Human Resources/Risk Manager

Salary : $96,993.94 - $133,366.67 Annually
Location : City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Avenue, Carpinteria, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: General Government
Opening Date: 09/15/2026
Closing Date: 10/6/2026 12:00 AM Pacific

Under general direction of the Assistant City Manager, plans, organizes, manages, and administers the City's comprehensive human resources and risk management programs; provides professional and technical advice and assistance to City management, supervisors, and employees regarding human resources, employee and labor relations, recruitment and selection, classification and compensation, benefits administration, leave administration, workplace accommodations, organizational development, workplace safety, workers' compensation, liability, and risk management matters; supervises assigned staff; and performs related duties as assigned.

The Human Resources/Risk Manager exercises considerable independent judgment and discretion in administering assigned programs, interpreting and applying personnel policies and labor agreements, advising management, and resolving complex human resources and risk management matters within established City policies and applicable legal requirements. Matters involving significant organizational, legal, labor relations, financial, or policy implications are coordinated with or referred to the Assistant City Manager and City Manager, as appropriate.

The position works collaboratively with Department Directors, managers, supervisors, employees, labor representatives, legal counsel, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, and other agencies and service providers.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plans, organizes, manages, and administers the City's comprehensive human resources and risk management programs and activities.
• Provides professional and technical advice to the Assistant City Manager, City Manager, Department Directors, managers, and supervisors regarding complex and sensitive human resources, employee relations, labor relations, and risk management matters.
• Develops, recommends, interprets, and administers Personnel Rules, policies, procedures, Memoranda of Understanding, employment agreements, and human resources programs; ensures compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations.
• Manages employee relations activities, including performance management, corrective action and discipline, grievances, workplace complaints, conflict resolution, and workplace investigations; coordinates significant or sensitive matters with executive management and legal counsel.
• Administers labor relations activities and provides professional and technical support for collective bargaining, including research and analysis, proposal development and evaluation, participation in negotiations as assigned, and implementation and administration of negotiated agreements.
• Manages the City's recruitment and selection, classification and compensation, employee benefits, onboarding and offboarding, leave and accommodation, and performance evaluation programs.
• Develops and coordinates employee and management training and supports workforce planning, succession planning, employee engagement, retention, and organizational development initiatives.
• Oversees personnel records and human resources information systems and coordinates with Finance and Payroll regarding personnel actions, compensation, benefits, position control, and related matters.
• Manages the City's comprehensive risk management program, including workers' compensation, liability claims, insurance, workplace safety, loss prevention, return to work, and related activities.
• Serves as the City's primary staff liaison with the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority and coordinates claims, insurance, safety, loss prevention, and risk management activities with departments, claims administrators, legal counsel, and other service providers.
• Administers the City's workplace safety programs, including the Injury and Illness Prevention Program, Health and Safety Committee, required safety training, hazard mitigation, and compliance with applicable workplace safety requirements.
• Prepares and administers the Human Resources and Risk Management budgets; monitors contracts, expenditures, and program costs.
• Selects, supervises, trains, develops, and evaluates assigned staff and establishes work priorities and performance expectations.
• Prepares reports, policies, recommendations, staff reports, and presentations; represents the City before the City Council, governmental agencies, labor representatives, professional organizations, consultants, and other groups as assigned.
• Maintains current professional knowledge, exercises appropriate discretion and confidentiality in handling sensitive matters
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education, training, and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications is:
Education:

• Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in human resources management, public administration, business administration, organizational management, or a closely related field.
• Additional specialized training in employment law, labor relations, risk management, public sector human resources, or a related field is desirable.

Experience Required:

• Four years of increasingly responsible professional human resources experience involving a broad range of human resources functions, including employee relations, recruitment and selection, classification and compensation, benefits administration, labor relations, and personnel policy administration.
• Experience in risk management, workers' compensation, workplace safety, liability, or related functions is highly desirable.
• Supervisory or lead experience is required.
• Public sector human resources experience, particularly in a California local government environment, is highly desirable.

Required Knowledge:

• Principles and practices of comprehensive human resources management and public personnel administration.
• Principles and practices of employee relations, performance management, corrective action, discipline, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, and organizational development.
• Principles and practices of public sector labor relations, collective bargaining, labor agreement administration, grievance processes, and employer employee relations.
• Principles and practices of recruitment and selection, classification and compensation, benefits administration, performance evaluation, employee development, workforce planning, and succession planning.
• Federal and California laws and regulations applicable to employment and public sector human resources, including laws relating to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wages and hours, protected leaves, disability accommodation, employee privacy, workplace safety, and labor relations.
• Principles and practices of risk management, workers' compensation, liability claims administration, insurance, workplace safety, loss prevention, and return to work programs.
• Applicable Cal/OSHA requirements and principles of workplace safety and Injury and Illness Prevention Programs.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, coaching, and performance evaluation.
• Principles and practices of municipal government organization, administration, budgeting, and public sector management.
• Methods of research, analysis, problem solving, report preparation, policy development, and professional presentation.
• Principles and practices of confidential records management and human resources information systems.

Skills/Abilities:

• Plan, organize, manage, and evaluate comprehensive human resources and risk management programs.
• Provide sound, practical, and timely professional advice to executive management, Department Directors, supervisors, and employees regarding complex and sensitive personnel and risk management matters.
• Interpret, apply, and explain laws, regulations, Personnel Rules, administrative policies, labor agreements, employment agreements, and other requirements.
• Exercise considerable independent judgment, discretion, diplomacy, confidentiality, and sound professional judgment.
• Analyze complex employee relations and workplace issues, identify relevant facts and risks, evaluate alternatives, and develop appropriate recommendations.
• Conduct fair, thorough, objective, and appropriately documented workplace investigations.
• Advise and assist management regarding performance management, corrective action, discipline, grievances, and other employee relations matters.
• Effectively administer recruitment, classification and compensation, benefits, leaves, accommodations, performance management, training, and other human resources programs.
• Effectively administer workers' compensation, liability, workplace safety, insurance, and loss prevention programs.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, Department Directors, executive management, labor representatives, legal counsel, consultants, claims administrators, governmental agencies, and members of the public.
• Supervise, train, coach, and evaluate assigned staff and effectively organize and prioritize the work of the division.
• Analyze information, prepare clear and concise reports and recommendations, and communicate complex or sensitive information effectively both orally and in writing.
• Manage multiple complex assignments, establish priorities, meet deadlines, and respond effectively to changing organizational needs.
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive personnel, medical, legal, labor relations, and claims information.
• Use modern office technology, human resources information systems, and software applications appropriate to the work.

SELECTION PROCESS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
TO BE CONSIDERED FOR NEXT REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS.
APPLY BY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2026 @ 11:59 PM
Applications must be submitted online.
Materials must be complete and clearly indicate the candidate meets the minimum qualifications. Incomplete, late, emailed, and faxed applications are not accepted. Resumes are not considered in lieu of the required employment application.
Please be sure to review the complete job description:
A resume and cover letter are required to be submitted with your online application. Statements made on the application, resume, cover letter, and supplemental materials are subject to verification. False statements may be cause for immediate disqualification, removal from eligibility list, or discharge from employment.

All completed applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and assessed for each applicant's ability to meet the minimum work experience, training, and education qualifications. Those candidates whose skills and abilities best meet the needs of the department will be invited to move to the next step in the recruitment process.
The City of Carpinteria offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, deferred compensation, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-/short-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page:
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Instructions for completing the supplemental questionnaire:The application and supplemental questionnaire will serve as a primary tool in the evaluation of your qualifications for this position. The information you provide on your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and candidates who are best qualified to advance in the selection process. Please note:• Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. • A résumé and cover letter must be attached; however, they will not substitute for completing the job experience section of the application or this supplemental questionnaire.• Responses such as "see resume," "see application," or "see attached" are considered incomplete and may result in disqualification.AcknowledgementBy selecting "Yes" below, you confirm that:1. You have read and understood the job description (link provided in the job posting) and these instructions for completing the supplemental questionnaire.2. Your application and supplemental questionnaire responses accurately reflect your training, education, and experience.3. You understand that your responses are subject to verification.

• Yes
• No

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Please indicate the total number of years of increasingly responsible professional human resources experience you possess. In addition, please describe where and how you gained this experience, including:Name(s) of employer(s)Dates of employmen