Health Services Human Resources Manager

The County of Sonoma’s Department of Health Services is seeking a Health Services Human Resources Manager to lead the DHS Human Resources team and oversee the departmentwide human resources program. This role provides strategic guidance to executive leadership, manages compliance across multiple HR domains, and directs a cross-functional HR subject-matter expert team.

Role Overview

The Health Services Human Resources Manager leads Department of Health Services human resources operations and serves as an advisor to executive management on workforce planning and organizational development. The position supervises HR managers, directs a comprehensive HR program across DHS, and ensures consistent interpretation and application of HR-related policies, Civil Service Rules, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage, plan, organize, implement, and oversee all aspects of human resources for the Department of Health Services.
• Direct the Department’s comprehensive human resources program.
• Supervise HR managers and lead HR subject-matter experts working across Safety, Employee and Labor Relations, Disability Management, Training, Recruitment, and Payroll.
• Advise Department executive management on workforce planning, organizational development, and consistent policy interpretation related to human resources functions.
• Coordinate with executive leadership to evaluate, improve, and implement HR processes, tools, and initiatives that support an equitable, efficient, and service-oriented workforce.
• Interpret, apply, and maintain compliance with County and departmental policies, ordinances, Civil Service Rules, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Lead departmentwide efforts supporting employee wellbeing, workplace culture, equity, compliance, and organizational priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level, including any special endorsements required by the State of California, may be required depending on assignment to perform essential job functions.
• Experience supervising and leading individuals with diverse backgrounds, preferably in a public sector organization or in a field with similar complexity.
• Ability to respond appropriately to critical situations and apply sound judgment.
• Proven ability to manage and prioritize multiple high-impact assignments concurrently with timely completion and consistent follow-through with minimal oversight.
• Ability to assess issues, identify systemic patterns and causes, and develop sustainable solutions with attention to critical details.
• High emotional intelligence and ability to build trust across organizational levels.
• Commitment to strengthening the department’s workplace culture and organizational performance.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing clear written guidance and formal documentation for leadership and managers.
• Passion for ethical and accountable public sector leadership, including transparency, responsible use of public resources, and equitable service delivery.
• Thorough knowledge of public sector human resources administration, including recruitment, selection, training, job analysis, classification and compensation, personnel record keeping, performance management, payroll, and position control.
• Thorough knowledge of public sector labor relations administration, including interpretation and application of negotiated agreements, employer-employee relations practices, meet-and-confer obligations, and progressive discipline.
• Thorough knowledge of laws and regulations related to EEO, employee health and safety, collective bargaining, and labor relations.
• Thorough knowledge of employment compliance requirements including Civil Rights Act, ADA, Family and California Family Rights Act, Pregnancy Disability Leave, Fair Labor Standards Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Workers’ Compensation.
• Ability to represent the Department in grievances, meet-and-confer, and arbitration hearings.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of the executive team.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally in a clear, logical, and concise manner.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with staff within the department, other departments, and external agencies.

Additional Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience)

• Any combination of education, training, and work experience that provides opportunities to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed for the position.
• Normally includes academic coursework equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Business or Public Administration, Social or Behavioral Science, Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, or a closely related field.
• Normally includes four years of progressively responsible human resources experience in a unionized environment, including at least two years in a management or supervisory capacity.
• Experience in a government agency is desirable.
• The position announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Department of Health Services (DHS) Context

DHS has approximately 700 staff members and numerous community partners. The adopted DHS budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27 is $653.3 million, with departmental operating expenditures exceeding $426 million. Core values include equity, collaboration, and excellence. DHS mission is to promote, protect, and ensure access to services supporting health, recovery, and well-being for all residents.

DHS divisions include Administration, Behavioral Health, and Public Health.

Selection Procedure & Application Notes

• Application and Supplemental Questionnaire appraisal examination (weight 100%) will be used to evaluate satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass), as well as education coursework, training, experience, and knowledge and abilities related to the position.
• PII blind screening will be used to redact personal information that could influence or bias scoring (including name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver’s license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race).
• Candidates meeting minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list ordered from most qualified to least qualified based on their exam score.
• Scores may be adjusted based on factors including number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in scores.
• A background investigation is required prior to employment.
• Additional contingent requirements may apply, and if a conditional job offer is made, contingent requirements will be outlined in the conditional job letter.

How to Apply

• Online applications are accepted at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org.
• Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or by mail.
• All applications and required supplemental information must be received by the deadline listed on the job announcement.
• Late applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

Compensation and Work Location

• Location: Santa Rosa, CA (onsite)
• Salary: USD 138,042 to 167,804 per year
• Experience: Minimum 4 years
• Salary terms: Salary is negotiable within the established range

Benefits

• Salary advancement
• Paid Time Off including vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education and training opportunities
• County-paid health premium contributions, with 100% premium contribution for most employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement with County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance and benefits
• Retirement including a pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation, including County contributions to 401(a) and County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a) based on employee contribution
• Paid Parental Leave, with possible eligibility for up to 8 weeks / 320 hours after 12 months of County employment
• Additional benefits such as dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education