Are you a bold, people-first leader who thrives on building strong teams, driving innovation, and navigating complex challenges? We’re seeking an experienced People Services & Strategies Director who blends strategic vision with emotional intelligence, courage with humility, and curiosity with a deep sense of responsibility and care for people.

SMUD is a community-owned, not-for-profit utility that centers customers and community in every decision we make. In this pivotal role, you’ll be responsible for shaping and executing a multi-year strategic plan that aligns people strategies with SMUD’s broader vision. You’ll oversee all facets of human resources, from workforce strategy and labor negotiations, to total rewards, talent acquisition, classification and compensation, and performance management—with a focus on outcomes that enhance both employee experience and organizational performance.

We’re looking for a leader who brings public sector HR expertise, thrives in a hybrid work environment, and understands the importance of balancing human and artificial intelligence to drive innovation. You’ll be a trusted advisor and relationship-builder across all levels, including public speaking and board-level engagement. With a customer-first mindset and a collaborative, solution-oriented approach, you’ll help move SMUD forward while fostering a culture rooted in growth, accountability, and empathy.

If you value listening as much as leading, challenge assumptions with humility, and bring a strong sense of purpose to everything you do—this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact and shape the future of our organization.

Purpose

Develops and implements strategic direction to the People Services & Strategies (PS&S) department. This position is accountable for directing a team to develop and manage day-to-day and long-term strategies, practices and policies that govern the full employee life cycle in a represented and civil service environment. The incumbent is responsible for providing strategic direction for recruitment, hiring, classification, compensation, performance appraisal, employee benefits, fair employment, policy, workforce analytics, and employee/labor relations. The incumbent will also manage relations with the Board of Directors, including escalating and presenting information as needed, as well as responding to inquiries regarding people services.

Nature and Scope

This position reports to the Chief Diversity Officer and serves as a member of the senior leadership team, providing enterprise-wide leadership for all People Services & Strategies (PS&S) activities. It oversees functions including outreach, recruitment and selection, classification and compensation, performance management, negotiation of labor agreements, maintenance of Civil Service Rules, employee benefits and total rewards, workers compensation, disability programs, employee records management, strategic workforce planning, human capital management technologies and systems, workforce analytics, employee and labor relations, and fair employment programs. This role requires deep technical expertise in functional areas and serves as a key consultant to senior leaders across the organization, supporting current and future workforce priorities and developing strong external partnerships. Additionally, the position is required to attend, present and/or lead at Board, executive, team, customer, community, and one-on-one meetings; in person, as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Directs recruitment, examination and selection of employees to meet the staffing needs of SMUD. Ensures that selection processes conform to Civil Service Rules, and state and federal laws.
• Directs the classification and compensation program to ensure that compensation of exempt and hourly employees is competitive in the market and industry, provides internal equity, and is sufficient to attract and retain qualified employees at all levels. Ensures that merit increases are applied in an equitable manner.
• Directs negotiation of mutually agreeable collective bargaining agreements to establish the wages, hours and working conditions with bargaining units. Administers and interprets the contract language to assure compliance and to protect agreement integrity.
• Administers the performance management function to measure and assess performance across the organization.
• Oversees benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, retirement (including CalPERS), unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and life insurance.
• Maintains all employee and retiree records as required for successful operation and compliance with relevant statutes. Ensures confidentiality and integrity of personnel records.
• Assists leaders in interpretation and application of SMUD policies and procedures. Directs the updates and maintenance of Administrative Policies and Management Procedures based on standards established.
• Acts as advisor to SMUD's executive management team in matters concerning effective utilization of people services and strategies for SMUD. Recommends and implements personnel policy changes.
• Presents material to the Board of Directors, including salary resolution changes, union/management negotiations, and special reports on human resources topics.
• Represents SMUD in the local community, as well as in the electric utility industry.
• Oversees the Fair Employment Office (FEO) and programs to ensure a favorable work environment for all employees.
• Partners with the Office of the General Counsel to ensure consistent application of SMUD's human resources-related policies and Civil Service Rules comply with local, state and federal personnel laws.
• Monitors outcomes of human resources strategic plans and operational metrics. Conducts periodic benchmarking of human resources-related services and programs.
• Performs other related duties as needed; schedules, hours and locations may fluctuate based on business needs.

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree in human resources management, public administration, industrial/organizational psychology, business administration, organization development, or related field from an accredited college or university. 4 years of additional relevant experience required with no degree.

Required Experience Qualifications

At least seven (7+) years of professional-level human resource management experience, including negotiating labor contracts, and at least five (5+) years supervisory and/or management experience.

Knowledge Of

• Fundamentals and practices of public sector human resources management
• Policy and procedure development and enforcement
• Laws and regulations governing employer-employee relations and selection
• Classifications and pay methodologies and data sources
• Wage and salary systems
• Test validation methodologies and standards
• Collective bargaining techniques/labor negotiations
• Federal and state labor laws and EEO regulations (e.g., Equal Pay Act, Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1964, etc.)
• Workforce analytics
• Judicial and regulatory processes impacting human resources management
• Recruitment, onboarding and retention strategies
• Designing competitive total rewards programs
• Leveraging a combination of human and artificial intelligence to improve process efficiencies

Skills To

• Assess and evaluate human resources programs
• Manage staff, including staffing, delegating, training, developing, and evaluating work
• Create and execute human resources strategies aligned with SMUD’s enterprise strategy
• Develop and execute strategic goals
• Mediate disputes, and work effectively with all levels of staff
• Negotiate collective bargaining contracts
• Make data-driven decisions
• Interpret Civil Service Rules, SMUD policies and procedures, and government regulations
• Persuade others
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Present information to a wide variety of stakeholders, including executives, Board of Directors, and community partners
• Collaborate and team build
• Develop and monitor budgets
• Accurately forecast department spending
• Develop and implement process improvement techniques to streamline operation and services
• Drive vision, purpose and strategy

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience managing Human Resources in the California Public Sector
• Experience managing in a represented environment, including participation in Collective Bargaining
• Relevant Human Resources Certification
• HRCI Senior Professional in Human Resources
• Demonstrated experience leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline processes in partnership with the intrinsic value of human intelligence.
• Demonstrated experience with public speaking and board presentations
• Experience developing and executing multi-year strategic plans
• Supervisory/management experience in a public sector/Civil Service human resources environment
• Utility experience

We recommend you create a SMUD Candidate account through our SMUD Careers page, upload your resume and cover letter to be considered for this and other open position.