WORKING AT WESTERN WATER
At Western Water, our work begins with our community’s most precious resource: water. Our mission is to ensure a reliable, safe water supply for current and future generations. Providing high-quality water is more than just a job; it’s about delivering an exceptional experience for both employees and customers.
Every day, nearly 1 million people will depend on you, so whether your role is front-and-center or behind-the-scenes, your work will benefit the greater good. We’re raising the bar of public service by empowering our employees to use their talents to innovate, learn, lead, and work as a team so that western Riverside County has the vital resource it needs to enjoy a high quality of life.
Western Water is transforming local water management and spearheading water policy.
ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC AGENCIES IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, PROVIDING WATER, WASTEWATER (SEWER), AND RECYCLED WATER SERVICES TO NEARLY 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY.
YOUR JOB STARTS HERE
Learn about our values and how we do things a little differently at Western Water.
WHY WESTERN WATER
MISSION AND IMPACT: At Western Water, you will directly contribute to our mission of ensuring longterm water security for the region. We expect you to bring your expertise and ideas to make a difference. You will find purpose and satisfaction in helping manage and protect this vital public resource.
WORK
ENVIRONMENT:
Awarded the 2025 Top Workplaces Award, Western Water values a positive, engaging and collaborative work culture that focuses on teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement.
SERVICE-DRIVEN: As a key leader, you will share in Western Water’s philosophy that a service-driven, empowered team is key to delivering results. You will have the opportunity to inspire your team and invest in their ongoing growth by challenging thinking and consistently recognizing great work.
JOB STABILITY: Responsible for vital public resources, Western Water offers sustainable employment opportunities regardless of economic fluctuations.
GREAT PERKS: Competitive salary, 9/80 work schedule with hybrid remote work options, health benefits, retirement plans, and more.
THE RIGHT FIT
We seek a dynamic Director of Human Resources to continue elevating Western Water’s strategic vision while amplifying our employee environment. In this pivotal role, you’ll partner closely with our General Manager and Deputy General Manager to lead the Human Resources and Safety teams, providing strategic plans and daily operational support. Your mission? Shaping the full cycle human resources experience, embedding best in class HR and safety practices into business operations, and coaching crossfunctional teams to deliver a consistent, high-quality experience aligned with Western Water’s strategic goals aimed at creating a workplace environment where all employees thrive.
At Western Water, we believe strong people skills are just as essential as technical expertise. That’s why we’re seeking an inspiring, approachable, and driven leader who knows how to connect with people, energize teams, and build authentic relationships both inside and outside the organization. If you’re ready to make a difference and lead with a purpose, we’d love to meet you.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
As Director of Human Resources, you will be focused on leading a dynamic team of HR and safety personnel. The successful candidate plans, organizes and provides strategic direction and oversight for a comprehensive human resources management program. The incumbent oversees employee relations, recruitment and selection, job analysis and classification, payroll, benefits administration, employee development, safety and risk management programs, and Workers Compensation. This position requires discretion to work with confidential and sensitive issues on a regular basis. Here’s what we expect from a seasoned HR leader and Ideal Team Player:
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY
• Shape the HR/Safety teams and employee engagement at Western Water, working alongside and advising a dynamic executive team.
• Lead the charge in creating data-driven strategies that align with our ambitious priorities.
• Bring your proven leadership and team development skills along with your sharp analytical skills and innovative mindset to build and implement high impact, results oriented department goals and plans.
DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT
• Inspire and energize the HR/Safety team to turn strategy into seamless execution by aligning cross-functional teams around a shared purpose.
• Commitment to training and professional growth for employees.
• Lead HR/Safety during emergencies (e.g., medical emergencies, staffing challenges, public health crises).
• Foster collaboration among functionally diverse teams, ensuring clarity of roles, shared goals, consistent performance standards, and efficient business processes.
• Balance the big picture with operational excellence. Your strategic partnership will set the pace and your attention to detail and daily operational business acumen will keep everything running smoothly.
• Oversee budgets, resources, and contracts with a keen eye.
EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS
• Build strong, authentic relationships with senior leaders, the Board of Directors, and departments to amplify the impact of HR and safety initiatives.
• Be a collaborator - bringing together internal teams to create a culture of shared learning and innovation.
• Champion for maintaining strong positive culture throughout the agency.
HUMAN RESOURCES AND SAFETY EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE INNOVATION
• Foster district-wide collaboration across departments, breaking down silos to ensure a shared vision of HR and safety requirements, aligned KPIs, and efficient delivery of business outcomes.
• Support continued transformation of relational HR service into a proactive, insights-driven resource that anticipates needs and exceed expectations.
• Harness the power of technology and data to innovate service delivery, ensuring measurable results and continuous improvement.
• Lead change with confidence and care, aligning employee experience strategies with Western Water’s goals and shaping the future of service for our staff.
QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS
LEADERSHIP SKILLS
• Strong strategic thinker who is passionate about contributing to Western Water’s vision and mission.
• Ability to lead change initiatives, including skilled in guiding organizational change, especially around modernization, technology adoption, and workforce diversity.
• Decisive and able to take calculated risks.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a balance between work responsibilities and personal life, ensuring productivity without compromising well-being.
COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to explain complex human resources and information clearly to various internal and external partners, including the Board of Directors.
• Transparent and clear communicator with employees, leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters diplomatically and maintain trust
• Strong relationship builder especially with the Executive and Managment groups.
• Champion for maintaining strong positive culture throughout the agency.
• Strong relationship-builder, both internally with staff and externally.
• Ability to understand Board of Directors’ priorities, and employee expectations.
TRUSTWORTHY
• Uncompromising honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior.
• Demonstrating the highest level of professionalism and trust, takes initiative and follows through, helping others and succeeding together.
WHAT WILL MAKE YOU STAND OUT
• 7+ years of progressive experience working in crosssectional teams in the areas of hunan resources and safety.
• 3+ years of team management experience with a proven skill set in delivering clear structure, coaching, support, and accountability for an evolving team.
• Deep understanding of labor laws, and public agency compliance.
• Strong familiarity with collective bargaining and recognized association relations.
• Experience managing contracts, grievances, and negotiations.
• Strong advocate for inclusive practices and compliance with equal employment opportunity laws.
• Passion and proven track-record for embedding employee experiences into the fabric of the business, positioning the team as a strategic, organization-wide partner capable of driving continuous and sound HR and Safety initiatives.
• Experience overseeing human-centered design and integrating employee insights into business decisions in a government or special district water utility setting will be a plus.
For a complete listing of qualifications, experience, and education requirements, visit WesternWaterCA.gov/Careers.
THE PERKS
• Competitive salary and a 9/80 work schedule with hybrid remote options, which means you’ll have flexibility.
• Generous health benefits for you and your family, including our executive medical benefits reimbursement program.
• Ample time off including 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, 96 hours of sick leave, 40 hours of administrative leave, and 80 hours of vacation leave accrued annually.
• Participate in the CalPERS retirement system (Classic members: 2% @ 55, New members: 2% @ 62) and Social Security.
• 2% of salary contributed on your behalf to a 401(a) retirement savings plan.
• Optional participation in Western Water’s 457(b) retirement saving program.
• Flexible spending accounts and employee assistance programs.
• Professional development and career advancement through our tuition reimbursement program. For a complete listing of all benefits, visit WesternWaterCA.gov/Careers