Director, Employee and Labor Relations

Reimagine Employee & Labor Relations. Support Public Service.

The County of Santa Clara is not just any government agency—it’s a premiere public agency known for its high standard of excellence, strategic leadership, and innovative thinking. With a population of more than 1.9 million residents, Santa Clara County is the largest of the nine Bay Area counties in Northern California, and larger than 12 states. With a workforce of more than 23,000 employees across 30+ departments, the County of Santa Clara delivers critical safety-net services in health, public safety, social services, housing, and more. Our organization is made up of public servants who are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone in our community, and especially for those most in need.

The Employee Services Agency serves the County of Santa Clara’s employees, retirees, and agencies and departments, and ultimately ensures the smooth operation of the County’s workforce. Its departments include Employee & Labor Relations, Recruitment & Classification, Benefits, Executive Services, and Administration.

We are launching a major effort to modernize and strengthen what Employee & Labor Relations (ELR) can look like in the public sector, elevating ELR from a reactive function into a proactive, insight driven, and collaborative strategic partner shaping organizational strategy. We’re looking for a visionary Director, Employee & Labor Relations to lead the way.

A key responsibility as the Director will be to facilitate effective negotiations and contracts with the County’s 17 unions, taking a proactive approach to managing multiple staggered 3- and 4-year agreements each year, ensuring that negotiations are conducted effectively and aligned with fiscal year requirements. This involves formulating management strategies for labor negotiations, handling the intricacies of labor contracts and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and resolving disputes with diplomacy and political acumen.

As the Director, you won’t just lead labor negotiations, you’ll shape the County’s labor strategy and employee experience for years to come. This is your opportunity to build a best-in-class ELR function that sets a new standard for public sector labor relations.

Your Mission

Lead and modernize a full service, centralized ELR department that is trusted, consistent, and equity driven. In this role, you’ll collaborate with County leadership to design and deliver ELR strategies that support innovation, organizational health, and a culture of trust across County. You will oversee the development, organization, and administration of ELR operations and ensure the effective execution of the County’s ELR strategic vision.

What Makes This Role Unique

• Scale & Complexity: You will lead ELR strategy and service delivery for a large, diverse public organization, operating across a broad range of essential services. You’ll work at the intersection of leadership, unions, and the workforce to ensure consistency, compliance, and strategic alignment across a dynamic enterprise.
• Innovation in Government: Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, we’re redefining what public sector ELR can be by leveraging technology, data, and design thinking to resolve disputes, empower leaders, and improve employee experience.
• Equity at the Core: We strive to create a more just and prosperous community by focusing on equity, inclusion, and belonging in County services, initiatives, policies, and decisions. You’ll ensure our ELR practices uphold fairness, transparency, and consistency across the workforce.
• Direct Impact: You’ll advise County leadership on ELR strategy, negotiations, and organizational design, shaping decisions that have widespread organizational impact.

What You’ll Do

Strategic ELR Leadership

• Set the vision, standards, and operating model for a proactive, insight-driven ELR function.
• Plan, direct, coordinate, and evaluate ELR programs, policies, service delivery methods, and outcomes.

Chief Negotiator & Contract Administration

• Serve as the County’s Chief Negotiator for collective bargaining, guiding management strategies and settlement frameworks.
• Lead negotiations, grievance resolution, and impasse procedures (mediation, fact-finding) while advancing principled, interest-based outcomes.

Issue Resolution, Investigations & Performance

• Oversee grievances, complaint investigations, disciplinary matters, and performance management.
• Ensure consistency and equity in leaves administration and related employment practices.

Policy, Compliance & Partnership

• Interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with laws, regulations, MOUs, and County policies.
• Partner closely with County Counsel on complex matters involving legal risk, discipline, and litigation strategy.

Analytics, Service Design & Change Management

• Use data and analytics to monitor trends, risk, and outcomes across ELR functions.
• Redesign ELR services for clarity, empathy, responsiveness, and modernized service delivery.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Select, hire, coach, and develop staff and foster a culture of continuous learning.
• Achieve strategic goals through peak team performance and unwavering quality standards.
• Direct enterprise projects and special studies that elevate service quality and organizational health.

What You Bring

• Proven public-sector ELR leadership in large, complex organizations, with expertise representing management in negotiations and navigating sensitive, high-stakes matters.
• Deep knowledge of California employment law and public-sector collective bargaining frameworks.
• Strong negotiation and dispute-resolution skills, including grievance handling, mediation, arbitration, and fact-finding.
• Ability to design, scale, and maintain ELR programs and systems.
• Political acumen and emotional intelligence to build trust, navigate complex union relationships, and communicate with clarity.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to influence and present effectively to diverse audiences.

What Success Looks Like

In the first 6–12 months, you will: 

• Establish a strategic business partner model that elevates ELR from reactive to proactive. 
• Redesign key ELR processes (negotiations, grievances, leaves, investigations) for clarity, consistency, and equity. 
• Develop trust and enhance communications with departments, labor partners, and employees. 
• Define clear goals, metrics, and service standards to guide transformation.

In the long term, you will: 

• Reduce time to resolution for ELR matters and increase consistency across the enterprise.
• Strengthen relationships with labor organizations and improve contract administration outcomes. 
• Build a data informed ELR practice that enhances organizational health and employee experience.
• Position Santa Clara County as a national model for ELR excellence.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a mission driven public agency committed to planning for the needs of a dynamic community, providing quality services, and promoting a healthy, safe, and prosperous community for all.
• Influence the future of employee and labor relations in one of California’s most impactful governmental agencies. 
• Enjoy a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive work culture with opportunities to innovate and lead.

More About Our Competitive Executive Benefits 

Strategic Financial and Retirement Benefits 

• CalPERS pension with reciprocity across most California public agencies (2.5% @ 55 for Classic Members, 2% @ 62 for Non-Classic Members) 
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan with both pre-tax and Roth options, up to IRS limits 
• $325,000 in term life insurance plus $300,000 in accidental death and disability coverage 
• Eligible employer under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program 

Executive-Level Health, Wellness, and Family Support 

• Premium health insurance options (Kaiser, HealthNet, Valley Health Plan) with up to 96% County-paid coverage 
• Fully covered dental (Delta or Liberty) and vision (VSP) plans for individuals and families 
• Employee Assistance Program, Dependent Care Assistance Program, and Flexible Spending Account 
• Access to wellness and leadership development programs designed to support executive performance and resilience 

Leadership Mobility, Time Off, and Professional Growth 

• 39 days of annual leave with a cash-out option, plus 13 paid holidays 
• Relocation assistance to support seamless transitions 
• Tuition reimbursement and internal executive development programs 
• Valley Transportation Agency Smart Pass/Clipper Card for sustainable commuting 
• To learn more about benefits, check out our dedicated page.

Ready to join the leadership team? Apply now.

Learn more about the County and the impact you can have as a leader.

Application Process and Key Dates

Filing Deadline: Friday, May 29, 2026 

This recruitment may close or be extended as early as 10 days after posting. Early application is strongly encouraged. Please check the website regularly for updates.

Apply at: https://esa.santaclaracounty.gov/career-seekers

What to include in your application:

1. Résumé
2. Cover Letter (maximum 3 pages)
   Describe why you are the ideal candidate, highlighting relevant leadership experience and accomplishments.

Next steps in the process:

Following mutual interest, a comprehensive background investigation and reference check will be conducted. Finalists will be asked to provide at least five professional references, with prior authorization obtained by Executive Services.

Questions regarding this Executive recruitment may be directed to Kendra Conrad, Executive Services at [email protected]

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