Departmental Human Resources Officer II ID-7500

March 8, 2025

Officer II- Exempt vacancy in the Employment and Human Services Department.

Contra Costa County’s Employment and Human Services Department works diligently to provide the community with resources that support, protect, and empower individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency. The department is committed to hiring candidates that share our core values of delivering an exceptional customer service experience, encouraging open communication, embracing change, practicing ethical behavior, and embracing diversity.

Other Jobs You May Be Interested In

We are looking for someone who is:

A strong leader. You will develop and maintain effective working relationships with your team and lead by example.
A strong relationship builder. You will need to establish relationships across divisions, departments and with external agencies.
A strong motivator and supporter. You will need to encourage and support your line supervisors who are responsible for providing day-to-day supervision of Personnel/Payroll staff.
Organized and results driven. You will need to balance multiple priorities and know when it is appropriate to delegate.
Able to demonstrate empathy while maintaining objectivity. You will need to demonstrate your understanding of the human side of human resources, keeping in mind the department and the county’s interests as well as resolving employee conflict and showing compassion to staff.
Able to adapt to constant change. You will need to be flexible and able to shift priorities quickly as needs change.
Able to uphold Personnel’s role in following County directives. You will need to ensure that Personnel follows directives from the County Human Resources Department, which is responsible for administering County human resources processes and procedures.

What you will typically be responsible for:

Advising directors, deputies, and management teams on human resources management issues and formulation of departmental policies and procedures
Planning, organizing, and directing the activities of the department’s human resources management program and labor relations.
Planning, directing, and coordinating work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, employee relations, leave administration, and safety
Representing the Department in employee relations and negotiation activities
Monitoring and reviewing personnel activities for consistency and propriety with regard to the Department’s goals, policies, and procedures
Overseeing nondiscrimination, affirmative action, and equal employment opportunity programs

A few reasons you might love this job:

Strategic Influence on HR and Departmental Policies: Serving on the Executive Team, The Departmental Human Resources Officer II (DHRO II) plays a crucial role in shaping departmental policies, employee relations, and organizational culture. This level of influence can be rewarding for someone who enjoys making impactful, high-level decisions.
Diverse and Complex Responsibilities: The role covers a wide range of HR functions, from recruitment and employee relations to labor negotiations and organizational development. This diversity keeps the work engaging and offers opportunities to develop and apply a broad HR skill set.
Opportunity for Leadership and Mentorship: Supervising both direct HR staff and Departmental Human Resources Supervisors, the position offers ample opportunities to lead, coach, and mentor others, which can be fulfilling for someone who enjoys helping others grow professionally.
High Impact within Large County Departments: This position operates in some of the largest county departments, such as Health Services and Employment and Human Services, meaning the work affects a significant number of employees and ultimately influences county-wide initiatives.
Advancing Technology and Modern Practices: The role allows for advancing and implementing HR technology solutions, streamlining HR processes, and modernizing the HR approach within the department. This can be particularly exciting for someone passionate about innovation in public sector HR.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

Managing Complex Labor Relations: Overseeing labor negotiations and employee relations for large, diverse departments can be challenging, especially when balancing employee needs with organizational goals and policies under union regulations.
High Expectations and Accountability: As the DHRO II on the Executive Team, there’s a high level of visibility, responsibility, and pressure to make sound decisions in alignment with department and county objectives.
Navigating Public Sector Bureaucracy: Working in a large public agency often involves adhering to complex regulations, policies, and systems, which can slow down decision-making and project implementation.
Balancing Multiple, Competing Priorities: The role requires juggling a wide variety of tasks, from overseeing recruitment processes to addressing labor relations issues, which can be demanding and require strong prioritization skills.
Maintaining Objectivity and Fairness: Administering the department’s personnel program while maintaining objectivity can be challenging, especially in cases that involve sensitive employee issues or conflicting stakeholder interests.

To read the full job description, please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/contracosta/classspecs/newprint/1394941

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Business or Public Administration, Social or Behavioral Science, Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, or a closely related field.

Experience: Four (4) years of full-time or its equivalent personnel management experience which included responsibility for conducting or participating in negotiations with labor organizations on issues pertaining to employer/employee relations, and the performance of departmental personnel functions, at least two (2) years of which must have been in a public agency in a supervisory capacity.

Desirable Qualifications:

Master’s Degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, or Organizational Development: Advanced education in these fields would provide a deeper understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of managing complex HR systems.
Certification in Human Resources (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or PHR/SPHR): Recognized HR certifications demonstrate professional credibility and a commitment to staying current with HR best practices.
Experience in Labor Relations in a Public Sector Setting: Extensive experience in labor relations, particularly within a unionized public agency, would be beneficial for handling negotiations and employee relations in a large, regulated department.
Knowledge of California Employment Laws and the Merit System: Familiarity with California-specific employment laws and the Merit System would be an asset, especially in navigating public sector regulations and compliance requirements.
Experience with HR Information Systems (HRIS) and Technology Implementation: Practical experience in utilizing HRIS and other HR-related technology would support process improvements and enhance efficiency in HR operations.
Project Management Certification (e.g., PMP): Formal training in project management would be advantageous for overseeing departmental HR projects and initiatives from planning through execution.
Experience in Organizational Development and Change Management: Background in these areas would support the department’s goals for continuous improvement, staff development, and effective change management strategies.

Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...