Director of Human Resources & Risk Management

South Coast Water District • Laguna Beach, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

South Coast Water District (SCWD) provides water and wastewater services to approximately 40,000 residents, 1,000 businesses, and 2 million visitors per year in South Orange County, California. The District's service area includes Dana Point, South Laguna Beach, and parts of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. SCWD is overseen by a five-member elected Board of Directors and employs 95 full-time individuals across administrative, technical, and operational roles. The ideal candidate is a seasoned, sophisticated, and public sector-proven HR professional skilled in change management and technology implementation. This executive leadership role oversees all HR functions, including recruitment, employee relations, compensation, and benefits. It also manages the organization's risk and safety programs, encompassing workers' compensation, insurance, claims management, regulatory compliance, and fostering a safety culture. The Director collaborates with the Senior Executive Team to align workforce strategy with organizational goals, mitigate risk, ensure compliance, and enhance organizational effectiveness. This individual will lead a team of five, managing HR, risk management, and safety. The incoming Director must possess the finesse, emotional intelligence, and practical experience to modernize work practices while preserving SCWD's supportive, compassionate, and family-oriented culture.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Human Resources Management, Employee Relations, Industrial Psychology, or a related field.
• Six (6) years of increasingly responsible experience in the development and administration of human resource programs and benefits administration.
• Two (2) years of program management and supervisory experience.
• Understanding of the nuances of public agency operations.
• Experience within a special district, city, or county is highly desirable.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree is desirable.
• Proven experience successfully executing HRIS or talent management software integrations (specifically NeoGov or similar platforms) is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing all human resources functions, including recruitment, employee relations, compensation and benefits.
• Managing the organization’s risk and safety programs, including workers’ compensation, insurance programs, claims management, and regulatory compliance.
• Fostering a strong culture of safety.
• Aligning workforce strategy with organizational goals.
• Mitigating risk and ensuring compliance.
• Supporting overall organizational effectiveness.
• Leading a dedicated team of five, managing a comprehensive portfolio that includes HR, risk management, and safety.
• Modernizing work practices while maintaining the supportive, compassionate, and family-oriented culture.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive