Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Join the Covered California team!

Covered California is looking for an exceptional leader with vision and drive to step into the role of Assistant Deputy Director for our Human Resources Branch. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact by guiding strategic and operational initiatives across a range of essential HR program areas including Performance Management, Disability Management, Labor Relations, Payroll and Benefits, and Administrative Investigations.

As a trusted member of our HR leadership team, you’ll collaborate closely with the Deputy Director, Assistant Deputy Directors and executive leaders to turn strategy into action, champion innovative HR solutions, and ensure our services are aligned with our mission. You’ll play a vital role in cultivating a high-performing, people-centered HR culture built on trust, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Why This Role Matters:

This position directly impacts Covered California’s ability to recruit, retain, and develop a talented, engaged workforce while ensuring compliance with civil service laws, labor agreements, and state HR policies. Your work will shape the employee experience, improve HR service delivery, and support our mission to provide quality, affordable health coverage to Californians. 

If you’re passionate about empowering teams, driving organizational excellence, and creating meaningful change, we encourage you to join us and help shape the future of Covered California’s Human Resources team.

At Covered California, we recognize our employees are our most valuable asset. We have a variety of career fields that help make a difference in the lives of Californians, and we’re looking for talented and enthusiastic individuals to join our team! Learn more about why you should join the .

This position is headquartered in Sacramento County at our Cal Expo location located at  1601 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquarters office subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. Travel expenses associated with commuting to the employee’s office headquarters location are not reimbursable, other than authorized transit subsidies.

NOTE: To be considered for this job opportunity, applicants must be reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility, or have reinstatement eligibility. If you are new to California State service and you do not have list eligibility, you must take the exam for this classification. To gain employment list eligibility, please to access the exam bulletin.

Possession of minimum qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment . If it is determined an applicant does not meet the minimum qualifications, the applicant's name may be removed from the eligibility list.

Covered California does not provide visa sponsorship and is not an E-Verify employer.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This position may be eligible for telework. In accordance with Government Code section 14200, only employees who reside in California are eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Covered California’s current telework policy. While Covered California supports telework, in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with minimal notification if an urgent need arises, as determined by the Department.

Effective July 1, 2025, in response to the budget deficit, the Department of Human Resources (CalHR) has implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 requires that each full-time employee working their assigned work schedule receive a 3 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 5 hours of PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 30, 2027. 

Special Requirements

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be useful in the development of written responses; however, it is important to use these tools responsibly and ethically.  Where assistive tools may be used, responses within the SOQ should be your own original work. Applicants must write in their own words and avoid plagiarism.  Failure to comply may be cause for disqualification.

The SOQ must be written in narrative form, and must not be more than 2 pages in length, using 12-point font. Provide specific examples from your own professional experience — including your role, the context, the actions you took, and the measurable results. Address all the prompts below in the order listed, including the question and Please Include your name at the top of the document.

SOQ Questions:

1. Describe a time when you led a complex HR initiative that required both strategic planning and operational oversight. Include the goal, your specific responsibilities, the stakeholders involved, and the results achieved. 

1. Provide an example of how you developed, coached, or mentored subordinate managers to improve their leadership skills and performance. Explain the methods you used and the impact on your team or organization. 

1. Give an example of how you used workforce data or analytics to identify a problem, make a decision, or improve HR service delivery. Include details on the data used and the measurable results. 

1. Describe your role in implementing a change in policy, process, or technology within HR. How did you work with change management professionals or stakeholders to ensure adoption? 

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Ability to cast and communicate a clear, future-focused vision for HR that inspires confidence, engages employees, and aligns with organizational goals.  
  
• Demonstrated success in leading and managing multiple complex HR programs.
• Ability to translate organizational priorities into actionable HR plans and performance measures.
• Strong commitment to mentoring and developing leaders, fostering a culture of accountability, trust, and growth.
• Deep knowledge of California’s civil service system (CalHR, SCO, SPB), including labor relations, performance management, disability/leave administration, payroll/benefits, and investigations, and ability to apply rules consistently and fairly. 
• Experience managing sensitive matters such as investigations, labor relations, payroll, disability, and performance management
• Proven record of modernizing HR operations through process improvements, technology enhancements, and data-driven decision making
• Skilled in building and sustaining trusted relationships with executives, managers, control agencies, unions, and staff to achieve shared goals and resolve complex issues collaboratively.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to simplify complex issues and tailor messages to diverse audiences.  

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Health, Vision, Dental, Retirement, and an array of other options. For more information on the benefits offered by the State of California, please click below:

Pre-Employment Requirements

Background Check: All applicants shall be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The investigation will consist of completion of a pre-employment questionnaire, fingerprinting, and an inquiry to the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation to disclose criminal records.

Incompatible Activities: To maintain our integrity and focus on serving Californians, Covered California adheres to unique conflict of interest restrictions on the outside employment and activities of its board members and staff. If you’re considering a role with us, it’s important to know at the time of your start:

• You must not be employed by or otherwise affiliated with health insurance carriers, other insurers, agents, brokers, health care professionals, health facilities, or health clinics, or trade associations of any of these entities. This also means that you must not hold an active license to sell health insurance in California.
• You must not hold an active license to sell health insurance in California.
• Health care professionals are welcome to join our team, provided you do not receive payment for professional services and do not hold ownership or financial interests in a health care practice.

Conflict of Interest: This position is also designated under Covered California’s Conflict of Interest Code. This means if you’re selected to join us, you’ll be required to disclose certain financial interests, including of a spouse, that could potentially interfere with your ability to perform your duties impartially and with the best interests of the public in mind. You may also be disqualified from participating in decisions that may affect those financial interests.  

Please email any questions or concerns you may have prior to accepting a final offer of employment to Form700@covered.ca.gov .

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Instructions: A SOQ is required to apply. The SOQ will be used as a pre-interview screening tool. Applicants who do not follow the SOQ instructions and/or do not answer the prompt as stated below may not be considered. Resumes and cover letters will not be accepted in place of a SOQ. Please see above "Special Requirements" Section for SOQ instructions.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Work at office, Remote work,

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