Workforce Strategy Manager

Full Job Description

Are you an experienced leader who excels at building strong teams, shaping workplace culture, and driving meaningful organizational change?

This is an opportunity to step into a high-impact role where your expertise will influence workforce strategy, employee experience, and organizational effectiveness.

The County of Santa Barbara Clerk-Recorder-Assessor’s Office is accepting applications for a Workforce Strategy Manager. This role will be based in Santa Barbara, CA.

County classification title is Business & Administrative Services Manager II. This position is "At-Will" and is exempt from Civil Service provisions.

Reporting to the Strategic Initiatives Manager, the Workforce Strategy Manager leads professional and administrative staff delivering core operational services and programs.

You will oversee key human resources functions, partner closely with executive leadership, and play a critical role in advancing strategic priorities that support employees of the department.

BENEFITS: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. Click on the Benefits Tab above or click here to view more information. In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate

IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS:

• Public sector human resources experience with advanced expertise in protected leave administration, creative solutions to recruitment challenges, performance improvement strategies and preparing defensible progressive disciplinary documentation.
• Ability to translate complex, ambiguous, or evolving issues into actionable guidance, particularly in areas involving policy interpretation or organizational change
• Ability to operate effectively in environments with incomplete information, changing direction, or competing priorities, using sound judgment aligned with organizational and legal requirements
• Demonstrated ability to apply laws, regulations, policies, and labor agreements consistently while balancing operational needs with fairness and compliance
• Strong leadership and project management skills to oversee cross-functional teams
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality written materials such as policies, executive briefings, reports, and sensitive correspondence.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities to identify opportunities for process improvement and innovation

THE DEPARTMENT:

The Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor department is led by an elected official and is comprised of three separate and unique division: the County Clerk-Recorder, the Assessor and the Registrar of Voters. The Department has four office locations and 106 positions. The Workforce Strategy Manager position is based in beautiful downtown Santa Barbara. The Department offers an onsite work environment to best foster strong team relationships and personal engagement.

Requirements

Duties may vary depending on assignment. Not all are performed by every position.

1. Plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs Departmental workforce and administrative support functions including the activities of: recruitment and selection, employee and labor relations, classification, performance management and personnel records.
2. Establishes annual goals and priorities and influences the direction for new or revised services, programs, processes and standards based upon the County’s longer-term strategies.
3. Oversees program and project management, business process improvements, and organizational planning or performance measurement activities.
4. Provides subject matter expertise and uses analytical skills to develop findings and recommendations.
5. Researches, analyzes, and reviews studies, reports, proposals, contracts, materials, and presentations; develops and presents recommendations to higher-level management.
6. Develops, implements, and evaluates services and programs to ensure alignment with strategic and performance goals; recommends and implements operational or program changes.
7. Develops and administers resources, and procedural processes; makes allocation recommendations and implements resource decisions.
8. Identifies, analyzes and resolves complex HR program or work unit issues, providing strategic solutions and informing executive leadership of key developments and resolutions.
9. Oversees or prepares reports, records, plans, policies, and related documents; analyzes information and makes recommendations.
10. Supervises staff, including performance evaluations, employee development, hiring, discipline, and termination.
11. Coordinates work with internal staff, other departments, and external agencies; prepares and delivers presentations to a variety of stakeholders.
12. Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience. A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Psychology, Communications, or related; and
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in workforce program oversight, or organizational governance, or a related field including at least two (2) years in a supervisory or managerial capacity.

Licenses Possession of a valid driver’s license and the ability to meet insurability requirements, or the ability to provide suitable transportation may be required.

Additional Information

• May be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

• May be required to complete a background check to the satisfaction of the organization.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
• Candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list.

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants.

Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting.

We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Statement of Commitment: The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance.

The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates.

The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Tuesday, March 10, 2026, by 4:59 pm PT. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

Leza Patatanian, LPatatanian@countyofsb.org