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California State Personnel Board

PERSONNEL SPECIALIST

Department of Justice

JC-518428

Personnel Specialist
PERSONNEL SPECIALIST

$4,030.00 - $6,488.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 6/1/2026

Application Methods:

Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)

By Mail

Drop-off

Job Description and Duties

The California Department of Justice, Office of Human Resources, Payroll and Benefit Services is seeking an enthusiastic individual with outstanding customer service skills to serve as a Personnel Specialist. You will ensure our workforce is receiving timely pay and benefits while learning a significant amount about various human resources functions. As a Personnel Specialist, some of your responsibilities include:

Interpreting and applying governmental laws and rules concerning personnel transactions
Solving payroll issues independently by utilizing reference materials, policies, and procedures
Answering inquiries from employees
Preparing and maintaining Official Personnel Files
Reviewing and reconciling attendance records and payroll
Processing employee appointments and separations
Ensuring accuracy of timekeeping within Workday by tracking time submission
Providing guidance and technical assistance to employees and supervisors on Workday navigation, time reporting, absence management

Working Conditions

This position has been designated as eligible for telework. The position will however initially require in person attendance 4 days per week on a reoccurring basis. After the initial training period, the candidate would be eligible for a hybrid schedule. The selected candidate would report to Department of Justice headquarters in Sacramento. Expenses related to travel to the office are the responsibility of the employee. All telework schedules are subject to change and may be reevaluated at any time.

Please note New-to-State employees will be given the minimum salary of Range A, unless you meet Alternate Range Criteria 125 in which case you may qualify for the minimum of Range B. As a New-to-State employee, you are not eligible for Range C or D. For current state employees and/or those with reinstatement rights, your salary will be determined in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

NOTE: This classification is eligible for a $2,400 per year recruitment and retention pay differential after twelve qualifying months in classification and increases on a sliding scale each subsequent twelve months in the classification. See below under "Benefits".

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-518428

Position #(s):

420-057-1303-030

Working Title:

Personnel Specialist

Classification:

PERSONNEL SPECIALIST

$4,030.00 - $5,044.00 A

$4,632.00 - $5,807.00 B

$4,799.00 - $6,008.00 C

$5,184.00 - $6,488.00 D

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

Work Location:

Sacramento County

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Work Shift:

Day

Work Week:

Monday-Friday

Department Information

This position is located in the Division of Administrative Services, Office of Human Resources, Payroll and Benefit Services, Benefits Team.
Please disregard the SROA/Surplus language below, as the Department of Justice requires applicants to submit their SROA/Surplus Letter if that is the basis of their eligibility.
For more information about the Department please visit the Attorney General's website at State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR

Special Requirements

A fingerprint check will be required.
Clearly indicate the Job Control Code (JC-518428) and the title of this position in the "Examination or Job Title(s) For Which You Are Applying" section located on the first page of your State Application.
Please be certain that your application package Is thorough and completely filled out describing in detail your background experience and/or education and duties. All applications will be pre-screened and only the most qualified and competitive applicants will be included in the interview and hiring Process.
If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcript or diploma. An official transcript will be required upon appointment.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 6/1/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Justice

OHR- Marissa Carmona

Attn: Marissa Carmona (JC-518428)

Office of Human Resources

1300 I Street, Suite 720

Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Justice

OHR- Marissa Carmona

Marissa Carmona (JC-518428)

Office of Human Resources

1300 I Street, Suite 720

Sacramento, CA 95814

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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 -
In no more than one page, please respond to the following questions:
- What is your definition of "customer service", and how would you apply it to this position?
- Why are you interested in this position and how does your education and experience make you a competitive candidate?
- Describe your work experience in Human Resources, or that correlates to Human Resource roles; please include specific details.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

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:

Knowledge of and experience performing human resources functions, including payroll and benefits
Good judgment and tact when interacting with the public and professional staff
Ability to work well under pressure, perform multiple tasks accurately, and handle shifting priorities
Experience with executing workflows and business processes
Ability to work well both independently and in a team environment
Knowledge of the State's human resources functions
Excellent communication skills for collaborating with supervisors and employees to verify attendance data
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook
Willingness to learn new systems, procedures and regulations

Benefits

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Human Resources Contact:
Marissa Carmona
(279) 599-3247
Marissa.Carmona@doj.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Officer
(916) 210-7580
EERROffice@doj.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Additional Applications Filing Information

Please note, if using the United States Postal Service for delivery, there is no guarantee that your applications will be date stamped and will arrive by the final filing date. If your application does not have a postmark or date stamp and arrives after the final filing date, your application will not be accepted. Therefore, to ensure timely delivery of your application, it is recommended that you use either the electronic delivery, parcel service, or certified mail. Using one of these options will provide proof of delivery prior to the final filing date.

Additional Job Related Information

The Department of Justice is located in the heart of vibrant downtown Sacramento, within easy walking distance of many restaurants and Caesar Chavez Park. For those employees who take public transit, we offer the convenience of a nearby light rail station. For those employees who commute, employee-paid parking is available close to the building.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and 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.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

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