Human Services Manager - Organizational Development and Workforce Culture

Be part of shaping the future of the Human Services Agency (HSA) by becoming a Human Services Manager – Organizational Development and WorkforceCulture entrusted with leading cultural transformation, aligning strategy with action, and fostering a workplace of engagement where people feel empowered and performance thrives!

What We Offer

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• General Salary Increase: A general salary increase of 3.5% effective on December 20, 2026, and 3.5% effective December 19, 2027.
• Merit Increases – New employees are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase within the pay range upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately 6 months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards. Subsequent merit increases within the pay range will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.
• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Based on agency need, proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Flexible Workweek Schedule – We support work life balance by offering compressed work (e.g., 9/80 workweek) for most positions subject to organizational needs and satisfactory performance.
• Annual Leave/Accruals Redemption: A candidate selected for this position will earn 208 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service and has the ability to "cash in" or redeem up to 100 hours of Annual Leave per year after taking 80 hours in the preceding 12 months.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans – Full-time employees are given a flexible credit allowance of up to $26,626.86 annually to offset the purchase of medical, dental, and/or vision insurance for you and your dependents.
• Employee only - $463.99 per biweekly pay period
• Employee plus one dependent - $834.32 per biweekly pay period
• Employee plus family - $1,024.11 per biweekly pay period
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental and vision care and/or dependent care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Both the County and employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If eligible, reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems, such as CalPERS.
• Holidays - 13 paid days per year which, includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITY

Ventura County is located on California’s “Gold Coast,” approximately 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. Residents enjoy rolling hills and sweeping ocean views in a nearly perfect Mediterranean climate. The beauty and weather combined with a wonderful quality of life are among the many reasons our residents choose to call Ventura County “home.”

Ventura County is a “general law” county, governed by a five-member, elected-by-district Board of Supervisors. The Supervisors appoint a County Executive Officer (CEO) to oversee the County budget, day-to-day operations, and to advise, assist, and act as an agent for the Board of Supervisors in all matters under the Board’s jurisdiction. It focuses on providing excellent services to its residents by promoting engagement, strategy, execution, and accountability to include diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to ensure that all employees are treated with respect and without discrimination, and to improve culturally appropriate outcomes for community members.

THE AGENCY

To learn about the Human Services Agency (HSA), click “ Who We Are ” to view a short video about our multiple departments.

HSA is comprised of nearly 1,400 staff members who serve approximately a third of Ventura County residents, all of whom have unique experiences and perspectives. We are committed to delivering services in a manner that is inclusive, competent, and respectful of each community's beliefs, practices, and expressions. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and assist communities by bringing these values into the workforce.

THE POSITION

Under general direction, the Human Services Manager – Organizational Development & Workforce Culture leads agencywide organizational development, workforce engagement, leadership culture, and employee development initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness and support staff in doing their best work in service to the community.

This position provides strategic leadership for initiatives that enhance the employee experience, help embed inclusive leadership behaviors, expand workforce development pathways, cultivate leadership at all levels of the organization, monitor onboarding effectiveness, ensure communication alignment, and promote organizational learning across a large and complex human services agency.

The Human Services Manager – Organizational Development & Workforce Culture serves as a key partner to executive leadership, managers, supervisors and staff in identifying organizational strengths and opportunities; facilitating collaborative problem-solving; and implementing sustainable strategies that improve workplace culture, communication, employee growth and organizational effectiveness.

This position exercises substantial independent judgment in assessing organizational needs, aligning workforce initiatives with agency goals, and implementing long-term strategies that support employee engagement, inclusive leadership behaviors, succession planning, and organizational learning.

This position will report to the HSA Human Resources Manager and may supervise professional, technical, administrative, and program support staff and/or cross-functional workgroups .

PAYROLL TITLE: Human Services Manager

Human Services Manager is a management classification and is not eligible for overtime compensation. Incumbents in these classifications are eligible for benefits at the MB4 level.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is a skilled organizational development professional who understands how to strengthen workplace culture, build trust across organizational levels, and create systems that support employee growth and engagement over time. They are an exceptional facilitator and relationship-builder who can navigate complex organizational dynamics with diplomacy, empathy, credibility and strategic insight.

The successful candidate will bring demonstrated experience helping large organizations improve communication, leadership practices, workforce development, and employee experience through collaborative, data-informed, and equity-centered approaches, ideally in a public-sector, human services, healthcare, behavioral health, nonprofit, or community-serving environment.

Ideal Candidates Will Possess The Following Competencies

• Continuous Learning – Pursuing opportunities for professional growth and applying acquired knowledge to one’s work and career goals
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving – Analyzing and evaluating information, problems, and options with logic and good judgment
• Engagement & Inclusion – Involving coworkers, teams, and outside partners for input, contribution, coordination, and shared responsibility
• Initiative & Creativity – Pursuing new and innovative ways to solve problems, improve processes and services, and advance the County’s mission, values, and guiding principles
• Leadership – Establishing shared goals, values, and principles and strategically guiding others
• Oral Communication – Speaking to be understood and listening to understand
• Organizational Culture Management – Establishing, adapting, and upholding norms, behaviors, and processes to support a coherent and effective institutional philosophy
• Presentation Proficiency – Formally communicating prepared information to an audience in a clear, organized, and engaging manner
• Project Management – Leading and coordinating participants and resources to ensure objectives are met on-time, on-budget, and according to specifications
• Results Focus – Initiating tasks, meeting organizational goals, and committing to proficient accomplishment
• Staff Development – Supporting others in the pursuit of their goals and expansion of their potential through feedback, instruction, and encouragement
• Strategic Vision – Developing and communicating clear, compelling, long-term objectives aligned with the County’s mission, values, and guiding principles

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Plans, organizes, coordinates, and oversees organizational development initiatives designed to strengthen workforce effectiveness, employee engagement, communication, leadership capacity, and organizational culture across the agency.
• Collaborates with management and staff to foster conditions that support all employees in doing their best work through embedding inclusive leadership behaviors, attention to continuous learning, and strategic workforce development into agency systems.
• Partners with executive leadership, managers, supervisors, and staff to identify organizational strengths, emerging needs, communication gaps, operational barriers, and workforce development opportunities.
• Facilitates communication and alignment among leadership, management, and staff to support transparency, trust-building, organizational responsiveness, and effective implementation of agency priorities.
• Designs and implements strategies that foster healthy, inclusive, mission-driven workplace cultures that support employee belonging, accountability, engagement, innovation, and retention.
• Leads organizational change through assessments, employee feedback efforts, focus groups, climate surveys, onboarding evaluations, and workforce engagement initiatives; analyzes findings and develops recommendations for continuous organizational improvement.
• Develops and oversees initiatives that measure employee experiences, including onboarding effectiveness, employee engagement, perceptions of leadership practices, workplace inclusion, communication effectiveness, and organizational culture.
• Designs, facilitates, and evaluates leadership development and workforce growth initiatives, including mentoring programs, employee development pathways, succession planning efforts, and agencywide learning opportunities.
• Oversees special workforce and leadership initiatives that provide employees opportunities to engage with executive leadership, participate in strategic projects, and strengthen leadership competencies.
• Oversees Learning Management System (LMS) administration, training compliance, reporting, analytics, and workforce learning programs.
• Facilitates cross-functional workgroups, planning sessions, and collaborative problem-solving processes focused on organizational effectiveness, employee experience, workforce development, and strategic change initiatives.
• Identifies areas requiring organizational strengthening and develops consensus-driven recommendations that may include training initiatives, process improvements, leadership workforce planning, or organizational restructuring strategies.
• Designs content built on adult learning principles, and delivers trainings, presentations, workshops, and facilitated discussions related to leadership development, organizational culture, employee engagement, communication practices, change management, and inclusive leadership behaviors.
• Uses qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate organizational effectiveness initiatives and prepare reports, recommendations, dashboards, and presentations for leadership and stakeholders.
• Evaluates all learning and development efforts with a commitment to continuous process improvement and in response to current organizational needs.
• Promotes organizational practices that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, trauma-informed approaches, employee wellness, collaboration, continuous learning, and healing-centered engagement.
• Represents the agency in internal and external meetings, committees, partnerships, and collaborative initiatives related to workforce development, organizational effectiveness, and employee engagement.
• May supervise professional, administrative, technical, or support staff and provide coaching, mentorship, and performance management support.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, And EXPERIENCE

Extensive professional-level experience in organizational development, workforce engagement, leadership development, organizational culture, employee experience, or related fields which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

An example of qualifying experience may be obtained by possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in organizational development, public administration, human resources, psychology, organizational leadership, social sciences, business administration, communications, or a related field.

AND

A minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible management, supervision, or professional administrative experience in organizational development, workforce engagement, leadership development, or organizational culture initiatives.

Substitution: Related experience as noted above may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Must be willing and able to work evenings, overnight, weekends, and holidays.
• Must be willing and able to travel throughout the County of Ventura.
• Must possess, prior to appointment, and maintain a valid California driver license.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal. Skills must be demonstrated in the completion of the employment application and supplemental questionnaire and will be evaluated during the probationary period.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is primarily performed in an office environment but will require visits to other work locations; may require work outside regular workday hours. Work locations, work schedules, and work units may change as needed according to business needs and at the discretion of management. Worksite reassignments may occur due to changes in facilities or other operational requirements within the business.

COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS

When a disaster strikes of natural or man-made origin, Ventura County employees may be called upon to provide service to the community by assisting in emergency response efforts. This may require employees to work in other locations, different hours, and out of class. At the time of hire, all County employees will be required to sign an Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance for Disaster Service Workers and Public Employees (Sections 3102 and 3103, Government Code of California).

DESIRED

• Experience leading organizational culture or employee engagement initiatives in a large organization
• Experience facilitating leadership development or emerging leader programs
• Experience designing or administering employee surveys, onboarding evaluations, or organizational assessments
• Experience facilitating cross-functional workgroups and consensus-building processes
• Experience supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives
• Experience using data to inform organizational development strategies and workforce planning
• Experience administering or utilizing enterprise LMS, such as Cornerstone, SuccessFactors, Workday Learning, or similar platforms, to support training and workforce development.
• Work history of resource management that achieves optimum outcomes or business results
• Highly developed skills in the areas of change management, time management, team leadership, and facilitation of work groups and meetings

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

To apply online, please refer to our website at http://www.venturacounty.gov/jobs . If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Information for Transfer Candidates: NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here for additional information.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying : All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the recruitment and hiring process to assist in determining qualifications for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the examination process.

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION: A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.

NOTE: The selection process will likely consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded or replaced with the score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence. Responses such as "See Resume" or "Refer to Resume" are not acceptable and may disqualify an applicant from further evaluation.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%: A job-related oral examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating examinees' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Examinees must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

NOTE: If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination may not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST: Applicants successfully completing the exam process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year. The eligible list established through this recruitment will be used to fill current and future Regular, (Temporary, and Fixed-term), Extra Help and Intermittent vacancies for this and similar positions only. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy within the Human Services Agency, Administrative Services Department.

SELECTION INTERVIEW: When a position becomes available, applicants are referred to the employing department for interviews beginning with the highest scoring applicants, moving down the list from the top until the available positions are filled.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record is required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

RECRUITER CONTACT INFORMATION: For further information about this recruitment, please contact Kim Mariscal by email at ***email_hidden*** or by telephone at (805) 477-5153.