departments and executive leadership, leading key employee programs, advancing workforce initiatives, developing staff, and fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, and exceptional public service. The successful candidate will ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, labor agreements, and industry best practices while aligning human resources programs with the City's long-term organizational goals.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking human resources professional who sees beyond day-to-day operations, anticipates organizational needs, identifies opportunities for improvement, and inspires others to achieve excellence. They bring a strategic perspective to human resources and understand how effective programs, policies, and services contribute to a high-performing organization and engaged workforce.

This individual combines strong technical expertise with a practical, solutions-oriented approach. They are skilled at navigating complex workforce challenges, developing innovative and sustainable solutions, and building trusted relationships throughout the organization. As a key member of the leadership team, they serve as a valued advisor to employees, managers, and executive leadership, helping to advance organizational priorities while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will possess strong expertise in workers' compensation self insured program, leave administration, disability management, benefits administration, labor relations, and regulatory compliance, while maintaining a commitment to exceptional customer service and employee support. They will demonstrate sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion when navigating complex personnel matters and organizational challenges.

Key attributes include:

• Strategic leadership and the ability to align human resources programs and initiatives with organizational goals.
• Innovative and solution-oriented thinking to address complex challenges and improve organizational effectiveness.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with employees, managers, labor representatives, and stakeholders.
• A commitment to staff development, mentoring, and fostering a high-performing team environment.
• The ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining a high level of service, accountability, and professionalism.

Examples of Important & Essential Duties (included but not limited to)
Key Areas of Responsibility

In addition to overseeing core human resources functions, the Human Resources Department Manager will:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the city's human resources programs, initiatives, and services, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, workforce needs, and best practices in public sector human resources.

• Plan, organize, direct, supervise, and evaluate the work of Human Resources staff; provide leadership, coaching, training, and professional development to ensure the delivery of high-quality human resources services.

• Manage and participate in special projects and organizational initiatives by conducting research, analyzing complex issues, developing recommendations, and implementing solutions that advance operational efficiency, organizational effectiveness, and city priorities.

• Administer and oversee the city's workers' compensation program, including claim management, return-to-work coordination, modified duty assignments, and collaboration with third-party administrators, medical providers, and legal counsel.
• Manage employee leave programs, including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA), Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL), military leave, other protected leave programs and return to work program.
• Oversee the administration of employee benefits programs, including health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, wellness, and voluntary benefits.
• Coordinate and manage Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) programs and employee accommodations related to medical conditions and workplace injuries.
• Oversee the city's internal and external Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance programs; coordinate compliance efforts across departments; monitor changes in federal and state accessibility laws and regulations; develop, implement, review, and update ADA-related policies, procedures, and programs; maintain the city's ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plans, and lead the city's ADA Committee.
• Lead and facilitate the interactive process and reasonable accommodation procedures in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state laws.

• Serve as the subject matter expert and compliance liaison for employment-related laws, regulations, labor agreements, and personnel policies; conduct ongoing policy reviews; recommend and implement policy updates; and ensure human resources practices remain compliant with evolving legal requirements and organizational needs.

• Support the city's labor contract negotiations team and assist with labor contract administration, interpretation, and implementation as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications
Training/Experience

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these qualifications is a bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field, and five (5) years of responsible human resources experience, including supervisory experience overseeing professional, technical, and administrative support staff.

Professional certifications and continuing education in human resources, finance, organizational effectiveness, or related fields are desirable.

Application Process and Deadline
An application with an attached resume is required by 5pm on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
** Incomplete application packets will not be accepted **

For any inquiries regarding this recruitment process, please contact us at Please note that all applications must be submitted online through this portal in order to be considered.
Notes:

The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.
Provisions of the California Government Code and Emergency Services Act declare all public employees to be disaster service workers. As disaster service workers, all public employees (except legally employed aliens), are subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.
Incumbents in a safety-sensitive position are subject to pre-placement drug testing.
Incumbents may be asked to travel on City business. They may use their own vehicle being eligible for mileage reimbursement or a City vehicle, and are required to be in the Department of Motor Vehicles Pull Program.
City of Encinitas & San Dieguito Water District
2026 Benefits Summary
Service Employees International Union, Local 221 (SEIU)

Cafeteria Health Plan
The employer's "Flexible Benefit Plan" contribution will make available for each employee a monthly amount equal to the high median of the monthly premiums of all CalPERS health plans available in San Diego County. Under the City's Section 125 Cafeteria Benefits Plan qualified benefits include: health, dental, vision, dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) and healthcare FSA. The remaining balance is available as additional taxable income capped at one-half of the monthly cafeteria contribution

Retirement
The City contracts with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS):

Retirement Tier - Local Miscellaneous Retirement Formula
Tier 2 - Classic2.0% @ 60
Tier 3 - New Member2.0% @ 62
Retirement Tier - Other Safety (Lifeguards)Retirement Formula
Tier 2 - Classic3.0% @ 55
Tier 3 - New Member2.7% @ 57
457 Deferred Compensation
The City offers a 457 and/or 401(a) deferred compensation. These accounts are voluntary and employee funded.

Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
The City provides Basic Group Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D). Group Term Life Insurance is equal to 1x your basic annual earnings up to a maximum of $150,000. AD&D is up to the amount of your Group Term Life Insurance.

Short-Term Disability Insurance (STD)
STD benefits are 70% of your weekly earnings up to a maximum of $3,500 per week.

Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD)
LTD benefits are 66% of monthly earnings up to a maximum of $8,000 per month. San Dieguito Water District employees pay for their LTD premium.

Sick Leave
Employees accrue nine (9) hours of sick leave for each calendar month of paid status (4.153 hours per pay period). New employees are granted a beginning balance of (9) hours. Less than full time employees accrue sick leave in an amount prorated by FTE status. Accrued sick leave carries over from year to year.

Vacation Leave
Employees earn vacation hours based on the following years of service:

Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire - 5 Years 104 hours
6 - 10 Years 128 hours
11 - 15 Years 152 hours
16+ Years 184 hours

Credit is given to new employees for related continuous prior public service employment at the rate of one year for every two years worked.

Paid Leave for Family Member Illness
Each new full-time employee is granted a beginning balance of fourteen (14) hours of paid time off to attend to family member(s) in need of the employee's assistance in times of illness or parental leave to bond with a new child; 1.3846 hours of additional paid leave is accrued each pay period. The maximum accrual is about eighty three (83) hours.

Parental Leave (Baby Bonding)
Employees who qualify for California Family Rights Act (CFRA) baby bonding will be eligible for twelve (12) weeks of employer paid leave. Available leave is prorated based on FTE status.

General Election Leave
Employees shall be provided a half day of paid leave to vote at the employee's polling location or a full day of paid leave to volunteer for the County Registrar of Voters for a General Election.

Holiday Closure
Each year, City Hall is closed from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day.

Holidays
Employees receive thirteen (13) fixed holidays and five (5) floating holidays (45 hours) per fiscal year.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Confidential services are available to employees and household members to assist with personal and professional issues. Five sessions per issue are available each calendar year.

Computer Purchase Program
The City will loan employees who successfully complete the probationary period of employment an interest free loan of up to $3,000.

Tuition Assistance
Eligible employees may receive up to $1,200 in reimbursement per fiscal year for approved coursework tuition, required textbooks and registration.

Social Security and Medicare
The City does not participate in the Social Security program. The City and employees each pay 1.45% to Medicare