Human Resources Director

Job Description

WHAT WE DO

The Catholic Diocese of San Diego is dedicated to the mission of Jesus Christ, focusing on love, service, mercy, and justice. Serving over 1.3 million Catholics across San Diego and Imperial Counties, the Diocese includes 96 parishes, 41 elementary schools, and seven high schools. We are a diverse, multilingual community committed to creating an environment where all members—clergy, religious, and lay staff—can grow personally and professionally while contributing meaningfully to the Church’s mission.

At the heart of our work is a commitment to care for the most vulnerable and serve the broader community through social services, educational programs, and parish support initiatives. We seek to cultivate a workplace and organizational culture rooted in collaboration, accountability, and shared responsibility, where employees feel valued, empowered, and aligned with the Diocese’s mission and values.

The Catholic Diocese of San Diego offers programs that support spiritual growth, community engagement, and social justice for individuals and families across San Diego and Imperial Counties. Key initiatives include evangelization and catechetical ministry, mental health support, prisoner reentry, immigration assistance, and foster care and adoption support.

LEADERSHIP & CULTURE

Under the guidance of Bishop Michael Pham, the Diocese fosters a culture of collaborative leadership, inclusivity, and spiritual discernment. Leadership is shared among clergy, religious, and lay staff, with active encouragement of women in leadership roles. The Diocese emphasizes empathy, active listening, and engagement across diverse communities. Programs like the Office for Ethnic and Intercultural Communities support cultural unity, empower local leaders, and promote dialogue to strengthen organizational cohesion.

Key Programs and Initiatives :

• Workforce Engagement & Communication : Systems and forums to ensure staff are informed, connected, and empowered to provide input and feedback.
• Performance & Recognition : Processes to assess, support, and celebrate employee contributions while aligning performance with organizational goals.
• Professional Growth & Well-Being : Opportunities for continuous learning, skills development, and personal support to foster a motivated, high-performing workforce.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

LOCATION

This is a full-time role located at Pastoral Center - 3888 Paducah Drive, San Diego CA 92117.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Human Resources Director provides leadership, guidance, and hands-on support to the Pastoral Center (PC), Diocesan parishes, and schools on all HR matters, including conflict resolution, parish and school restructuring, employment law, diocesan policy interpretation, wage and hour issues, employee classification, HR reviews, and organizational planning. This role also oversees benefits and compensation, recruitment, hiring, onboarding, workers’ compensation, and HRIS administration. The Director reports to Chief Financial Officer Shirley Pajanor, a 17-year veteran of the Diocese.

Year one priorities for this role include :

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

BACKGROUND PROFILE