HR Operations Specialist Jobs in California
HR Operations Specialist jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, with steady demand from technology companies, healthcare systems, and financial services firms at every level from entry-level HR coordinator through senior operations manager. The heaviest hiring concentrates in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers like Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente, and Wells Fargo maintain large HR functions. The most sought-after specialties in California include HRIS administration, leave management compliance under California law, and HR process automation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Making a meaningful difference to patients around the world. Our talented people are central to the future of Edwards Lifesciences, which is why our Human Resources teams help design, guide, and deliver inspiring experiences for our people. With a fundamental understanding of how to build a supportive community and organizational capability, you’ll deliver solutions to attract and retain talent. Your work will enable our teams to thrive as they help patients live healthier and more productive lives.
This position will enable a best-in-class employee experience through subject matter expertise, consultation and service delivery for the assigned function. This includes the implementation, delivery, and management of innovative HR solutions to provide the service level expected. This role works directly with people leaders, employees, and the COE function to deliver Leadership Development programs to our High Potential and Senior Leaders. It combines education, experience, and exposure resources in the program design.
How you’ll make an impact:
- Provide guidance to program development related to Learning and Development Programs to improve the employee experience, balanced with function-specific needs and drivers. Provide recommendations and insights to the Functional Team Leader. to continuously improve HR Knowledge Base and Case Management content. (remove this highlighted portion)
- Evaluate, implement, and provide end-to-end solutions to deliver a best in class employee experience. Possess skills and experience to provide solutions across multiple stakeholders.
- Identify continuous improvement processes (e.g.,to aide in timely decision making, reduce task execution turnaround time and redundancies).
- Engage with third-party providers to establish, develop, and review the suite of services, and ensure that third-party vendors adhere to established service level agreements
- Provide input for the development and delivery of moderately complex communication materials related to programs, plans, policies, processes.
- Perform audits and validations of transactions. Examine and verify data for accuracy and consistency.
- Proactively stay up to date on trends and developments, proactively providing ideas and recommendations to leaders regarding best practices and trends. Work to enhance the capability of self and team.
- Other incidental duties
What you'll need (Required):
- Bachelor's Degree in related field, 3 years of work experience in Human Resources with relevant experience in managing HR processes for Learning and Development or equivalent work experience based on Edwards criteria Required
What else we look for (Preferred):
- Relevant experience in managing large programs with several stakeholders
- Experience with interacting and supporting all levels of management is strongly preferred
- Experience managing multiple programs running at one time, strong organization skills and attention to details
- Experience with Copilot and a curiosity for Process Improvement to capitalize on elimination of manual tasks
- Experience with Microsoft tools and applications required
- Results-oriented mindset (high sense of urgency, determination, tenacity, etc.).
- Professional, high energy, engaging personality
- Substantial knowledge of standard business practices and professionalism in a customer service environment are essential
- Substantial specialized knowledge of end-to-end HR solutions in assigned function to deliver a best in class employee experience
- Possess a sense of urgency in solving customer requests to ensure timely resolution
- Understanding of HR enabling technologies and how they work within a customer service business environment
- Adhere to all company rules and requirements (e.g., pandemic protocols, Environmental Health & Safety rules) and take adequate control measures in preventing injuries to themselves and others as well as to the protection of environment and prevention of pollution under their span of influence/control
Aligning our overall business objectives with performance, we offer competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and a wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of our employees and their families.
For California (CA), the base pay range for this position is $68,000 to $96,000 (highly experienced).
The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience). Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.
Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.
See All 112+ HR Operations Specialist Jobs in California
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Find HR Operations Specialist JobsHR Operations Specialist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
HR Operations Specialist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring


Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
- Construction & Real Estate
- Investment & Asset Management
- Retail
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in HR operations specialist jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field required
- Hands-on experience with HRIS platforms such as Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, or Oracle HCM
- Working knowledge of California-specific employment law including CFRA, CCPA, and wage and hour rules
- PHR or SHRM-CP certification preferred by most California mid-size and enterprise employers
- Demonstrated ability to manage HR data integrity, audits, and compliance reporting
- Strong experience coordinating onboarding, offboarding, and employee lifecycle processes end to end
HR Operations Specialist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a hr operations specialist in California?
Most California employers require a bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a closely related field as the foundation. There is no state-issued license for this role, but earning a nationally recognized credential such as the SHRM-CP or PHR meaningfully strengthens your candidacy in the California market. Familiarity with California-specific employment law, including leave regulations and wage and hour requirements, is treated as a baseline expectation rather than a bonus by most California hiring managers.
How much do HR operations specialists make in California?
HR operations specialists in California earn a median of about $170,080 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $96,430 for the lowest 10% to over $307,600 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire hr operations specialists in California?
Employers hiring hr operations specialists in California right now include PIMCO, Waymo, and Kahana & Feld LLP, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of large technology headquarters, major health systems, and financial services firms means demand is distributed across multiple industries rather than being driven by a single sector.
Which California cities have the most hr operations specialist jobs?
The California cities with the most hr operations specialist openings are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose. The Bay Area leads because of its high density of technology and enterprise headquarters with large, complex HR functions, while Los Angeles draws volume from entertainment, healthcare, and logistics employers, and San Diego's openings are largely tied to its biotech and defense industry base.
Are there remote hr operations specialist jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 53% of hr operations specialist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on systems administration, data management, and process coordination that does not require daily on-site presence. The most fully remote segments tend to be HRIS support and HR data analytics roles, while onboarding coordination and employee relations work more commonly require at least a hybrid schedule.
How can I get hired as a hr operations specialist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an HR coordinator or HR assistant role, which large California employers such as Kaiser Permanente, the University of California system, and major tech companies regularly post as true entry-level positions open to recent graduates. Completing a SHRM student membership and the SHRM-CP exam prep coursework signals commitment to the profession. Adjacent roles in payroll processing, benefits administration, or office operations at California companies offer lateral movement into HR operations, especially when combined with hands-on HRIS exposure gained through internships or administrative work.
Where can I find and apply to hr operations specialist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to hr operations specialist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the California market. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 112+ HR Operations Specialist Jobs in California
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