Program Manager (Human Resources) – Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

About the Department

Are you ready to join a team that is “Building Community Through Fun?”

Are you ready to make a difference?

The City of San Jose's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services is proud to build healthy communities that inspire belonging through inclusive, creative, and excellent programs and services. Our mission is to connect people through people, parks, and programs. The Department is a steady force in our community, advancing education, health, and social connections. We meet the diverse needs of our community across the lifespan by connecting people to places and people to people. The principles of equity, access, diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and flexibility guide us.

The Department creates and activates thriving places where people live, work, play, and learn, which include 51 community centers, 209 parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, over 65 miles of trails, programs and services that touch the lives of individuals and families in our community. We take a fun approach to public service, and value the public’s trust. Our team is collaborative, supportive, and innovative.

To learn more, click here.

Position Duties

SALARY INFORMATION:

The Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) Department is currently seeking to fill one (1) full-time Program Manager (Human Resources) vacancy in the Administrative Services Division (ASD).

The total salary range for this classification is: $134,490.72 - $174,851.04 annually. This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

POSITION DUTIES:

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as its next Human Resources Program Manager within the Administrative Services Division (ASD). This position leads the Employee Services Unit, which provides comprehensive human resources services supporting the diverse, dynamic, and largest non-public safety City department.

The Employee Services Unit is responsible for recruitment and hiring, employee and labor relations, performance management, training and organizational development, disability and leave management, health and safety compliance, and timekeeping administration.

Reporting to the ASD Division Manager, the Human Resources Program Manager oversees a team that includes a Senior Analyst, Analysts, and Timekeeping staff, and serves as a key advisor to PRNS Executive Leadership Team.

This position plays a critical role in advancing PRNS’s workforce strategies and organizational effectiveness. The HR Program Manager partners with leadership across Capital, Community Services, Parks, Recreation, and the Director’s Office to support implementation of the Department’s strategic plan, ActivateSJ.

The HR Program Manager also collaborates closely with the City’s Human Resources Department, Office of Employee Relations, and Office of Racial Equity to ensure alignment with citywide policies, labor agreements, and equity-focused practices.

The HR Program Manager is challenged with leveraging a broad set of City administrative systems, policies, and procedures related to all Human Resources matters. This includes providing direction, education, and consulting services to managers, supervisors, and line staff about the best approaches for recruitment and on-boarding, as well as managing staff performance and development in alignment with the Department’s Leadership Principles.

PRNS is seeking a leader who will adopt a collaborative and creative approach to managing heavy workloads, navigating complex policy issues, pursuing service delivery improvements, and advancing key organizational initiatives. In particular, the successful candidate will be able to strike an effective balance between the constraints of a unionized Civil Service environment and the operational needs of a large department that seeks to advance a diverse set of facility development, maintenance, and programming priorities for the community.

The key responsibilities of the HR Program Manager position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provide leadership, supervision, and professional development to Employee Services Unit staff.
  
• Direct and manage all HR functions, including recruitment strategy, workforce planning, classification and compensation analysis, project management, and succession planning.
  
• Lead department-wide training and organizational development initiatives to support leadership capacity and employee growth.
  
• Oversee employee relations activities, including interpretation and application of policies, labor agreements (MOUs), and performance management and disciplinary processes.
  
• Manage PRNS employee health, safety, and wellness programs, ensuring compliance with CalOSHA, Workers’ Compensation, and return-to-work requirements.
  
• Oversee timekeeping activities, including payroll coordination, leave administration, and compliance with applicable laws and policies.
  
• Serve as a trusted advisor to managers and supervisors, providing guidance on HR best practices, policy interpretation, and complex personnel matters.
  

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in a closely related field.

Experience: Five (5) years of directly related experience, including two (2) years of supervisory experience.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies, and federal and state rules and regulations.

Collaboration: Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.

Communication Skills: Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people’s ideas and thoughts.

Decision Making: Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.

Leadership: Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.

Planning: Acts to align own unit's goals with the strategic direction of the organization; defines tasks and milestones to achieve objectives, while ensuring the optimal use of resources to meet those objectives.

Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Supervision: Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.

Desirable Qualification :

A certification such as Public Sector HR Association Certified Professional or Senior Certified Professional (PSHRA-CP/SCP, formerly IPMA-CP/SCP), Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) from the HR Certification Institute is highly desirable. Please attach a copy of your certification(s) with your application.

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered, or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews. Please also ensure to attach your resume while submitting your application.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Vaishali Vashistha at vaishali.vashistha@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 6/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of San Jose

• 408-535-1285

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