Employee Engagement Officer
Position Information
What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
- Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
- Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
- Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
- Bilingual Premium Pay* - An additional $1.50/hour on top of the hourly pay rate for fluent bilingual positions
- Student Loan Debt Relief – County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
Join Our Team
The Human Resources Department (County HR) is a team of 60+ employees who provide human resources and risk management services to the County's 28 departments. These diverse services include benefits, classification plan management, recruitment and examination, countywide training, employee and labor relations, equal employment opportunity, HR information systems, safety, and risk management. Under the leadership of the Director, our mission is to be a trusted strategic partner, providing County departments with HR services that work to effectively recruit, develop, and retain an outstanding workforce committed to providing quality public service. We value customer service, collaboration, professionalism, consistency, proactive planning, flexibility, and innovative problem-solving. County HR is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, where individuals from all backgrounds are welcomed, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.
The Employee Engagement Officer will be a member of County HR’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)/Americans with Disability Act (ADA) team. Our goal is for everyone who works with, for, and/or receives services from the County of Sonoma to find that our culture is built upon respect, inclusion, and individual dignity. This new Employee Engagement Officer position within our team holds a multifaceted role. Responsible for promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging (DEIB) within the County workforce, while driving employee engagement and applying effective conflict-resolution strategies. Key responsibilities of the position include:
- Staying informed about industry trends, best practices, and legislative developments related to diversity, equity, inclusion, employee engagement, and conflict resolution
- Conducting regular assessments and surveys to measure employee engagement, satisfaction, inclusion, and conflict resolution effectiveness, and utilizing data to inform targeted interventions
- Providing guidance and support to departments to promote inclusive practices and procedures, while addressing and resolving conflicts as they arise
- Collaborating with Workforce Development to design and deliver training programs and workshops on topics such as unconscious bias, cultural competence, conflict resolution, and inclusive leadership
- Providing conflict resolution support to employees and departments to promote positive outcomes and maintain productive working relationships
- Fostering a culture of recognition and appreciation through the implementation of employee recognition programs and initiatives
- Collaborating with the HR team to ensure compliance with relevant employment laws and regulations in all DEIB, employee engagement, development, and conflict resolution activities
What You Bring
As our ideal candidate, you have a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace culture and experience collaborating with cross-functional teams to align engagement strategies with organizational goals. Additionally, you bring your:
- Strong understanding of DEIB concepts and a proven track record of implementing DEIB initiatives in a professional setting
- Experience designing and implementing employee engagement initiatives aimed at enhancing job satisfaction, morale, retention rates, and opportunities for professional growth and development
- Proficiency in conflict resolution techniques and demonstrated experience mediating and resolving conflicts in a workplace setting
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and ability to effectively engage and influence diverse stakeholders
- Experience designing and delivering training programs and workshops on topics such as diversity, equity, inclusion, conflict resolution, and employee engagement
- Ability to analyze and use data-driven insights to inform decision-making and measure the effectiveness of initiatives
- Demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning and professional development in the areas of DEIB, conflict resolution, employee engagement, and talent development
Additionally, diverse lived experiences are valued, and a sense of humor is a must! This is a serious position and while the topics we work with support integral services and are often confidential, we find opportunities and reasons to enjoy our time together.
This position’s hours are typically Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and work is performed in an office environment, however, depending upon operational needs, this position must be willing to work extra hours intermittently to complete specific tasks.
Bring Your Commitment to Public Service to the County of Sonoma
The County of Sonoma is the place to live, grow, and build your career legacy. When you join the County of Sonoma, you'll have the freedom to explore the beauty of our county - its picturesque coastline, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, award-winning wineries, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities. For additional information about the beauty of our community and the valuable services and support that the County provides our communities, please visit sonomacounty.ca.gov and sonomacountyconnections.org.
We are currently recruiting to fill our Employee Engagement Officer position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title of this position is Supervising Human Resources Analyst.
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Training and/or experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, at least three years of increasingly responsible professional human resources experience, including at least one year at the level of Human Resources Analyst III, would provide such opportunity.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Considerable knowledge of: public sector human resources management policies and practices; human resources information systems; basic statistics sufficient to analyze examination results.
Working knowledge of: principles and practices of supervision and performance management; principles of organization and management applicable to local government; principles and practices of public administration.
Ability to: plan, organize, assign, prioritize, delegate, and coordinate the work of self and others; balance competing priorities; establish performance standards and evaluate performance; coach subordinate staff in order to develop their skills and knowledge; work independently; gather, organize, and analyze data, draw conclusions, and make recommendations; understand, interpret, and apply provisions of applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, memoranda of understanding, and operating procedures; prepare a variety of written documents, such as correspondence, policies, and performance evaluations; explain rules, policies, procedures, and technical concepts; communicate information in verbal and written form to a variety of people; establish and maintain working relationships with colleagues, subordinate staff, representatives of other departments and agencies, and members of the public; maintain objectivity and confidentiality; use a personal computer and standard business software applications, including word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software, e-mail, and Internet search engines; learn and use general and specialized computer applications.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: CG
HR Technician: RR
