Human Resources/Risk Manager

Salary : $122,230.08 - $163,800.00 Annually
Location : La Palma, CA
Job Type: Full time
Job Number:
Department: Administrative Services Department
Opening Date: 11/12/2026

Description
This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and may close at any time without notice. The first review of applications is tentatively scheduled for Monday, December 7, 2026, with initial interviews planned for the week of December 14, 2026.

The incumbent will enjoy working a 4/10 work schedule (Monday through Thursday), 7:30 am - 6:30 pm. with every Friday off!
This position will receive a 4% cost of living adjustment effective July 1, 2027

The City of La Palma is seeking a knowledgeable, motivated, and hands-on professional to serve as its Human Resources/Risk Manager. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced human resources professional who enjoys managing programs while remaining actively involved in day-to-day operations.

As a member of the City's Executive Management Team, the Human Resources/Risk Manager plays a key role in supporting employees, advising City leadership, and ensuring effective human resources and risk management practices throughout the organization.

The ideal candidate is an experienced, hands-on human resources professional who thrives in a working manager role. The successful candidate will bring:

• Comprehensive knowledge of California public-sector human resources practices, employment laws, and risk management principles.
• A hands-on approach to managing citywide human resources and risk management programs, with a commitment to directly performing day-to-day operational responsibilities.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Creativity and enthusiasm for developing employee engagement, recognition, and appreciation activities that promote morale, teamwork, and a positive workplace culture.
• Adaptability, resourcefulness, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a small-city environment.
• A proactive approach to improving processes, enhancing employee services, and supporting organizational effectiveness.

This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Scope of Work and Examples of Duties
Under administrative direction, plans, organizes, directs, manages, and evaluates the City's human resources and risk management programs while actively performing the operational and professional duties associated with these functions, including recruitment and selection, classification and compensation, employee benefits, labor and employee relations, organizational development, workers' compensation, general liability, property and vehicle coverage, workplace safety, and risk assessment and mitigation. Serves as a member of the City's Executive Management Team; provides citywide operational and policy advice on human resources and risk management matters; and performs related work as required.

Essential job functions may include, but are not limited to, the following: (Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job).

Plans, organizes, manages, implements, and evaluates the City's human resources and risk management programs; establishes goals, priorities, policies, and procedures; performs day-to-day program activities; and recommends operational improvements.

Conducts and manages recruitment and selection activities, including preparing job announcements, screening applications, coordinating examinations and interviews, conducting background screening processes, and facilitating employee onboarding.

Performs classification and compensation studies, including job analyses, preparation and revision of classification specifications, salary surveys, organizational reviews, and recommendations for classification and salary adjustments.

Administers employee benefit programs, including health and welfare benefits, CalPERS retirement, open enrollment, employee assistance programs, and coordination with benefit providers and third-party administrators; assists employees with benefit questions and enrollment matters.
Administers protected leave programs, reasonable accommodation and interactive processes, disability-related matters, and return-to-work activities; reviews eligibility, coordinates documentation, communicates with employees and departments, and ensures compliance with applicable requirements.

Provides guidance to management and employees on personnel policies, performance management, workplace concerns, grievances, discipline, and employee relations; conducts confidential investigations, prepares findings, and recommends appropriate action.

Participates in labor relations and collective bargaining activities; researches and analyzes proposals, prepares costing and supporting documentation, participates in meet-and-confer activities as assigned, and assists with interpretation and administration of labor agreements.

Develops, reviews, updates, and implements personnel rules, administrative policies, procedures, forms, and employee communications; researches legislative and regulatory changes and ensures appropriate implementation.

Administers the City's workers' compensation program, including processing injury reports, coordinating claims, communicating with injured employees and claims administrators, monitoring claim status, and facilitating return-to-work efforts.

Administers general liability and property damage claims, including receiving and reviewing claims, gathering documentation, coordinating investigations, communicating with departments and claims administrators, and assisting with claim resolution.

Serves as the City's liaison to the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA); coordinates coverage renewals, claims administration, risk management assessments, training resources, and related reporting and documentation.

Maintains property and vehicle insurance schedules, coordinates insurance coverage and documentation, processes evidence-of-coverage requests, and reviews contractual insurance requirements in coordination with appropriate City staff.

Coordinates and implements workplace safety and risk assessment and mitigation activities, including the Citywide Safety Committee, employee safety training, incident reviews, and compliance with applicable occupational safety requirements.

Identifies employee training and professional development needs; develops, coordinates, and conducts training programs, including supervisor education, employee orientation, and workplace compliance training.
Develops, coordinates, and implements employee engagement, recognition, and appreciation activities and initiatives that promote employee morale, teamwork, organizational culture, and a positive work environment.
Prepares and administers human resources and risk management operating budgets; monitors expenditures, evaluates program costs, reviews claims and insurance expenses, and recommends resource and budget adjustments.

Establishes work priorities and supervises assigned staff; participates in employee selection, training, assignment, performance evaluation, and corrective action; reviews work products and provides technical guidance.

Researches, prepares, and presents staff reports, resolutions, policy recommendations, studies, and analyses for the City Manager, City Council, and other bodies as assigned.

Maintains personnel, medical, benefits, and claims records and related information systems; prepares reports, processes documentation, and ensures confidentiality, accuracy, and compliance with applicable records requirements.

Represents the City in meetings with employee representatives, outside agencies, consultants, insurers, legal counsel, and professional organizations; participates in cross-departmental projects and emergency operations activities as assigned.

Performs other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of

• Principles and practices of California municipal human resources administration, management, supervision, organizational development, recruitment, classification and compensation, employee benefits, and training.
• Applicable federal and California employment and labor laws, equal employment opportunity requirements, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, personnel rules, collective bargaining agreements, and public agency labor relations.
• CalPERS retirement and health benefits administration; workers' compensation, protected leave, disability accommodation, and unemployment insurance requirements.
• Public entity risk management, general liability, property and vehicle insurance, claims administration, loss control, workplace safety, and CJPIA-related processes.
• Municipal budgeting, contracts, research, statistical analysis, report preparation, records management, and confidential information handling.

Ability to

• Plan, administer, and evaluate comprehensive human resources and risk management programs and establish effective service priorities.
• Interpret and apply complex laws, policies, agreements, and procedures; recognize issues requiring consultation with legal counsel or executive management.
• Provide sound, practical advice on sensitive personnel matters; conduct or coordinate fact-finding and resolve conflicts with discretion and impartiality.
• Supervise, develop, and evaluate staff; collaborate effectively with departments, employee representatives, insurers, administrators, and outside agencies.
• Analyze complex information, develop alternatives, prepare clear reports, communicate effectively, and exercise independent judgment while maintaining confidentiality.

Education, Experience & Training

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

A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in human resources, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field; and five years of progressively responsible professional experience in human resources and/or public entity risk management, including at least two years of supervisory, administrative, or program management responsibility. Experience in a California public agency is highly preferred. Certification or specialized training in human resources management is also desirable.

Licenses & Special Requirements

Possession of, or ability to obtain by time of appointment, a valid California Class C driver's license may be required when driving is an essential assignment.

Physical Demands & Work Environment
Physical Demands

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification, although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, climb, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. In addition, positions in this classification occasionally lift, move, and carry objects that typically weigh up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job are those required to perform office machine operations.
Environmental Elements

Employee works in an office environment with moderate noise, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
Note: All employees of the City of La Palma are designated by State law to be"Disaster Service Workers". In the event of a declared emergency or anundeclared emergency or natural disaster that threatens the life, health, and/orsafety of the public, employees may be assigned to assist rescue and reliefworkers. Such assignments may be in locations, during hours, and performingwork signifi cantly diff erent from the employees' normal work assignments andmay continue through the recovery phase of the emergency.
The City offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits package that includes the following:

Retirement - The City participates in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and offers the following retirement formulas for miscellaneous management employees:

• New CalPERS Members: 2% at age 62.
• Classic CalPERS Members: 2% at age 60 for eligible existing members with less than a six-month break in service from another CalPERS or reciprocal agency.

Employees are responsible for paying the full employee retirement contribution through payroll deductions. Additional information regarding the City's retirement benefits will be provided during the job offer process.

The City does not participate in Social Security but does participate in the mandatory Medicare program.
Medical Insurance- The City offers medical insurance through CalPERS for employees and their eligible dependents. The City provides a monthly health benefit allowance toward insurance premiums, currently $667.49 for employee-only coverage, $1,156.49 for employee plus one dependent, and $1,415.49 for employee plus two or more dependents.
Employee Assistance Program - The City provides employees and their eligible dependents access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Health/Wellness Reimbursement - Management employees are eligible for reimbursement of up to $500 per fiscal year for qualifying health and wellness services or programs, subject to City Manager approval.

Dental Insurance - The City provides dental coverage