Human Resources

Why work with us?

City of Menlo Park employees are community-focused, innovative, dynamic, passionate and teamwork-driven.

 

 

 

 

Job Opportunities

Welcome to Human Resources!

Here you can find information about the City’s career opportunities across a wide variety of jobs. Join our team of nearly 300 talented professionals across six departments dedicated to providing the highest-quality services to the Menlo Park community. You can also learn about the exciting benefits package available for employees and their families. If you want a career that serves a greater purpose and helps ensure Menlo Park residents, businesses, and visitors can thrive, we encourage you to apply and start making a difference today!

Human Resources recruits, develops and retains diverse and highly-qualified employees to serve the City of Menlo Park. Our services include:

  • Benefits
  • Job Descriptions and Salaries
  • Labor Relations
  • Recruitment and Selection
  • Safety and Workers’ Compensation
  • Training and Development 

The City of Menlo Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Menlo Park not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees. We will make reasonable efforts in the selection process to accommodate persons with disabilities.

Benefits Summary

The City offers a comprehensive benefits program to meet the needs of you and your family. Learn more about our benefits below or view the citywide benefits summary. The City offers multiple medical plans through CalPERS, so you can select the right plan for you. View the 2025 CalPERS Health Benefit SummaryView the Citywide benefits summary that shows the benefits of each labor group.

Our comprehensive and competitive benefits package includes access to the following:

  • CalPERS retirement system
  • Deferred Compensation 457 plans
  • Employee life insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Medical, dental and vision insurance
  • State Disability benefits (for SEIU and AFSCME employees)
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Paid vacation, holiday and sick leave
  • Health Flexible Spending Account
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
  • Free Caltrain GoPass and Clipper BayPass
  • Flexible schedules and remote work for eligible positions
  • On-site gym
  • Pet insurance

Job Descriptions and Salaries

The City offers employment opportunities in a wide variety of fields. Browse our job descriptions to learn more. Human Resources publishes a salary schedule for all of its positions that is updated periodically throughout the year. You can view our current salary schedule here.

Labor Relations

Human Resources negotiates and implements the City’s labor agreements with its unions, under the direction of the City Council, striving to maintain effective employer-employee relations. The City has four labor groups representing full and part-time benefitted employees, one labor group representing temporary employees, and two labor groups that are unrepresented, including confidential employees and management. View the memoranda of understanding here.

Recruitment and Selection

Applying for a job with the City doesn’t need to be a mystery! Read more about the steps in the hiring process below, so that you can feel prepared along the way. If you have any recruitment-related questions that are not answered here, please contact Human Resources at jobs@menlopark.gov.

  1. Sign up for our job openings, so you don’t miss your chance to apply!

Sign up to receive email notifications when we have new job openings by visiting Menlo Park’s subscription page and selecting Job Opportunities.

Create an account on CalOpps and opt-in to CalOpps’ “Subscription List” feature to receive job announcements in your area(s) of interest.

2. Apply for a position through CalOpps

Available jobs are posted on calopps.org/city-of-menlo-park(hyperlink). You must create a CalOpps account to apply. Please note that you must complete all fields in the CalOpps application to submit. Resumes submitted without a complete application will not be considered.

You will need to provide the following information to successfully submit your application:

  • Address
  • Email address
  • Resume*
  • Cover letter*
  • Driver’s license number*
  • Certifications, licenses, and/or transcripts*

    *Depending on the position, these items may or may not be required.

3. Supplemental questions

Supplemental questions are asked in many of the City’s recruitments, and are typically related to the duties of the open position. You should answer thoroughly and be as specific as possible to assist the City in evaluating your qualifications.

4. Confirmation email

Candidates should check their email inbox for a submission confirmation after submitting an application. This will verify that you have successfully applied for the position within the application deadline period.

5. Application screening

Application materials are reviewed and evaluated based on the requirements of the position. Applicants are notified in writing of their status as updates become available. Those accepted for further consideration continue in the selection process, which will include one or more of the steps described below.

6. Written exams

Written exams provide an objective basis for determining if the candidates have the necessary skills, ability and knowledge required for the position. The exam content is related to the job opening. Not all positions require written exams. Some positions require a practical exam in which the candidate performs various physical exercises relating to the position.

7. Oral board interviews

Most recruitments include an interview with a panel of three or more raters from within the City and other agencies who are familiar with the job requirements. The interview process will determine the candidate’s ability to perform the work required. Candidates will be asked a standard set of questions regarding their education and work experience and are evaluated on their job-related skills and knowledge.

8. Assessment centers

An assessment center is an all-day event in which the candidates perform various written and oral exercises or presentations to a group of qualified assessors.

9. Eligibility lists

An eligibility list will be established after each recruitment, and will be valid for a period of six months. The list is typically established based on the results of the examination process, but may be based on application review if there are 25 or fewer qualified applications. The hiring department will review the eligibility list to determine which candidates will be invited to the department selection process. Subsequent recruitments for the same job classification cannot be opened until the current list has expired or been exhausted. The eligibility list may be extended up to a maximum of two years.

10. Departmental selection interviews

The top candidates ranked by the oral board panel or assessors will be invited to a final round of interviews with the hiring department. The hiring manager then makes a recommendation to hire the candidate they feel is most suited to the current opening.

11. Conditional offer of employment

Once the department identifies its top candidate, Human Resources will provide a conditional offer contingent on passing a background check and (if required for the position) medical examination. The candidate may be provided a deadline by which to accept or deny the conditional offer of employment.

a. Background checks

Prior to receiving a final offer of employment, all candidates will be required to pass a background check and/or fingerprint check provided by the City at no cost to the applicant.

b. Medical exam (for required positions)

Prior to receiving a final offer of employment, candidates are required to attend a pre-employment physical examination provided by the City at no cost to the applicant.

12. Final offer of employment

Once the candidate has cleared their background check and (if required for the position) medical exam, the hiring manager will coordinate a start date and time with the candidate. Human Resources will then provide a final offer of employment to the candidate.

13. Probationary period

A probationary period is used to evaluate the employee’s work performance and conduct to ensure that it meets the job requirements. An employee may be released from employment for any reason during the probationary period. The probationary period is typically six to 12 months, depending upon the position and can be extended if necessary. Regular evaluations are made during this time period. 

Safety and Workers’ Compensation

The City provides a workplace safety training program. Additional parts of this service are evaluating accidents, administering the workers’ compensation program and other support services to enhance workplace safety.

Training and Development

The City offers numerous training opportunities to help employees grow personally and professionally, led by experienced in-house staff and through multiple partnerships within San Mateo County as well as with law firms and other recognized training consultants.

Contact Us

For job-related inquiries:
Email

650-330-6670

Charla Freckmann
Human Resources Manager
Email

650-330-6672