Human Resources Director

Department: Municipal Transportation Agency

About the role

The Human Resources Director provides overall direction and leadership for the Human Resources Department. Under the general direction of Administration Division leadership, the Human Resources Director oversees Talent Acquisition, HR Analytics and Reporting, Labor and Employee Relations, Workforce Development, Employee Wellness, Workers’ Compensation, Leave Management, and Compliance, and leads the execution of agency-wide HR compliance policies, goals, and objectives.

This role is a strategic leader and operational manager who aligns human resources programs with organizational objectives, ensures regulatory compliance, oversees core HR functions, and fosters a productive and positive workplace culture. This role requires strong leadership, HR expertise, and sound business judgment to support the workforce and advance the agency’s success.

Responsibilities

• Oversee recruitment for exempt and civil service positions, including onboarding, classification, and examination.
• Provide labor relations support and guidance for more than 18 labor unions; oversee employee relations and compensation. Lead contract labor negotiations and manage PERB charges, meet-and-confers, and litigation support.
• Provide HR analytics and reporting to the executive team and directors.
• Oversee workforce development, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services, and employee wellness programs.
• Ensure compliance with DOT medical certification requirements, FTA/DOT drug and alcohol program regulations, and OSHA Hearing Conservation Program (HCP).
• Oversee the Risk Management program including workers’ compensation, leave management, and administration of applicable federal and state benefits.
• Provide leadership and support to five senior HR leaders who collectively manage approximately 90 HR employees.
• Develop and execute human resources strategies that support the organization’s overall business objectives.
• Align and empower the HR team to execute with excellence against strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and the executive team.
• Act as a mediator in conflicts, address grievances, and promote a respectful, inclusive, and safe work environment.
• Foster a positive organizational culture by promoting employee engagement, productivity, and professional growth.
• Analyze organizational trends, HR metrics, and reports to inform strategic decisions.
• Recommend and implement improvements to HR processes and programs.

Requirements

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Ten (10) years of full-time professional verifiable experience in Human Resources, of which four (4) years must be in a supervisory or management capacity supervising professional-level staff.

Education Substitution: Additional years of the required experience in professional-level human resources may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. One year (2000 hours) of qualifying experience will be considered equivalent to thirty (30) semester units/forty-five (45) quarter units.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted. One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2,000 hours (based on a 40-hour work week). Overtime hours above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time experience.

Skills

• Strategic Leadership: Ability to develop and execute HR strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Policy Management and Compliance: Knowledge of state and federal labor laws, federal and state employment laws, employee benefits laws, FTA/DOT Drug and Alcohol Regulations, and effective HR operations.
• Team Collaboration: Strong leadership skills to work closely with executive leadership, directors, managers, and other departments. Ability to collaborate with other city agencies and the Office of the City Attorney.
• Results-Oriented and Creative Problem-Solving: Responsiveness and ability to advance work rapidly to achieve key performance indicators. Ability to support creative solutions and provide guidance on feasible approaches to address issues.
• Exceptional Communication Skills: Clear and concise communication, both orally and in writing. Confidence and comfort presenting to regulators, elected officials, the Civil Service Commission, and other stakeholders.
• Strategic Planning and Prioritization: Exceptional long-term planning and execution skills with the ability to prioritize competing needs under resource and timeline constraints.
• Exceptional Leadership: Ability to value staff development, foster team cohesion, and promote accountability. Emotional intelligence, collaboration skills, and ability to work effectively with the SFMTA’s diverse staff.

Qualifications

• HR experience working at a transit agency.
• HR experience and knowledge of the civil service system as it relates to hiring.
• Experience in HR data reporting, analysis, and utilization.
• Labor Relations experience.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships.
• Experience in long-term planning and prioritizing competing needs under resource and timeline constraints.
• Ability to foster team cohesion and promote accountability.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse staff and demographics.
• Breadth of knowledge across core HR domains.
• SHRM - Certified Professional (CP) or SHRM - Senior Certified Professional (SCP).

Pay

$228,332.00 - $291,330.00 (Range A)

Schedule

Full-time