Explore an exciting opportunity as a City of Long Beach in California, US. This Full-time role is ideal for professionals interested in the Government Administration sector and offers hands-on experience in the Other department .
Rated 4/5 by employees, this opening is perfect for candidates at the Director level. Posted 35 minutes ago, and still accepting applications — don’t miss out.
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“City of Long Beach” Company Job Details
- Company Name: City of Long Beach
- Work Type: Full-time
- Rating: 4 / 5
- Location: California, US
- Industry: Government Administration
- Department: Other
- Experience Level: Director
- Job Creation Duration: 35 minutes ago
PEOPLE AND CULTURE OFFICER Job Overview
Description
The City of Long Beach is seeking an experienced, creative, innovative and collaborative individual who is committed to develop and lead the Department of Public Works, People and Culture Projects Division .
Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint $129,001.72 of the salary range, however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization.
THE COMMUNITY
The City of Long Beach is located south of Los Angeles and adjacent to Orange County, making it an idyllic location with oceanside activities, diverse culture, and a unique economy. Long Beach is home to approximately 470,000 residents living across the area’s 51 square miles, including 169 parks with 26 community centers and many public spaces. This community is one of the most diverse in the United States, making it an excellent place to learn about and immerse yourself in various cultures. When you live in Long Beach, you get to enjoy the Southern California climate all year long, making surfing, hiking, golfing, and other outdoor activities popular in this area. Biking is a favorite pastime among residents, as this area is bike friendly. Walking around town is also easy, considering the City was rated the 10th “Most Walkable City” of over 100 cities globally. Long Beach features six miles of beaches and many parks and public spaces, as well as the Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual IndyCar Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Long Beach is a full-service Charter City formed in 1897, governed by nine City Council members who are elected by district and a mayor that is elected at-large. Elected officials also include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The Council Members and the Mayor are subject to a three-term limit, which allows them to serve for a maximum of 12 years. The City Council appoints a City Manager and a City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under the direction of a separately elected official, Board or Commission.
The City Council appoints the City Manager, City Clerk, and Director of Police Oversight. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under direction of a separately elected official, Board, or Commission. Long Beach is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department and one of the very few municipalities with its own Utilities (Water and Gas) and Energy Resources Departments. The City is supported by a FY 2025 total budget of $3.6 billion with a General Fund budget of $752 million. More than 6,000 full- and part-time employees support municipal operations with the majority being represented by eleven recognized employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov .
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
The mission of the Department of Public Works is “to maintain and enhance the City’s infrastructure and environment for the benefit of the public.” The Department’s core services are focused on providing for and maintaining safe and efficient infrastructure for the community, providing for sustainable environmental protection including water quality and waste collection and diversion, and safely and efficiently designing, constructing, delivering, protecting, and maintaining services for public facilities and public rights-of-way. The Department has six bureaus: Business Operations, Engineering, Environmental Services, Project Management, Public Service, and Transportation Project Management. The Department has over 580 budgeted positions with an annual operating budget of $250 million and an annual capital improvement program budget of $150 million. Additional information on the Department can be found at www.longbeach.gov/pw .
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
THE POSITION
The People and Culture Officer is an at-will management position, reporting to the General Superintendent of Administration within the Business Operations Bureau. This position oversees, employee wellness, satisfaction and retention, labor relations, internal communication, development of departmental policies and procedures, and training initiatives within the Public Works department. Additionally, the People and Culture Officer will assess the effectiveness of current service delivery methods by reviewing the existing policies and procedures that impact these services.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Roles and responsibilities of the People and Culture Officer :
- Develop and implement a wide range of special projects, programs, and initiatives, and work closely with the Department’s management team to increase staff satisfaction, engagement, professional development and retention;
- Oversee a review of all 234 actively utilized classification specifications to ensure that accurate job duties, qualifications and skills are being recruited, and works in collaboration with the Human Resources Department to update classification specifications as necessary;
- Provide essential oversight of a department supervisory skills and core competencies analysis to close gaps in performance and reset leadership expectations while using that data to develop a new supervisory training plan;
- Facilitate department-level New Employee Orientation and New Supervisor Orientation.
- Act as liaison with the Department of Human Resources in coordination all Labor Relations matters including MOU implementation, Labor Management meetings and Grievances. Participate as a member of the Leadership team to provide a united, visible, and strong leadership presence across the organization;
- Collaborate with the Personnel Officer on strategic staffing plans, compensation, benefits, training and development, budget, and employee relations;
- Foster a positive and engaging work environment, promoting a culture of teamwork that supports the well-being, professional growth and job satisfaction of all employees;
- Identify opportunities to cultivate leadership among staff, including developing and enhancing mentoring and communications systems, and serving as an internal consultant to managers in various employee situations;
- Lead organizational change management and communications, including approaches, policies, and procedures to improve overall efficiency across the department.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will embody the attributes of principled leadership: trusteeship, values, ethics, commitment, honesty, involvement, and vision. The?People and Culture Officer will possess a demonstrated ability to provide committed leadership in a changing government environment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- Knowledge of Human Resources best management practices;
- Knowledge of public sector employment including labor relations and merit-based employment systems;
- Knowledge of employee training and development practices;
- Ability to handle confidential department and employee information with complete discretion;
- Ability to use a high level of tact, diplomacy, and discretion in dealing with sensitive confidential situations;
- Ability to provide advice and guidance to department managers, supervisors, and staff;
- Ability to assess and organize work and set priorities;
- Ability to communicate expectations and hold staff accountable;
- Ability to take initiative and exercise sound independent judgement;
- Ability to handle frequent interruptions while completing multiple assignments with competing deadlines;
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including City and department management, public officials, employees, labor associations, and the public;
- Ability to manage and lead a high performing team;
- Creative problem-solving skills;
- Exceptional customer service skills and dedication to continuous improvement;
- Excellent oral and written communications skills including the ability to serve as a department spokesperson in small or large group settings;
- Experience in organizations of similar size and complexity is desirable.
Requirements To File
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
The Department of Public Works invites candidates who meet the following minimum requirements to apply:
Education
A Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Psychology, Organizational Development, Communications, Human Resources, or closely related field from an accredited college or university is required; however, candidates may substitute experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
Experience
Three years of progressively responsible experience, involving tasks in the management of human resource programs related to employee wellness, engagement, training, retention, or similar HR responsibilities, providing suitable readiness for the role; two years of the required experience must have been at a lead or supervisory level.
Additionally, The Candidate Should Have
- Successful track record of progressive responsibility in human resources/talent management;
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate and address HR-related challenges;
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal;
- Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively at all levels of the organization.
Additional Requirements
- A valid driver’s license, or the ability to arrange necessary and timely transportation for field travel, may be required for some assignments.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Friday, August 28, 2025. To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume, and proof of education (if applicable) in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration.
Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact 562-570-4686.
The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.
The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act
The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov) .
The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call 562-570-4686.
For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (855) 524-5627.
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