JOSE SERRANO
Summary
Human Resources and Payroll leader with more than ten years of progressive California Community College experience across executive HR leadership, payroll operations, labor relations, Equal Employment Opportunity, employee relations, employment compliance, recruitment modernization, HRIS/data systems, classification and compensation, reporting, and institutional audits. Bilingual English/Spanish speaker experienced in advising employees, supervisors, administrators, and institutional partners on confidential, technical, compliance-sensitive, and employee-centered HR and payroll matters.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Interim Director and Chief Human Resources Officer
College of the Redwoods
04.2025 - Current
- Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the District's Human Resources and Payroll functions; mentor and manage 8 HR and Payroll staff members.
- Serve as lead negotiator for the institution, advising on labor relations, contract administration, employee relations, classification and compensation, compliance, and institutional operations.
- Lead workforce planning, employee development, classification and compensation, employment compliance, integrated institutional planning, and organizational effectiveness.
- Oversee employee relations, workplace investigations, disciplinary matters, grievances, conflict resolution, performance management, EEO, ADA/FEHA, and other employment-related compliance programs.
- Developed innovative Equal Employment Opportunity Plan, securing institutional funding to enhance diversity initiatives.
- Directed human resources and payroll operations, overseeing planning, organization, and administration for HR, payroll, and employee relations.
- Implemented recruitment, onboarding, and evaluation software to modernize HR operations, streamline recruitment data, and centralize evaluation information.
- Led payroll modernization work to enhance time entry processes and create efficiencies for employees and supervisors.
- Functioned as primary contact and campus lead for the CalSTRS audit process and coordinated the presidential recruitment process for the campus.
Assistant Director, Human Resources and Payroll
College of the Redwoods
07.2024 - 04.2025
- Assisted in planning, organizing, directing, and managing District-wide Human Resources and Payroll operations, including personnel policies, compliance, recruitment, selection, compensation and classification, benefits administration, performance management, HR audits, and payroll-related operations.
- Coordinated District-wide HR and Payroll operations, including personnel policies, compliance strategies, recruitment, compensation, benefits administration, performance management, and collective bargaining contract administration to enhance organizational effectiveness.
- Supported the District's Equal Employment Opportunity Plan and compliance with EEO guidelines, Education Code. Title 5, FEHA, ADA, and reasonable accommodation interactive process requirements.
- Executed Human Resources audit procedures, acted as point of contact for outside agency audits, and managed employment complaints, investigations, conflict resolution, and disciplinary actions to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.
- Facilitated job analysis, classification studies, salary surveys, and job description development, while overseeing faculty salary placements, job description library maintenance, employee orientation, onboarding, and training programs to support workforce development.
- Leveraged data analytics to identify trends and opportunities for improvement in DEIA and EEO initiatives.
Senior Payroll Technician
College of the Redwoods
07.2022 - 06.2024
- Led advanced payroll operations for administration, faculty, and support staff, including payroll records, deductions, reports, payroll controls, retirement reporting, payroll reconciliations, employee service, and automated payroll system support.
- Coordinated District payroll processing for employee time, deductions, and payrolls, ensuring compliance with required reports, payroll controls, and collective bargaining requirements.
- Reconciled voluntary employee deductions, third-party payments, and payroll accounts, ensuring accuracy in College payroll with the County and preparing necessary journal adjustments.
- Collaborated with Information Technology, Business Office, and county office partners on payroll account codes, programs, procedures, tax reporting, retirement reporting, and leave records to maintain system integrity.
Administrative Office Coordinator & Payroll Tech 2
College of the Redwoods
Eureka, California
06.2021 - 06.2022
- Coordinated office operations and procedures, including filing systems, record keeping, data entry, and bookkeeping, to improve organizational efficiency.
- Tracked departmental budget and managed procurement processes to meet operational needs.
- Facilitated effective communication among faculty, students, and administrative teams to enhance collaboration.
- Ensured compliance with company policies and procedures while maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information.
Human Resources Analyst / HR Development Analyst
College of the Redwoods
09.2018 - 08.2020
- Managed HR services for personnel status transactions, recruitment and selection, employee communications, job classification, labor relations, and state and local reporting to ensure compliance and support operational needs.
- Executed HR functions encompassing personnel transactions, recruitment and selection, employee communications, job classification, labor relations support, reporting, HR data management, onboarding, and compliance to enhance organizational efficiency.
- Researched and applied Education Code and upcoming legislation governing personnel; supported collective bargaining activities through employment trend research, legislative research, and information gathering.
- Compiled comprehensive reports for administration, state and federal agencies by integrating payroll and HR data; maintained accurate personnel records, benefits information, payroll transmittals, onboarding materials, and Board of Trustee documentation.
Administrative Office Coordinator, Business Services
College of the Redwoods
01.2017 - 09.2018
- Provided comprehensive administrative support to staff, managers, and executives, enhancing overall office efficiency.
- Facilitated communication between departments to enhance collaboration efforts.
- Assisted with the coordination of office operations and procedures including filing systems, record keeping, data entry, and bookkeeping.
- Ensured compliance with company policies and procedures while maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information.
- Developed office policies that streamlined workflow and improved communication.
Payroll Technician
College of the Redwoods
10.2015 - 01.2017
- Process payroll for faculty and staff using advanced payroll software.
- Processed payroll and maintained accurate payroll records to ensure compliance and timely disbursement.
- Verify employee timecards to ensure accurate payment calculations.
- Maintain employee records for compliance with federal and state regulations.
Administrative Office Assistant II / Payroll Clerk
College of the Redwoods
08.2014 - 09.2015
Student Worker, Business Office
College of the Redwoods
08.2011 - 08.2014
Controller's Assistant
Big Oil & Tire
06.2013 - 02.2014
- Contributed to financial reporting and budgeting processes for oil and tire operations, enhancing clarity in financial performance.
- Collaborated on monthly reconciliation of accounts and financial statements.
- Organized documentation and financial records for audit preparation, facilitating efficient review and compliance.
- Supported company controller in data entry, documentation, mail processing, new employee paperwork, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and bookkeeping tasks to ensure accurate financial operations.
Education
Master of Arts - Negotiation, Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA01-2026
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Accounting Emphasis
Humboldt State University / Cal Poly Humboldt
Arcata, CA01-2020
Transfer Coursework Completed -
College of the Redwoods
Skills
- HR & Payroll leadership
- Labor negotiations
- EEO & ADA/FEHA Compliance
- Investigations & Discipline
- Workforce planning
- Recruitment systems
- Onboarding processes
- HRIS
- Compliance management
- Evaluation Software
- Payroll Systems & Reporting
- Retirement reporting
- Personnel Records & Data Reporting
- Policy Development
- Regulatory Compliance
- Personnel Records
- Diversity and inclusion
- Strategic planning
- Software proficiency
- Conflict resolution
- Employee relations
Accomplishments
- Supervise 8 staff members across Human Resources and Payroll.
- Serve as lead negotiator for the institution, applying experience in HR, Payroll, employee relations, classification and compensation, compliance, and institutional operations.
- Led and coordinated the creation of an innovative Equal Employment Opportunity Plan and secured related institutional funding.
- Provided strategic leadership for recruitment, onboarding, and evaluation software implementation to modernize HR operations, improve recruitment data, support candidate and new employee experience, and centralize evaluation information.
- Lead payroll modernization work focused on improving time entry processes and creating efficiencies for employees, supervisors, Payroll, and Human Resources.
- Served as first point of contact and campus lead for the CalSTRS audit process, coordinating the campus response to support accurate retirement and payroll reporting.
Timeline
Interim Director and Chief Human Resources Officer
College of the Redwoods
04.2025 - Current
Assistant Director, Human Resources and Payroll
College of the Redwoods
07.2024 - 04.2025
Senior Payroll Technician
College of the Redwoods
07.2022 - 06.2024
Administrative Office Coordinator & Payroll Tech 2
College of the Redwoods
06.2021 - 06.2022
Human Resources Analyst / HR Development Analyst
College of the Redwoods
09.2018 - 08.2020
Administrative Office Coordinator, Business Services
College of the Redwoods
01.2017 - 09.2018
Payroll Technician
College of the Redwoods
10.2015 - 01.2017
Administrative Office Assistant II / Payroll Clerk
College of the Redwoods
08.2014 - 09.2015
Controller's Assistant
Big Oil & Tire
06.2013 - 02.2014
Student Worker, Business Office
College of the Redwoods
08.2011 - 08.2014
Master of Arts - Negotiation, Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Accounting Emphasis
Humboldt State University / Cal Poly Humboldt
Transfer Coursework Completed -
College of the Redwoods