Director of Human Resources & Risk Management

Director Of Human Resources

South Coast Water District (SCWD) was founded in 1932 and provides potable water, recycled water, and wastewater services to approximately 40,000 residents, 1,000 businesses, and 2 million visitors per year in South Orange County, California. SCWD's service area, divided into five divisions, includes the communities of Dana Point, South Laguna Beach, and areas of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. A five-member elected Board of Directors oversees policy-making, financial stewardship, rate-setting, capital programs, and long-term planning for the District. The District's workforce consists of 95 full-time employees across a variety of administrative, technical, and operational disciplines that support the District's programs, services, and infrastructure.

The ideal candidate for the Director of Human Resources is a seasoned, sophisticated, and public sector-proven HR professional who excels in change management and technology implementation. At a high level, this executive leadership role is responsible for overseeing all human resources functions, including recruitment, employee relations, compensation and benefits, as well as managing the organization's risk and safety programs. This includes workers' compensation, insurance programs, claims management, regulatory compliance, and fostering a strong culture of safety. The position works closely with the Senior Executive Team to align workforce strategy with organizational goals, mitigate risk, ensure compliance, and support overall organizational effectiveness. This individual will lead a dedicated team of five, managing a comprehensive portfolio that includes HR, risk management, and safety. The incoming Director must possess the finesse, emotional intelligence, and "street smarts" to modernize work practices while maintaining the supportive, compassionate, and family-oriented culture that defines SCWD.

Requires a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Human Resources Management, Employee Relations, Industrial Psychology, or a related field (a master's degree is desirable); and six (6) years of increasingly responsible experience in the development and administration of human resource programs and benefits administration; including two (2) years of program management and supervisory experience. Candidates must understand the nuances of public agency operations and having experience within a special district, city, or county is highly desirable. Proven experience successfully executing HRIS or talent management software integrations (specifically NeoGov or similar platforms) is preferred.

Annual Salary: $183,324.80 to $290,144.93