Human Resources Business Partner

This is an open recruitment for a full-time Human Resources Business Partner position based in Santa Barbara. The role is home-based with eligibility for a hybrid remote work schedule (completed in the State of California) and may require onsite work or travel throughout the County as needed. This position is "At-Will" and exempt from Civil Service provisions.

About the Department

The County Human Resources Department (CoHR) implements strategic workforce policies and programs supporting the directives of the Board of Supervisors, CEO, and the mission, goals, and objectives of County departments. CoHR serves as a strategic business partner to promote an organizational culture that engages employees to deliver effective community services.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Human Resources Business Partner to assigned departments by meeting regularly with leadership to understand staffing needs, operational priorities, challenges, and workforce trends.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and direct HR activities including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, policy interpretation, workforce planning, organizational structure review, and HR administration.
• Provide guidance on HR policies and procedures, including Civil Service Rules, MOUs, departmental policies, and countywide HR standards; ensure accurate interpretation and consistent application.
• Advise managers on routine performance and conduct matters; collaborate with centralized Employee Relations for complex or serious cases.
• Develop and deliver targeted training for managers and supervisors on HR topics such as performance management, documentation, policy compliance, recruitment, onboarding, and workforce planning.
• Identify HR issues, trends, and operational needs within assigned departments and escalate critical matters to executive HR leadership for resolution.
• Supervise or lead HR Business Partner team members, including HR management professionals; assign and evaluate work, coordinate deadlines, and provide coaching, training, and performance feedback.
• Research HR topics, analyze data, prepare reports, and develop recommendations to improve HR service delivery, workforce outcomes, and departmental effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain HR reports, records, plans, and other documents to support workforce needs; create and analyze reporting related to recruitment, evaluation statuses, staffing trends, and other HR metrics.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements

Minimum qualifications include:

• Equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in human resources, organization development, public or business administration, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of experience in human resources or a closely related field at a professional or supervisory level.

Knowledge

• Principles and practices of human resources operational areas, including benefits, classification, compensation, employee relations, labor relations, personnel records, and recruitment and selection.
• Principles and practices of human resources project and program administration.
• Applicable Merit System Rules, Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations governing employment practices.
• Principles and practices of public administration and program management, including strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Management principles, practices, and techniques.
• Principles and practices of fiscal management and budgeting.
• Principles and practices of program planning and administration.
• Personnel management principles and practices, including employee supervision, training, and evaluation.
• Principles and practices of group facilitation, conflict resolution, and consensus building.
• Principles and practices of procurement and contract administration.
• Principles and techniques of effective oral presentations.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Business systems, equipment, and applications relevant to the area of assignment.

Skills

• Administer benefits, classification, compensation, employee relations, labor relations, personnel records, and recruitment and selection programs.
• Apply employment policies, procedures, regulations, and laws effectively.
• Provide counsel and policy interpretation to employees, supervisors, and managers.
• Manage assigned operations/programs; ensure compliance with strategic objectives and performance measures.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures.
• Manage and evaluate assigned staff, including training, coaching, goal development, work prioritization, and assignment monitoring.
• Analyze and evaluate operational programs, projects, and procedures.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise changes and improvements in public agency projects and studies.
• Manage budgets, contracts, grants, and resource allocation.
• Interpret, monitor, and report financial information and statistics.
• Oversee quality assurance activities and standards.
• Research, recommend, and implement industry trends, solutions, and best practices.
• Resolve complex problems within the area of assignment.
• Prepare and oversee reports, grant proposals, documents, and presentations.
• Make presentations to stakeholders, elected officials, County leadership, and the public.
• Collaborate with program stakeholders, elected and appointed boards, the public, and internal leadership.
• Interpret and apply applicable laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Communicate effectively, clearly, and concisely.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of individuals.

Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities. Verification from a professional source may be required. All employees are designated as disaster service workers pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100.