Director, Human Resources - Kern Admin

Clinica Sierra Vista•Bakersfield, CA

About The Position

Clinica Sierra Vista is excited to be one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Centers in the Nation! We’re honored to serve the men and women of the fields. We also offer care and support to the inner city, the rural and isolated, those of low, moderate, and fixed incomes, and families from an array of cultural backgrounds who speak several languages. We don’t inquire about immigration status because we simply don’t need to know. If you come to us, we will treat you like any other patient. As we grow our team, we are looking for individuals who believe the patient is always #1. The Director of Human Resources provides strategic and operational leadership across three core HR functions: Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition & Development, and Leave of Absences (LOA). This role ensures consistent, equitable, and legally compliant HR practices while building a positive employee experience and supporting organizational growth. The Director partners closely with senior leaders, managers, and HR team members to drive people‑focused initiatives that strengthen culture, improve performance, and support workforce needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, or a related field; Master’s degree required.
Minimum of 10 years of progressive human resources experience, including senior‑level leadership responsibility in a healthcare or similarly regulated environment.
Demonstrated experience working within a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), public healthcare system, or highly regulated healthcare organization.
In‑depth knowledge of HRSA Health Center Program requirements and the HRSA Compliance Manual, particularly as they relate to workforce management, governance support, and regulatory readiness.
Strong understanding of Joint Commission (TJC) standards and experience supporting accreditation readiness, surveys, corrective action plans, and continuous compliance efforts.
Experience preparing for and supporting HRSA site visits, Joint Commission surveys, audits, and regulatory reviews, including documentation review, leadership interviews, and post‑survey corrective action planning.
Comprehensive knowledge of California employment and healthcare workforce regulations, including wage and hour laws, meal and rest period compliance, paid leave requirements (FMLA, CFRA, PDL), mandatory training, and employee classification.
Demonstrated expertise in employee relations, investigations, performance management, corrective action, and risk mitigation within a healthcare delivery setting.
Experience overseeing Workers’ Compensation, Cal/OSHA compliance, workplace safety programs, and coordination with Safety, Risk Management, and Operations teams.
Proven ability to develop, implement, and maintain HR policies, procedures, and internal controls that comply with federal, state, HRSA, and Joint Commission requirements.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess HR and Employee Relations data to identify compliance risks, trends, and opportunities for proactive intervention and continuous improvement.
Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with Executive Leadership, Compliance, Legal, Quality, Medical Staff, and Operations to support organizational strategy and regulatory readiness.
Excellent leadership, communication, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

Nice To Haves

Professional HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM‑CP, or SHRM‑SCP) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the employee relations function, ensuring consistent, timely, and equitable resolution of workplace concerns, investigations, and conflict matters.
Provide strategic guidance to leaders on performance management, corrective action, policy application, and best‑practice HR approaches.
Analyze employee relations activity to identify trends, assess risk, and recommend proactive interventions, including training, process improvements, or policy updates.
Ensure ongoing compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including all California‑specific regulatory requirements.
Promote a workplace culture grounded in professionalism, accountability, transparency, and open communication.
Lead full‑cycle recruitment strategies for a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), including the recruitment and retention of clinical providers, licensed clinical staff, and non‑clinical roles across multiple service lines.
Partner with executive leadership, medical leadership, and hiring managers to forecast workforce and provider needs, develop strategic sourcing plans, and address hard-to-fill and high-impact positions.
Oversee provider and clinical recruitment efforts in alignment of talent acquisition and onboarding requirements, ensuring compliance with HRSA and healthcare regulatory standards.
Drive employer branding, candidate experience enhancements, and diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring initiatives that support the organization’s mission and patient population.
Support and oversee talent development programs, including onboarding, leadership development, clinical and non‑clinical succession planning, and workforce pipeline initiatives.
Utilize recruitment and workforce data to evaluate hiring effectiveness, time‑to‑fill, retention trends, and workforce risks, and recommend continuous improvement strategies.
Oversee administration of all leave programs, including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, ADA accommodations, and company‑specific leave policies.
Ensure accurate tracking, documentation, and communication with employees and managers.
Partner with legal and benefits teams to ensure compliance and reduce risk.
Provide guidance to managers on return‑to‑work processes and modified duty assignments.
Identify opportunities to streamline LOA processes and improve employee experience.
Supervise and develop HR team members supporting ER, Talent, and LOA functions.
Lead cross‑functional HR initiatives that enhance culture, engagement, and operational efficiency.
Support changing management efforts during organizational transitions, system implementations, or policy updates.
Serve as a strategic advisor to management on workforce planning, organizational design, succession planning, and human resources strategy aligned with the mission of Clinica Sierra Vista.
Lead and oversee cross‑functional HR initiatives that strengthen organizational culture, employee engagement, workforce effectiveness, and operational efficiency.
Support and guide change management efforts related to organizational growth, system implementations, regulatory requirements, and policy or process updates, ensuring clear communication and workforce alignment.
Lead and oversee human resources functions within a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or similarly regulated healthcare environment, ensuring alignment with HRSA Health Center Program requirements, compliance expectations, and operational standards.
Ensure organizational adherence to HRSA Compliance Manual requirements related to workforce management, including coordination with credentialing and privileging processes, risk management activities, and governance support.
Support and maintain organizational readiness for Joint Commission (TJC) accreditation, surveys, and follow‑up corrective action plans, in collaboration with Quality, Compliance, Medical Staff, and Executive Leadership.
Ensure compliance with California healthcare employment laws and regulations, including wage and hour requirements, leave administration, mandatory training, and healthcare‑specific workforce standards.
Partner closely with Compliance, Legal, Quality, and Risk Management teams to ensure HR practices support regulatory readiness, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement across the organization.
Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies, procedures, and documentation that comply with federal, state, HRSA, and Joint Commission standards.
Analyze HR and Employee Relations data to identify compliance risks, trends, and opportunities for proactive intervention and continuous improvement within a healthcare delivery setting.
Ensure HR compliance practices support broader healthcare regulatory readiness, including coordination with Quality, Compliance, and Safety teams in alignment with HRSA, Joint Commission, and California healthcare workforce requirements.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the organization’s HR compliance framework, ensuring adherence to federal, California state, and local employment laws applicable to a healthcare and FQHC environment.
Ensure organizational compliance with California labor and employment regulations, including wage and hour laws, meal and rest periods, paid sick leave, family and medical leave laws (FMLA, CFRA, PDL), employee classification, and record‑retention requirements.
Oversee the administration and compliance of the Workers’ Compensation program, including injury reporting, claims management, return‑to‑work programs, modified duty coordination, and partnership with insurance carriers and third‑party administrators.
Lead organizational compliance with Cal/OSHA requirements, including workplace safety programs, Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), required postings, training mandates, and coordination with Safety, Facilities, and Leadership teams.
Partner with Safety and Operations leadership to address workplace hazards, corrective actions, incident investigations, and regulatory inquiries related to employee health and safety.
Ensure compliance with federal employment regulations, including but not limited to FLSA, ADA, EEOC, Title VII, FMLA, OSHA, and DOL requirements.
Oversee mandatory HR compliance training programs, including harassment prevention, workplace safety, injury reporting, leave administration, and regulatory updates, ensuring timely completion and proper documentation.
Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies, procedures, and internal controls that align with regulatory requirements, best practices, and organizational risk tolerance.
Monitor changes in employment laws and regulatory guidance; proactively assess impact, recommend updates, and lead implementation of required policy or process changes.
Partner with Legal, Compliance, Risk Management, and Executive Leadership to address regulatory risks, audits, investigations, and litigation‑related matters involving workforce issues.
Ensure accurate HR documentation, personnel files, and compliance records are maintained in accordance with state, federal, and healthcare regulatory standards.
Serve as a subject‑matter expert and advisor to executive leadership and management on complex employee relations, compliance matters, and risk mitigation strategies.
Support organizational readiness for regulatory reviews, audits, and site visits, including preparation of documentation, leadership interviews, and corrective action planning as needed.