Director of Human Resources

Founded in 1866, San Jose Water Company is an investor owned water company headquartered in Silicon Valley. With a service area of 140 square miles, it is one of the largest and most technically sophisticated urban water system in the United States. We serve over 1 million people with high quality, life sustaining water, with an emphasis on exceptional customer service.

We are actively seeking talented, driven and highly-productive applicants for the position of Director of Human Resources to join our dynamic team. We offer a challenging and rewarding work environment along with a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President and CHRO, the Director of HR oversees all aspects of human resources, ensuring alignment with business objectives across the employee lifecycle. This role involves strategic collaboration with stakeholders to provide guidance, develop HR strategies, and enhance organizational effectiveness. A key focus is on managing labor relations, including fostering constructive relationships with unions, facilitating negotiations, and ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements. Additional responsibilities include managing employee relations, engagement, and development; overseeing recruitment, onboarding, and succession planning; and ensuring compliance with labor laws, SOX audits, and reporting requirements. The Director also leads initiatives in safety and training, leave management, and performance management, while optimizing HR operations through scalable methodologies. Additionally, the role ensures secure and accurate employee data management in compliance with policies.

Specific Responsibilities

• Serves as the strategic HR partner to the Business. Leverages HR consulting skills to help department leaders achieve key business objectives and increase the effectiveness of their departments

• Balances short term needs/tactics with long term strategies; calibrates needs of the each subsidiary within the broader SJW Group

• Aligns human resources initiatives and resources to deliver business strategies and operational plans

• Consults and makes recommendations on the organizational design, role structure, and communication flow to align to business strategy and priorities

• Interprets and ensures effective HR policies, legal compliance, and government reporting

• Participates in SOX audits with audit firms

• Ensures all applicable data is accurately captured in ADP Workforce Now platform, HR Help Desk , OnBase and other channels for employee services

• Manage and deliver HR data reports, metrics, updates, new programs, and recommendations to senior leadership

• Drives projects and initiatives aimed at updating or enhancing HR processes, reporting, and services

• Leads and takes ownership of labor relations matters between SJWC and Unions

• Drive continuous improvement of operations based on feedback from the business and employees

• Monitors and tracks new and proposed changes in employment laws and regulations; ensuring HR policies and the employee handbook are regularly reviewed and updated accordingly.

• Cultivate effective and productive relationships with functional leaders and HR partners, leveraging these connections to deliver exceptional outcomes

• In partnership with the State Presidents and Senior Leadership Team, develop and implements a talent plan that ensures the organization has the right talent to deliver the company’s strategy and operations, providing for consistent team performance and a sustainable talent bench

• In partnership with the Director of Compensation and Benefits, communicates, educates, coordinates and implements compensation and benefits programs to the Company

• Monitors developments in the human resources field, evaluates their impact on Company activities, and recommends and implements policy and procedural changes as required

• Brings thought leadership and experience to change management initiatives in the business

• Offer consistent opportunities for career development and growth to inspire and motivate the employees under direct and indirect supervision

• Drives talent programs including succession planning, recruiting, on-boarding, orientation, and off-boarding

• Oversees and supports leaves and accommodations

• Leads Culture and Values through language, actions, and the complete employee experience

• HR leadership responsibilities for SJWC and TXWC

Required Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Experience with labor unions including managing union contracts, negotiations, and grievance procedures preferred

• An ability to effectively manage between the strategic and operational - the ability to balance the day-to-day work activities with state and group level projects and strategic initiatives

• Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of human resource functional areas, including recruitment, selection, job analysis, classification, worker’s compensation, safety, training, employee relations, performance management, data and analytics, and leaves of absence

• Applicable federal and state laws and regulations; standard office practices and procedures, including basic business data processing and computer applications

• Skill in analyzing complex problems, evaluating alternatives, and making sound independent judgments within established guidelines

• Ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, top management, outside consultants, attorneys, and actuaries to influence decisions/actions and produce results

• Expert knowledge in HR service delivery, HR policies and processes

• Experience leading the execution of HR projects and initiatives

• Ability to positively influence stakeholders, with outstanding interpersonal skills, including verbal and written communication skills

• Proficient with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)

• Experience with HR information systems and other HR technology platforms

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education in business, human resources, public administration or a closely related field

• 10-15 years of experience in managing HR functions with at least five years in a supervisory capacity

EEO Statement
Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.