Director of Human Resources

Salary 

$11,394.00 - $16,977.00 Monthly

Location 

Irvine, CA

Job Type

Overview of the District
Irvine Ranch Water District has e
IRWD’s Values
● We share a concern for safety: For ourselves, our co-workers, and the public.
● We model corporate and individual integrity and
transparency in all we do.
● We encourage creative, anticipatory,
and adaptive solutions with a bias
for action.
● We embrace teamwork, collaboration, and enjoyment of our
work.
● We take ownership and personal responsibility.
● We promote professional growth
and opportunity for staff.
● We prioritize responsive and caring customer service.
● We foster environmental stewardship.
● We treat each other with respect and kindness.
Position Overview / Key Responsibilities
The position of Director of Human Resources reports directly to the General Manager. This reporting relationship
establishes the value that the General Manager and the organization places on human capital and the importance of
this position to the workforce and the District. This career opportunity is the result of a retirement at the end of 2020.
Additionally, this position is one of thirteen members of the District’s Senior Staff Team. In addition to the Director of
Human Resources and the General Manager, the other members of IRWD’s Senior Staff Team include the Executive
Director of Operations, Director of Recycling Operations, Director of Maintenance, Executive Director of Technical
Services, Director of Water Quality and Regulatory Compliance, Executive Director of Finance and Administration,
Treasurer / Director of Risk Management, Director of Information Services, Executive Director of Water Policy, Director
of Water Resources, and the Director of Public Affairs. This team is highly collaborative and works very closely to
ensure the success of IRWD.
The Director of Human Resources has oversight and management of the following key areas:
♦ Recruitment and Selection
♦ Classification and Compensation
♦ Employee Relations
♦ Labor Negotiations
♦ Performance Evaluation System
♦ Training and Professional Development
♦ Benefits Administration
♦ Employee Assistance including Health and Wellness
♦ Retirement Coordination with CalPERS
♦ Succession Planning
The Director manages a department of five staff total.
The District-wide safety and training program is currently being realigned within the Operations Department to allow
the Human Resources Department to focus specifically on serving the human resources and capital needs of the
organization. 
The ideal candidate for the position of Director of Human Resources will have
significant experience in a mid-sized public- or private-sector organization
with outstanding leadership, mentoring, and team building skills. The Director
will have a strong customer-service orientation, be forward-thinking, and
have a vision for the development of strategies that will continue to enhance
internal processes.
The Director of Human Resources will have a personal style that is a balance
of empathy, caring, and appropriate follow-through on staff concerns. At
the same time, the Director will need to set the course for developing and
updating sound human resource policies, ensuring compliance, while also
managing risk and protecting the interests of the District.
This top individual will be comfortable working closely with the General
Manager and the varied needs of IRWD’s Senior Staff Team. In this regard,
the new Director of Human Resources will be a collaborative partner with
each member of the Senior Staff Team and collectively support them in
their individual role. This may include refinement and revision to existing
structure or service level and will include further promoting a departmentwide culture in the HR Department that has a much greater focus on action,
accuracy, responsiveness, and follow-through.
The Director will also be a values-driven, highly skilled professional who has a passion for incorporating best practices
into the daily operations of a large and complex public organization. This person will have broad based human resource
experience supporting and contributing significantly to a high-performing organization. Success in this position
includes the ability to effectively disseminate information through significant personal involvement and interactions
as well as through established reporting systems. This person will also be a strategist and trusted advisor with a high
level of skill in both short- and long-term priority setting and achievement of significant goals.
Additionally, the Director will have characteristics that embody an innovative approach, problem solver, great listener,
trusted advisor, and relationship builder. Also, as a key contributor and leader in the organization, the Director will also
display the values of integrity, accountability, and transparency.
The Ideal Candidate
How do you measure up?
Attributes of IRWD’s Senior and Executive Staff
♦ A Leader with outstanding mentoring and team-building skills, who builds
trust, motivates others, and moves the organization forward by being inclusive
yet decisive.
♦ A Critical Thinker who is strategic and forward-thinking with the vision and
commitment to seek continuous improvement in the effectiveness and
efficiency of the District as well as the Human Resources Department.
♦ An Excellent Communicator and accomplished presenter who has an outgoing
and personable communication style, exceptional listening skills, a well-honed
sense of diplomacy, the ability to drive change and influence people, and the
flexibility to work with a variety of individuals at all levels in the organization.
♦ A Collaborator who is an active listener and expresses opinions candidly on all
issues while engaging in a collaborative, team-spirited work environment with
the General Manager, the Senior Staff Team, the Board of Directors, managers,
and staff throughout the organization in the spirit of contributing to IRWD’s
overall success.
♦ Results-Oriented with a sense of urgency and timeliness that benefit a fastpaced and dynamic environment.
♦ Confident and self-assured with the ability to exercise a high degree of
professionalism, common sense, sound judgment, and a sense of humor.
♦ Creative with an entrepreneurial spirit, advanced problem-solving skills, and a
passion for developing and encouraging creativity in others.
♦ Ethical with impeccable integrity, a commitment to organizational values as a
basis for decision-making, and an unwavering commitment to assist in leading
and managing a top-tier organization.
Opportunities and Challenges
♦ Invigorate the Department with an updated
customer-oriented approach that embraces a
more responsive culture of service and accountability in programs provided matched with accountability to both management and employees.
♦ Proactively and collaboratively address District initiatives, programs, and delivery of HR programs
and services.
♦ Enhance recruiting efforts to minimize timeframe
of vacancies, improve social media presence, and
expand “employer of choice” branding.
♦ Broaden the District’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion at all levels of the organization.
♦ Provide accurate data driven information, assessments, and performance measures including establishing benchmarks to celebrate achievements
and success.
♦ Update policies and procedures to better reflect
desired outcomes; provide training and support
consistent interpretation and implementation.
♦ Provide collaboration, support, programs, services,
and resources to managers and supervisors, helping them continuously improve their skills working
with employees, building performance excellence,
and addressing issues during difficult and changing times.
♦ Updating and improving efficient and customer focused processes in performance reviews, classification and
compensation studies, enhanced use of technology programs and tools, and supervisory/management training
that meets the needs of today’s workforce.
Minimum Qualifications: A combination of education and experience
equivalent to a bachelor’s degree and
10 years of progressively responsible
management experience, ideally in
California public (government) agencies with at least 6 years in a senior
management capacity. Experience
working with the California Public
Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) is preferred. Experience working
with employee unions is preferred.
Qualifying Education and Experience
Highly Desired Experience and Certifications: An undergraduate degree in a field of study relevant to the
position; a master’s degree or other advanced degree is preferred. Labor relations and union negotiations experience in the public sector is highly desired.
Professional Human Resources certification by the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), the Human
Resources Certification Institute (HRCI), and/or the International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR) is highly desired.
Review and Evaluation of Experience and Education:
Candidates should be aware that District Leadership,
working with Ralph Andersen & Associates, reserves the
right to determine the best combination of education and
experience required for this position.

The District intends
to attract a broad spectrum of highly qualified and interested professionals to apply for this position.

see brochure attached

Industry experience

Education: Bachelor

Seniority: Manager, Director, Professor

Years of experience: 10 to 20 years

Media

Taxonomy

• Human Resources
• Human Resources