Departmental Human Resources Officer

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted on-line.

THE COUNTY:

Established in 1853, Alameda County has a population of over 1.6 million residents making it the second largest county in the Bay Area and the seventh largest in the State. The County encompasses 14 cities including Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City as well as six unincorporated communities and rural areas that span a total of 738 square miles.

Alameda County employs approximately 9,000 employees working in 21 different agencies and departments and has an annual budget of over $3 billion. As a major urban County, Alameda delivers a full spectrum of services, including general government and internal services, health care, social services, public works, criminal justice, and other public safety services for its community. 

The County celebrates the rich diversity of its workforce, which in large measure, reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity of the community it serves. The County’s mission is to enrich the lives of its residents through visionary policies and accessible, responsive, and effective services. Its vision is to be recognized as one of the best counties in which to live, work, and do business.

THE POSITION:

Under general direction, to perform professional, human resources management work in a County department or agency assisting, developing and maintaining a program of human resources management and administration including, recruitment/staffing, workforce planning, training and development, examination development and administration, employee selection, position classification, performance evaluations, affirmative action, disciplinary and grievance procedures and employee relations; and to perform other related duties.

This series specification describes two levels of the Departmental Human Resources Officer classifications, which under close supervision to learn at the lower level, and under general direction to perform at the upper level.

Departmental Human Resources Officer is a journey-level classification in the Departmental Human Resources Officer flex series located in County operating departments/agencies. This class is distinguished from the next higher-level, Departmental Human Resources Manager which functions as a first line supervisor to Departmental Human Resources Officer positions and other multidisciplinary professional and support staff.

The classifications of Departmental Human Resources Officer Trainee and Human Resources Trainee are both expected to gain experience and demonstrate satisfactory proficiency to be eligible to flexibly promote to the Departmental Human Resources Officer class after the equivalent of one year of full time service for the Departmental Human Resources Officer Trainee, and 18 months for the Human Resources Trainee. Appointments at the Departmental Human Resources Officer Trainee or Human Resources Trainee level will not be extended beyond one year or 18 months respectively.

THE VACANCIES:

We are currently recruiting to establish a countywide eligible list that will be used by any County department or agency needing to fill a vacancy in this classification.  

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

In addition to the minimum qualifications and knowledge and skills listed below, ideal candidates for these positions will have track records of successfully assisting, developing and maintaining a program of human resources management and administration including, recruitment/staffing, workforce planning, training and development, examination development and administration, employee selection, position classification, performance evaluations, affirmative action, disciplinary and grievance procedures and employee relations; and they perform other related duties as needed. In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the Departmental Human Resources Officer will possess the following critical attributes:

• A resourceful advisor who seeks to understand problems and provide accurate and timely guidance to employees, contractors, managers, supervisors, and others seeking information about human resource-related activities;
• Someone who develops collaborative relationships in an effort to facilitate and accomplish work goals;
• A professional who is a detail-oriented strategic thinker, who seeks, collects, and synthesizes information from a variety of sources to make recommendation;
• Someone who demonstrates a collaborative, eager spirit to actively participate as a member of a team;
• A strong communicator, both orally and in writing, who clearly conveys information and ideas to a variety of individuals or groups; an individual who effectively presents and receives information and concepts and who actively listens to ensure understanding;
• An effective planner who organizes work activities, manages several tasks at once, and ensures that the work is completed efficiently;
• A problem solver, who identifies problems and uses logic, judgment, and data to evaluate alternatives and recommend solutions to achieve the desired organizational goals or outcomes;
• Someone who works effectively with individuals of diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, abilities, motivations or background; and
• A technically knowledgeable human resources practitioner who applies knowledge of Federal, State, local and/or private sector Human Resources laws, rules and regulations and who understands human resources programmatic terminology, procedures and practices, and who demonstrates continued exposure to current trends and developments in the field.

Experience:

The equivalent of one year of full-time experience as a Departmental Human Resources Officer Trainee or 18 months as a Human Resources Trainee in the Alameda County classified service.

Or II

The equivalent of three years of full-time experience as a Human Resources Technician or in an equivalent or higher classification performing human resources related activities in the Alameda County classified service.

Substitution:

Completion of the Alameda County Management Academy “Management and Supervision Certificate Program’ may substitute for six (6) months of the required qualifying experience.

OR

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited college or university may substitute for one year of the required qualifying experience.

Or III

Education:

Possession of a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field from an accredited college or university.

AND

Experience:

The equivalent of three years of full time professional level human resources management experience involving compensation analysis, workforce planning, training and development, recruitment/staffing employee relations, requiring the use of the knowledge and skills described in this specification.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

Knowledge of:

Recruitment & Staffing
• Public human resources administration including job analysis and position classification, conducting audits, wage and salary administration, recruitment and personnel selection, employer-employee relations, and training.
• Federal, State and local laws, rules and guidelines relating to the hiring process and other areas of human resources-related activities.
• Internal workforce assessment techniques & employment policies, practices, & procedures
• Federal, State and local laws, rules and guidelines relating to the hiring process and other areas of human resource-related activities.
• Successful recruiting strategies to attract high caliber diversity candidates.

Employee & Labor Relations
• Knowledge of labor relations laws, practices, and trends
• Progressive discipline
• Grievance resolution
• Consultative & coaching skills with managers
• Investigative and interview techniques
• Labor relations laws, practices and trends.

Health & Safety
• Federal, State and Local workplace health, safety, security & privacy laws & regulations.
• Enforcing procedures of workplace safety, health & security.
• Awareness of potential violent behavior and workplace violence conditions.

Administrative
• Computer applications and hardware and software related to the work.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.

Ability to:

• Demonstrate commitment to the county’s mission, credo, and goals.
• Be visionary, strategic, and innovative, working with change.
• Collaborate with other agencies and departments to meet overall countywide needs while leveraging financial and other resources.
• Use business acumen to build a strong organization that delivers results.
• Use interpersonal skills to communicate effectively.
• Promote personal and professional growth for self and others.
• Provide the highest level of service delivery to diverse customers.
• Work effectively as a member and leader of diverse teams.
• Plan and organize workload.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity
• Be flexible
• Create HR policies, programs, and services with Diversity imbedded.
• Create employee programs that will demonstrate to the community the organization’s commitment to Diversity.

The examination will consist of the following steps:

1. A review of candidates' application to verify possession of minimum requirements.  Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2. A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified
   applicants to continue in the process.
3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score.  The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment. 

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness, and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs .

Applicants will be informed via e-mail with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. 

The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.