Human Resources Manager

Overview

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is seeking a seasoned Human Resources Manager with strong technical expertise and a people-first, collaborative leadership approach. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Human Resources, this role oversees the Classification & Compensation and Retirement Services units.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have experience leading complex HR functions in a public sector or highly regulated environment and bring a solid foundation in classification and compensation, retirement administration, and HR operations. They approach organizational change with strategic focus while remaining attentive to employee impact.

This individual demonstrates expert-level knowledge of pension and retirement programs, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans, and ensures regulatory compliance, fiscal accuracy, and operational integrity. They are experienced in supporting in-house pension administration and guiding employees through retirement processes with clarity and professionalism.

The ideal candidate is highly skilled in classification and compensation management, including organizational design, job analysis, job description development, and implementation of negotiated salary and career ladder changes. They work closely with payroll, finance, labor relations, and leadership partners to maintain equitable, compliant, and transparent compensation structures.

As a people-first leader, the successful candidate prioritizes employee wellbeing, engagement, and inclusion. They foster open communication, invest in team development, and create a supportive, accountable team environment. Experience supporting wellness, safety, or health initiatives is highly desirable.

This role requires a leader comfortable navigating change in a collaborative setting, including supporting ERP or HRIS implementations such as Workday or similar systems. Above all, the ideal candidate is a calm, credible leader who builds trust, manages competing priorities, and communicates complex information clearly in service of public mission and organizational excellence.

Under direction, the Human Resources Manager plans, organizes, and manages assigned Human Resources Units, including Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, Benefits, Wellbeing, Human Resources Business Partners, Classification and Compensation, Employee Engagement, and/or Retirement Services.

This non-represented management position is responsible for managing assigned human resources units, including subordinate first-line supervisors over each functional area. This classification is distinguished from Senior Human Resources Analyst in that the latter is a first-line supervisor over one or two human resources units, whereas the former is a second-line manager with responsibility over all program areas in the Human Resources Department.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employs more than 2,000 people dedicated to providing solutions that move Silicon Valley. Unique among transportation organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, VTA is Santa Clara County’s authority for transit development and operations (light rail and bus), congestion management, transportation-related funding, highway design and construction, real estate and transit-oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian planning.

With local, state, and federal partners, VTA works to innovate the way Silicon Valley moves and provide mobility solutions for all.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district that provides sustainable, accessible, community-focused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region.

VTA provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services, as well as participates as a funding partner in regional rail service including Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, and the Altamont Corridor Express.

As the county’s congestion management agency, VTA is responsible for countywide transportation planning, including congestion management, design and construction of specific…