Imperial County, CA - Imperial County is pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce Davis, PhD, SPHR, as the County’s new Director of Human Resources & Risk Management. In this executive role, Dr. Davis will lead Imperial County’s comprehensive human resources, employee–employer relations, and risk management programs, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations while supporting a stable, high-performing public workforce.
Dr. Davis brings extensive senior-level public sector leadership experience spanning counties, cities, special districts, and educational institutions throughout California and the Southwest. His career includes service as Director, Executive Director, Deputy Director, Interim Director, and Senior Human Resources Manager in complex governmental organizations, providing both long-term leadership and interim executive oversight during periods of transition.
Most recently, Dr. Davis served as a consultant with MV Cheng & Associates and a Senior Human Resources Advisor with Regional Government Services, where he provided interim and consulting leadership to public agencies, including assignments as:
- Deputy Director of Human Resources for the County of San Luis Obispo
- Director of Human Resources for the Cities of Arvin and Rosemead, San Bernardino, and Upland
- Interim and consulting HR executive for multiple municipalities and special districts across California
Throughout his career, Dr. Davis has led and implemented classification and compensation studies, salary surveys, organizational design initiatives, labor negotiations, executive recruitment, succession planning and employee development, and HR system modernization efforts. He has extensive experience presenting technical findings and recommendations directly to boards of supervisors, city councils, commissions, and executive leadership teams, with a focus on transparency, fiscal responsibility, and legal compliance.
Dr. Davis previously served as Executive Director of Human Resources for the City of Scottsdale, overseeing a department of 24 staff and a $15 million budget, and as Director of Human Resources for the City of Santa Cruz, where he managed labor relations with multiple bargaining units, implemented classification and compensation reforms, and strengthened recruitment, training, and workforce development programs. He has also held senior leadership roles with Los Angeles County, supporting countywide recruitment, testing, labor relations, employee appeals, and workforce planning initiatives.
In addition to his government leadership experience, Dr. Davis has served as a university faculty member and adjunct professor, teaching undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral-level courses in strategic human resources management, employment practices, industrial-organizational psychology, and organizational leadership. His
academic work complements his applied public-sector experience, bringing evidence-based, legally sound practices to public administration.
Dr. Davis holds a Doctorate in Psychology, a master’s degree in industrial-Organizational Psychology, and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Society of Human Resources Senior Certified Professional.
As Director of Human Resources & Risk Management, Dr. Davis will oversee recruitment and selection, classification and compensation, employee and labor relations, risk management, benefits administration, compliance, organizational development, and workforce planning for Imperial County.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Bruce Davis to Imperial County,” said Dr. Kathleen Lang, County Executive Officer. “His extensive experience leading human resources in public sector organizations, combined with his expertise in classification, compensation, and organizational development, will strengthen our workforce and help the County achieve its strategic goals.”
Dr. Davis added, “I am humbled to be selected by the County for this critical position. I look forward to providing strategic leadership and a systems perspective to the human resources team and the County Departments.”
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