Classification, Compensation & Labor Relations Program Management Analyst

Job Description:

Classification, Compensation & Labor Relations Program Management Analyst

Description

Description

BE PART OF SOMETHING AMAZING!

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. The salary range for this position is $131,049.30 to $183,487.00 annually. An employee in this position will also be eligible for the following:

• Educational Incentive: An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, or 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
  
• Bilingual Incentive: Incumbents may also be eligible for a bilingual incentive depending upon operational needs and certification skills.
  
• Annual Leave: 208 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years (10,400 hours) of service.
  
• Annual Leave Redemption: The ability to "cash in" or redeem up to 100 hours of Annual Leave per year, accrued in the same year, after using 80 hours within the last 12 months. (Management Resolution, § 1207).
  
• Holidays: 12 paid days per year, which include a scheduled floating holiday.
  
• 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% match on your 401(k)contributions. Effective February 9, 2024 (and annually thereafter), eligible employees meeting the criteria in Sec. 1907 of the Management Resolution will receive a two percent (2%) non-elective contribution of their annualized compensation into their 401(k) account.
  
• Health Insurance Plans: You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans. Tier one for employee only is $502 per pay period, tier two for employee plus one is $730 per pay period, and tier three for employee plus family is $905 per pay period..
  
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Increase your spending power by reimbursement with pre-tax dollars for IRS-approved dependent care and health care expenses.
  
• Pension Plan: Both you and the County contribute to the County’s Retirement Plan. If you are eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems, such as CalPERS.
  
• Holidays: 12 paid days per year, including one annual floating holiday.
  
• Additional Benefits: Incumbents are entitled to County-paid membership in professional organizations related to their position; other benefits include Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, and Wellness Program.
  

VENTURA COUNTY

Discover your next chapter in Ventura County, nestled on California's "Gold Coast," approximately 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. Imagine enjoying the beautiful local scenery in a nearly perfect climate, where the average annual temperature is a pleasant 74.2 degrees. This wonderful setting, combined with an exceptional quality of life, makes Ventura County a truly special place. Explore stunning beaches, hike scenic trails, or immerse yourself in the bustling and friendly atmosphere of our communities. Ventura County boasts a welcoming environment with a relaxed lifestyle and family-friendly neighborhoods, along with easy access to the broader Southern California landscape. With a strong sense of community and excellent schools, Ventura County isn't just a place to reside - it's a place to truly call "home."

COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE

As a critical component of the County organization, the County Executive Office (CEO) is responsible for recommending and implementing Board of Supervisor Policies, preparing and administering the County budget, recruiting and retaining a high-caliber workforce, and negotiating and administering contracts with various labor organizations.

The Office also engages extensively with local cities and other public jurisdictions within the County, representatives of state and federal governments, and community-based organizations. In conducting business, the Office strives to deliver high-quality services in a fiscally prudent manner while consistently fostering a culture of collaboration among agencies to better integrate and coordinate services.

THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

The Human Resources Department of the County Executive Office (CEO-HR) consists of 138 dedicated professionals committed to fulfilling the mission of recruiting, retaining, and developing a diverse, inclusive, and qualified workforce that provides the highest level of service. The staff is organized into six divisions, which include the following: Labor Relations, General Human Resources, Health Care Agency Human Resources, Risk Management, Disability Management/Workers’ Compensation, and Community & Belonging Division. The County utilizes a combination of centralized and decentralized human resources, with certain agencies managing their specialized recruitments and processes in consultation with CEO-HR.

THE POSITION

The County of Ventura is seeking a highly skilled, forward-thinking Human Resources professional to enhance and expand key aspects of the County's Classification and Compensation program, collaborating with our established Classification and Compensation Manager and HR team. This role will also significantly contribute to the County's labor relations functions directly related to classification management.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact by driving critical projects that contribute to the enhancement and modernization of classification and compensation practices while supporting robust labor relations for the County of Ventura. Reporting to the Chief Deputy Executive Officer and working collaboratively with the Classification and Compensation Manager and team, the Program Management Analyst will be instrumental in executing strategies and initiatives that support a structured, equitable, and customer-centric classification and compensation program. They will actively participate in labor relations activities, including the meet-and-confer process, to facilitate the revision and modernization of countywide classifications. This role will lead crucial projects, including conducting comprehensive classification and compensation studies, supporting labor-negotiated studies, ensuring an equitable compensation structure, updating outdated classification specifications, and assisting in the administration and interpretation of labor agreements.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is an experienced HR professional with a strong background in public sector classification and compensation, job analysis, strategic workforce planning, and substantial experience in labor relations within a unionized environment. They possess a strong customer-centric mindset, dedicated to understanding and addressing the needs of County agencies and departments. They will have a proven track record of successfully leading and executing key components of classification and compensation programs, as well as experience in navigating the meet-and-confer process and administering labor agreements. This "working manager" will be a hands-on expert, understanding government operations, effectively collaborating with labor groups and department leaders, and capable of driving projects and initiatives to deliver meaningful results within the broader team structure.

Key attributes for success include:

• Strategic Project Execution: Ability to manage and implement key initiatives within a centralized classification and compensation program.
  
• Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of classification principles, compensation analysis, job evaluation methodologies, market research, and familiarity with labor law and MOA administration.
  
• Project & Change Management: Skill in modernizing classification systems, implementing structured updates, and managing large-scale HR projects.
  
• Political Acumen & Stakeholder Engagement: Adept at navigating public sector complexities, gaining buy-in from leadership, building constructive relationships with employee organization representatives, and ensuring compliance with labor agreements.
  
• Diplomacy & Communication: Excellent communication skills to handle sensitive discussions, manage expectations with diverse groups, including during labor negotiations and grievance meetings.
  
• Customer Service Excellence: A commitment to consistently providing responsive, high-quality, and solution-oriented HR services to internal County agencies and departments, fostering positive working relationships, and proactively addressing their needs.
  
• Process Improvement & Innovation: A forward-thinker who can leverage technology and best practices to improve efficiency in HR processes.
  

Agency / Department: CEO Human Resources

Payroll Title: Program Management Analyst

The Program Management Analyst classification is not eligible for overtime compensation. Incumbents in this classification are eligible for benefits at the MB3 level.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

Opening Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025

Closing Date: Friday, June 13, 2025.

Review of Applications: Applications will be reviewed, and candidates will be notified the week of June 23, 2025.

Examples Of Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES :

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

• Supports the strategic development, implementation, and ongoing management of the County-wide classification and compensation program, in collaboration with the Classification and Compensation Manager.
  
• Conducts and provides expert oversight for job analysis and classification processes, ensuring job descriptions and salary structures are current, equitable, and aligned with the County workforce needs and relevant labor agreements.
  
• Leads and conducts major classification studies and compensation surveys; analyzes data and makes recommendations for new or revised classifications and pay grades.
  
• Develops, monitors, and reports on service-level delivery commitments for classification and compensation studies; identifies and implements strategies to improve study timelines, efficiency, and responses to internal County agencies/departments and stakeholders.
  
• Participates in the meet and confer process with recognized employee organizations; prepares data and analysis to support negotiations regarding classification, compensation, and other related matters.
  
• Assists in the interpretation and administration of Memoranda of Agreements (MOAs) and employee relations policies; provides guidance to departments on labor contract provisions.
  
• Researches and analyzes labor relations issues, legislative changes, and best practices; prepares reports and recommendations.
  
• Supports the labor relations team in grievance processing and investigations as needed, particularly those related to classification and compensation disputes.
  
• Contributes to the development and maintenance of a County-wide compensation structure and classification structures that identify reporting relationships and job families.
  
• Provides departments with transparent processes for submitting and managing classification and compensation requests.
  
• Works closely with department heads, the labor relations team, the Classification and Compensation Manager, and executive leadership to ensure consistency in classification standards and manage stakeholder expectations.
  
• Establishes and manages a structured update cycle for classification specifications.
  
• Fosters proactive relationships and streamlines processes to modernize the County’s approach to classification, compensation, and employee relations.
  
• Ensures compliance with relevant federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and MOAs regarding classification, compensation, and labor practices.
  
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  

Typical Qualifications

These are typical entrance requirements for the examination process and do not guarantee continuance in the process or placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE

Extensive experience in government programs and/or business administration and finance, which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

The required knowledge, skills, and abilities can also be obtained by completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business, Finance, or a related field with five or more years of administrative experience.

Additional related experience may substitute for education on a year-by-year basis.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

• Proven experience with, or a strong working knowledge of, California public sector employment laws, labor relations, MOA/MOU administration, and their practical application.
• Professional experience conducting or significantly contributing to classification and compensation studies, or a demonstrated understanding of related core principles and methodologies.
  
• Direct experience in, or providing substantive support for, labor negotiations within a unionized public sector environment.
  
• Professional experience conducting, or a demonstrated aptitude for, public sector job analysis, job evaluation methodologies, and completing compensation surveys.
  

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Industrial and Labor Relations, or Organizational Leadership
  
• Human Resources Certification from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), HR Certification Institute (HRCI), Public Sector HR Association (PSHRA), or WorldatWork
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Strategic HR program management.
  
• Job analysis, classification principles/structures, job evaluation methodologies.
  
• Salary structure design, compensation survey methodology, and statistical analysis for compensation.
  
• Public sector labor relations, meet-and-confer processes, and labor agreement administration.
  
• Federal, state, and local employment laws.
  
• Techniques of administrative process, system development, and program operations.
  
• Budgetary analysis and principles/practices of public finance.
  
• Laws relating to the financial administration of County government.
  
• Statistical methods used in administrative and HR analysis.
  
• Local government organizational structures, functions, problems, HR programs, and operational dynamics.
  
• Change management principles relevant to HR.
  
• Principles of equity and fairness in HR programs (C&C, employee relations).
  
• Current trends in public administrative analyses and relevant literature.
  

Skills in:

• Applying job analysis and classification to develop job descriptions and manage specifications.
  
• Designing salary structures, conducting compensation surveys, and analyzing data for salary recommendations.
  
• Preparing data for labor negotiations, interpreting and administering Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs), and fostering union relations.
  
• Developing, implementing, monitoring, & improving HR and administrative processes using process improvement methods.
  
• Researching HR and administrative issues, analyzing complex data, preparing comprehensive reports, and developing policy and program recommendations.
  
• Effective communication, collaboration, and oral presentation to diverse stakeholders on HR and complex administrative and budgetary programs.
  
• Managing stakeholder expectations effectively.
  
• Applying accepted management principles to lead HR, administrative, program, and budgetary analyses, studies, & operations.
  

Ability to:

• Strategically plan, design, implement, & manage comprehensive HR programs.
  
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance, interpret complex legal requirements, and support due process in grievances and investigations.
  
• Advise professional and clerical staff effectively on administrative and Human Resources matters.
  
• Develop and implement administrative procedures.
  
• Foster proactive relationships and champion HR/administrative process modernization and streamlining efforts.
  
• Apply equity and fairness principles consistently in all HR program administration & decision-making.
  
• Represent the County effectively in relations with other agencies, private businesses, and the public.
  
  

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Work is conducted in a collaborative, team-oriented on-site office environment, Monday through Friday. Incumbents may also frequently visit various County departments and agencies and meet off-site with staff when necessary.

Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain a valid California driver's license or use alternate means of transportation to fulfill the essential duties of the position.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE : Applications must be received by the County of Ventura Human Resources by Friday, June 13, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

To apply online, please refer to our website at www.ventura.org/jobs ; A paper application can be obtained by calling (805) 654-5129. Our address is County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

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 (Download PDF reader) for additional information.

Note to Applicants: Sufficient information must be provided in the Education/Work Experience sections of the application and supplemental questionnaire to thoroughly and accurately demonstrate your qualifications and determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying
All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. This questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the removal of the application from further consideration. It is highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application be 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.

APPLICATION SCREENING - qualifying
All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited 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, it is one method for determining who is the most qualified among those who have demonstrated 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 that 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 be completed with care and diligence. If the T&E replaces the oral exam, candidates must earn a score of 70% or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%
A job-related oral examination may be conducted to evaluate and compare participating candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors that job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Candidates must earn a score of 70% or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

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

ELIGIBLE LIST
Candidates who successfully complete the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for one (1) year.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies for this position or similar positions only. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy within the County Executive Office - Human Resources Division.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
A thorough pre-employment, post-conditional offer background investigation is required for this position. This investigation may include inquiries into past employment, education, criminal background, and driving records.

COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS
When a disaster strikes, whether of natural or manmade 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 different locations, at varying hours, and outside their normal 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).

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental or 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.

CONTACT INFORMATION: For further information about this recruitment, please contact Bill Friedel by email at bill.friedel@ventura.org .

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

MANAGEMENT

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQ's
• Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes:MB3, MB4, MS, MT,MCC, MU

Closing Date/Time: 6/13/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$131,049.30 - $183,487.00 Annually