City of Palo Alto

  • Human Resources Support Specialist (Management Specialist)

  • City of Palo Alto
  • Palo Alto, California United States View Map

Job Description

Description

Human Resources Support Specialist

Looking to launch your career in Human Resources? Gain valuable hands-on HR experience with us!

The Opportunity
We are seeking a Human Resources Support Specialist (Management Specialist) to support key HR functions and provide administrative support within the Human Resources Department. In this role, you will provide administrative support in a variety of HR disciplines, deliver excellent customer service to employees and the public, assist with special projects, perform data entry, support day-to-day operations, and complete a variety of administrative tasks.

Our Human Resources team is made up of dedicated, collaborative professionals who are passionate about creating a positive employee experience for the City's greatest asset - its employees! Join our team and grow your skills in a supportive, collaborative environment that encourages learning, innovation, and professional development.

The ideal candidate will be organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and bring a strong learning mindset. They enjoy working in a collaborative environment, take initiative, adapt to changing priorities, and are eager to develop their knowledge and skills in Human Resources. They will have knowledge of general principles, procedures, and practices related to human resources, administration, or office operations.

Key technical skills and core competencies include:

Technical Skills
  • Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams)
  • Experience entering and maintaining data in an HRIS or similar database
  • Accurate data entry and basic math skills
  • Knowledge of electronic records and document management
  • Ability to learn and use new software, databases, and technology systems as needed
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive HR information


Core Competencies
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities
  • Strong customer service and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to adapt to a fast-paced environment while meeting deadlines
  • Demonstrates a growth mindset by welcoming feedback, adapting to change, and continuously learning
  • Takes initiative, acts with integrity, and accepts accountability for results


Management Specialist is a Limited Hourly classification that does not receive any benefits and is limited to working 999 hours per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30).

Schedule: Part-time, Hybrid (in-person and remote days).

Starting salary: Depending on work experience, $30.00 to $45.00 per hour.

Essential Duties

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Prepares, processes, distributes, and maintains a variety of personnel records, documents, files, logs, and/or other related human resources information.
  • Responds to requests for information from employees and/or the public over the phone, in person, and via e-mail.
  • Enters a variety of information into databases, compiles data, provides analysis, and prepares related reports, correspondence, and collateral materials.
  • Performs administrative tasks to support and coordinate employee training, training programs and events as needed.
  • Performs administrative tasks to support process improvement, website updates, and maintenance as needed.
  • Provides research assistance in a variety of areas.
  • Assist with special projects as assigned.
  • Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.


Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training, and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, and skills, which would typically be acquired through:

Associate ’s degree and two years of experience in technical or clerical human resources programs; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job assignments.
  • Knowledge of general principles or experience in Human Resources is a plus.
  • Current college student with coursework in Public Administration or a related field is also a plus.

*One full-time year of university coursework is equivalent to one year of experience.

Supplemental Information

The Selection Process:
  • Applicants will receive recruitment status updates by email. They can also view updates through their GovernmentJobs.com account.
  • We will review applications throughout the recruitment process, and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
  • The selection process may include a virtual recorded interview, panel interview(s), and a final interview with the hiring manager or their designee.


Our online application system is provided by NeoGov . If you experience issues while submitting your application, please contact NeoGov Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 , available Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

This is a non-benefited position.

Closing Date/Time: 9/29/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
City of Palo Alto

City of Palo Alto

650-329-2376

The Community


The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-News

City Government

Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.

Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.

Join an Award Winning Team 

Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.

Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."

Contact Us

Phone: 650-329-2376   

Email: [email protected]   

Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map

 

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