Human Resources Manager (Benefits Services)

City of Sacramento•Sacramento, CA

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position manages the Benefit Services Division within the Department of Human Resources, which administers comprehensive health, well-being, and retirement benefits for more than 8,000 active employees and retirees. The division manages more than 30 benefit plans and 11 defined contribution and deferred compensation retirement plans, and is responsible for ensuring compliance with CalPERS requirements and other applicable laws, regulations, labor agreements, and City policies. The Benefit Services Manager also works closely with Information Technology, Finance, Payroll, Labor Relations, and other City partners to support accurate, efficient, and consistent Citywide benefits administration. The ideal candidate will be a knowledgeable, collaborative, and service-oriented benefits professional who demonstrates empathy and sound judgment when addressing the needs of employees and retirees. The successful candidate will possess a strong understanding of health, well-being, and retirement benefits, including the laws, regulations, labor agreements, and administrative requirements that govern public-sector benefit programs. Experience administering employee benefit plans and using PeopleSoft or other automated human resources information systems is required. The ideal candidate will be an effective leader and team player who can manage competing priorities, develop staff, and work collaboratively across departments. Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust and consensus with City leadership, recognized employee organizations, vendors, and other stakeholders are essential.

Requirements

Five years of progressively responsible administrative analytical experience in personnel programs, including a minimum of two years of advanced journey level or professional supervisory experience.
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Experience administering employee benefit plans and using PeopleSoft or other automated human resources information systems is required.
Knowledge of Principles and practices of modern human resource management and public administration including labor relations, staffing, testing, examination development, recruitment, classification, organizational development, training, equal employment, salary administration, benefits administration, and retirement.
Knowledge of Public relations techniques and practices.
Knowledge of Effective practices used in collective bargaining.
Knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, policies, and agreements in the public sector.
Knowledge of Principles and practices of personnel management, including supervision, training, and performance management.
Knowledge of Effective management principles and organization.
Knowledge of Budget development principles and practices.
Knowledge of Statistical concepts and methods used in human resources programs.
Knowledge of Standard negotiating strategies, tactics, and impasse procedures; effective administration of grievance procedures.
Knowledge of Current literature and trends in public and private sector human resource management.
Knowledge of Principles of management rights, representation rights, and unfair labor practices.
Knowledge of Practices used in public negotiations and patterns of arbitration decisions.
Knowledge of Procedures for administering disciplinary appeals, including arbitration.
Knowledge of Project management.
Knowledge of Effective team building.
Knowledge of Merit system principles.
Skill in Use of modern office equipment including computers, and computer applications and software.
Ability to Plan, organize, assign, and coordinate the work of Division staff; build a high performance workforce.
Ability to Accurately analyze, interpret, and resolve a variety of complex human resource issues in accordance with applicable contract provisions, law, and regulations.
Ability to Research, evaluate, and recommend policies and programs to comply with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.
Ability to Supervise, train, motivate, and evaluate Division staff.
Ability to Communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing; prepare and make public presentations.
Ability to Perform the most complex human resources work independently.
Ability to Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to Conduct studies, analyze data, perform complex costing and impact analysis, evaluate alternatives, and develop recommendations for City programs, bargaining proposals, and to resolve problems or issues; train other staff in these areas.

Nice To Haves

Incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

Responsibilities

Develops and directs specific personnel programs including labor relations, recruitment, examination development and testing, classification and compensation, benefits administration and payroll and personnel actions, retirement, organizational development, training, equal employment, or other personnel program area to meet local needs; comply with Federal, State, City, and labor relations requirements and improve service to the public; writes proposals to secure funding; and, supervises grant or contract programs.
Represents the Director of Human Resources before the Civil Service Board; makes presentations before various committees, hearing officers, and other decision-making or public interest groups; coordinates activities of Division with human resources staff, City Manager's Office, and City departments.
Plans, organizes, trains, evaluates, coordinates, and directs the work of human resource professionals and technical staff; selects, hires, coaches, counsels, and disciplines staff and makes other personnel decisions; prepares and delivers performance evaluations.
Evaluates and implements changes in work methods, determines workload methods and standards, and establishes measures of effectiveness; develops and monitors Division budget; justifies proposed expenditures; recommends changes to budget.
Works with representatives of employee organizations; meets with management to resolve problems within area of responsibility; advises management on policy issues, the interpretation of various rules and agreements; and participates in the development of new or revised policies.
Interprets and applies laws, regulations, rules, and policies; drafts, reviews, and analyzes existing and proposed codes, rules, and ordinances affecting area of specialty, and recommends and implements changes as needed.
Participates in the development of a comprehensive labor relations program including goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the City; serves as a resource to City management staff on complex labor relations issues including proposed disciplinary actions, sensitive grievances, contract interpretation , and the allocation of responsibility for administrative investigations.
Participates in labor negotiations with assigned bargaining units and may serve as chief negotiator or back-up the Director of Human Resources in negotiations.
Provides strategic guidance to staff on disciplinary appeals, grievance/arbitration appeals, and labor negotiations proposals.
Develops avenues for departmental management to present concerns regarding contract proposals and the impact of such proposal on departmental operations.
Participates in the development of long-range planning strategies for the City's Labor Relations Program with key City management staff to ensure that the Labor Relations Program is consistent with the City's strategic plan, and the mission, vision, and goals of the City Council.
Assists in preparing reports, correspondence, memoranda of understanding; reviews and provides strategic direction regarding discipline letters, investigative reports, grievance responses, memos, settlement agreements, and other documents which either set policy or bind the city; ; including documents prepared by City departments and Labor Relations staff; determines when matters warrant direct involvement by the Labor Relations Division due to complexity, sensitivity, or risk exposure; assists in budget preparation and expenditure monitoring.
Provides exceptional customer service to those contacted in the course of work.