HR Compliance & Employee Relations Manager

CAMINAR • San Mateo, CA

6d • $135,000 - $150,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Human Resources Compliance & Employee Relations Manager reports to the Director of Human Resources and provides strategic and hands-on HR support across Caminar. Working with HR, Payroll, Benefits, Operations, program leadership, and other cross-functional partners, the manager supports employee relations, complex leaves and accommodations, HR and wage-and-hour compliance, performance management, workforce planning, workers’ compensation, required employee training compliance, and consistent HR practices. The role serves as a trusted advisor to leaders and employees, helping resolve workplace matters fairly and consistently in alignment with Caminar’s mission, values, policies, and applicable employment laws. This organization-wide role requires regular onsite support and travel between Caminar locations as needed.

The position supervises the HR Coordinator. It is based in San Mateo, California, and is described as hybrid. The position is exempt and has a stated salary range of $135,000 to $150,000 per year. Routine travel to Caminar programs and service locations is required for onsite support, meetings, investigations, training, and leader consultation; occasional overnight travel may be required.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, organizational development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience, along with at least four years of progressive HR experience. Preferred qualifications include multi-site or organization-wide HR experience in healthcare, nonprofit, behavioral health, or human services, and a relevant HR certification.

Caminar is a behavioral health organization serving Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area. Its mission is to build strength and stability through comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment and wraparound services delivered through evidence-based, whole-person care.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, organizational development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least four years of progressive human resources experience, including employee relations, performance management, HR compliance, wage-and-hour compliance, and leader consultation.
• Experience managing or supporting complex leaves of absence, disability accommodations, and the interactive process; California experience is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws, HR compliance practices, California wage-and-hour requirements, documentation standards, investigations, workers’ compensation, leave administration, accommodations, and employee relations best practices.
• Ability to build trusted relationships and influence leaders at all levels through clear guidance, sound judgment, and practical recommendations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and communicate clearly with leaders and employees across the organization.
• Ability to meet and receive criminal records clearance as required by Title XXII, other licensing regulations, and Caminar practices.
• If driving is required: valid California driver’s license, reliable personal vehicle, current personal auto insurance, and an MVR sufficient to obtain and maintain insurability under agency auto liability policies.
• Ability to pass post-offer, pre-employment medical and drug tests as required by State Community Care Licensing regulations and/or agency policies.
• If applicable, a personal cell phone with reliable service and a data plan for business use.
• May be required to obtain and maintain First Aid and CPR certification.
• Physical requirements include occasional pushing or pulling objects up to 50 lbs. and lifting or carrying objects up to 25 lbs.; frequent typing and writing; and walking, standing, and sitting for extended periods.
• Sensory and communication requirements include frequently reading documents, reports, and plans; distinguishing normal sounds amid some background noise; and speaking clearly and understanding and being understood in English.
• Cognitive requirements include concentrating on moderate detail amid constant interruptions, attending to tasks for 20–45 minutes at a time, understanding several specific ideas at once, and remembering multiple tasks or assignments over several days.
• Must be able to travel between Caminar locations as required; occasional overnight travel may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Multi-site or organization-wide HR experience in healthcare, nonprofit, behavioral health, or human services.
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.
• Experience managing or supporting complex leaves, disability accommodations, and the interactive process in California.

Responsibilities

• Partner with program and operational leaders to provide guidance on employee relations, corrective action, performance management, policy interpretation, workforce planning, and HR best practices.
• Support federal, California, and local HR and wage-and-hour compliance, including policies, documentation, personnel files, postings, required training, and reporting obligations.
• Lead wage-and-hour compliance efforts by monitoring timekeeping, meal and rest periods, overtime, off-the-clock work concerns, reporting-time pay, employee classification, payroll-related compliance issues, and leader education.
• Manage employee relations matters from intake through resolution, including assessment, coaching, investigations, documentation, corrective action, performance improvement, separations, and employee communications.
• Create and update HR policies and procedures and educate leaders and employees on their consistent application and compliance.
• Coordinate responses to agency inquiries, audits, reporting obligations, personnel file reviews, leave and accommodation documentation, training records, and other compliance matters.
• Administer complex leaves of absence and workplace accommodations with employees, leaders, and appropriate senior leadership, including timely communication, documentation, and interactive-process support.
• Oversee HR-based compliance for required employee training with Operations, including course assignments, completion tracking, overdue follow-up, training records, reporting, system support, and leader escalation.
• Analyze organizational trends, gaps, and recurring issues and recommend improvements to HR policies, procedures, manager tools, workflows, and compliance practices.
• Oversee workers’ compensation processes, reporting, and leader education, including incident response guidance, claim coordination, documentation, follow-up, return-to-work support, and reporting compliance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Supervise the HR Coordinator.
• Travel between Caminar locations for onsite support, meetings, investigations, training, and leader consultation; occasional overnight travel may be required.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage choices, including a zero-cost option for employee-only coverage and contributions toward employee and dependent premiums.
• Flexible Spending Account.
• Employee Wellness Program with reimbursement for a portion of gym or fitness dues.
• Life, long-term disability, and AD&D insurance provided at no cost to full-time employees, with options to purchase additional life coverage for employees and dependents.
• Thirteen paid holidays and sick and vacation benefits.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with pre-tax and post-tax (Roth) contribution options and an employer match on eligible employee deferrals after one year of service.
• Commuter benefits with tax savings on commuting costs.
• Employee Assistance Program offering free, confidential assistance.

What This Job Offers

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