Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Manager

The City of Menlo Park is seeking a Human Resources Manager to plan, manage, and oversee the daily functions, operations, and activities of Human Resources. This individual will work collaboratively with the Administrative Services Director and management staff across the City. The Human Resources Manager will serve as the main point of contact on employee relations matters and lead labor relations for the City's five unions. This position leads a staff of five to accomplish a wide variety of daily tasks, policy and labor agreement administration, and process improvements.

The selected candidate will have the opportunity to work on the following upcoming projects:

• Manage projects currently underway that involve collaborating with employees at all levels of the organization, including the citywide classification and compensation study and the employee engagement survey.
• Retool several division functions, including performance management, recruitment, selection and retention processes, leave programs, and workers' compensation leave administration.
• Promote employee engagement and performance management through enhanced training programs and citywide recognition events and other initiatives identified through the engagement survey analysis.
• Continue to manage and develop content for the popular "HR Bits and Bites" trainings, where supervisors and managers connect with Human Resources and one another for development and relationship-building over snacks.
• Train and develop Human Resources staff to form a cohesive team equipped to succeed.
• Review and update policies and practices to ensure compliance with employment laws.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic leader who has a clear vision, drives projects, embraces customer service, and has a passion for public service, along with a flexible and adaptive mindset. The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills necessary to build relationships across all levels and navigate and defuse tension when it arises; excellent project and time management skills; and ability to write reports and other correspondence with clarity. They will ask for and listen to a variety of inputs and conduct independent research and networking before analyzing and preparing thoughtful policies and procedures, fostering collaboration and inclusivity.

Key Attributes and Skills:

• A manager who is able to establish confidence, trust, credibility, and consistency for themselves as well as Human Resources as a whole.
• Possesses knowledge and experience with employment/ labor law and the collective bargaining process.
• Understands the administration of CalPERS pension and medical programs, workers' compensation benefits, deferred compensation and other key employee benefits.
• A compassionate leader and effective change agent, who can assist, support, and mentor employees and provide growth and development opportunities.
• Comfortable making presentations to employees, elected/ appointed officials, and the public.
• Embrace Human Resources as a collaborative partner and service provider to departments.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in human resources management, industrial relations, public administration, business administration or a related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible human resources program professional support experience, including
• Three (3) years of lead or supervisory experience.

Salary Range: $159,629 – $215,200 annually (Pending City Council approval on June 23, 2026; the current salary range is $153,489 – $207,211)

The City provides a generous benefits package designed to achieve total compensation above the market median among comparable agencies and promote employee health, wellness, and work-life balance, including:

• CalPERS Retirement – Classic members 2% at 60 and 2% at 62 for PEPRA members. Employees pay the full member contribution. The City does not participate in Social Security, except for the 1.45% Medicare contribution by both the City and employee.
• Medical Plans – City pays 100% medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee and eligible dependents.
• Educational Reimbursement – City reimburses up to $3,600 per year for tuition expenses.
• Life Insurance – City provided policy equal to 1.5 times the employee's annual salary up to $350,000.
• Deferred Compensation – City matches employee contribution up to 4% of salary or to the IRS maximum, whichever is less.
• Paid Time Off – Includes 338 hours of General Leave, 80 hours of Management Leave, and 11 official paid holidays per year. Up to 120 hours may be cashed out annually. Accrued General Leave is fully paid out upon separation from the City.
• Health Reimbursement – City contribution of $2,500 per year for health reimbursement arrangement.
• Auto Allowance – Employees who are not assigned a City vehicle receive an auto allowance of $278 per pay period.
• City is also enrolled in Caltrain GoPass and BayPass pilot program for free access to all bus, rail, and ferry services in the nine-county Bay Area. The Menlo Park Caltrain station is a five-minute walk from City Hall.
• Annual Bonus – City Manager may award a bonus of up to $20,000 per fiscal year.
• Additional Benefits – City paid long-term disability and AD&D insurance. Counseling and referral services provided through the Employee Assistance Program. Access to on-site gym.
• We offer hybrid and flexible work arrangements, including a 9/80 schedule with the option to work remotely up to one day per week.