• Education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in  human resources administration, public administration, business administration, psychology, or an approved related field, and
• Five (5) years of professional experience in human resources administration or equivalent, at least two years of which shall have been in a  human resources management capacity. 
• An advanced degree in public, business, or human resources administration or equivalent is highly desirable.

This is a department head position responsible for managing the City of Santa Clara’s Human Resources Department. This is an executive management position in the Unclassified Service of the City of Santa Clara responsible for the following major human resources programs, including labor relations, recruitment and selection, classification and compensation (salary and fringe benefits), equal opportunity, employee development, and occupational health and safety, with key responsibility for managing the City’s employee bargaining/negotiating process.

• Manages a comprehensive human resource program for the City’s Human Resources Department, including recruitment, examination, and selection; classification and compensation; salary and fringe benefit administration, which includes health, dental, accident, life, industrial accident and unemployment insurance, and the employees' retirement system, sick leave, vacation and other benefits;
• Manages the City’s labor relations program, including meeting and conferring over wages and benefits and conditions of employment, provides for the timely implementation of new contract provisions, administers contract grievance procedures and works effectively with organized employee groups; 
• Manages performance evaluation and employee development program in order to enhance City service levels and employee skills and abilities;
• Manages the City’s occupational and health and safety program;
• Prepares annual departmental budget and monitors expenditures;
• Acts as Secretary to the Civil Service Commission, preparing monthly agenda and minutes of meetings, referring  human resource matters to the Commission for decision, and taking responsibility for the handling of related correspondence;
• Advises managers in settling and handling employee grievances and processing candidates' appeals;
• Makes appropriate recommendations to the City Manager regarding established City human resource  rules and regulations;
• Makes innovative recommendations in order to promote maximum efficiency in the utilization of personnel;
• Advises the City Manager on matters related to  human resource management;
• Maintains a centralized employee human resource file system to meet local, State and Federal recordkeeping requirements;
• Provides professional advice to City staff regarding human resources matters;
• Performs special studies and makes written and oral presentations; and
• Performs other work as required.

• Principles and practices of  human resources and public administration;
• Effective leadership and management principles and practices;
• Principles and practices of municipal labor relations;
• Principles of organization and management; statistical measurements and applications, conflict resolution, and employee development;
• Principles and objectives of  affirmative action; and
• Principles and practices of budgeting (operating and capital), communication, contracting, information technology, project management, outreach, performance standards, and records management, and the use of resources to achieve outcomes and expectations.

• Provide the leadership and management of the department through coaching, enabling and facilitating employees working in a team environment;
• Create a culture that is conducive to change and that is one that is able to select, recruit, retain, develop and motivate a skilled and talented workforce where everyone knows their mission, role, and job;
• Establish clear goals and objectives in order to create an organization that delivers excellent customer service through ethical leadership standards, establishes an atmosphere of respect for employees consistent with the City’s Code of Ethics and Values;
• Build constructive relationships by promoting effective partnerships with department peers, bargaining units, employees, citizens, and others contacted in the course of work;
• Represent and speak for the department and its work, e.g., presenting, explaining, promoting, defining, and negotiating to those within and outside the department by making clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals and groups, by listening effectively and clarifying information and by facilitating an open exchange of ideas;
• Prepare clear, complete, accurate, concise, and logical written and oral reports;
• Communicate a strong positive vision of the future of human resources; and
• Exercise good judgment in structuring and organizing work and setting priorities, balancing the interests of the City and constituents, and readily readjusting priorities to respond to current and future needs.