City of Long Beach Civil Service Department Merges with Human Resources Department
The Californer/10315067

Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach has taken a major step towards modernizing and streamlining its hiring processes with the recent merger of the Civil Service Department and the Human Resources (HR) Department. This move, which was made possible by the passing of charter amendment Measure JB in November 2024, aims to create a more efficient and community-centered city government.

The merger officially went into effect on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, and is expected to bring about significant changes in the way the city hires its employees. With this merge, the City hopes to attract and retain high-quality and diverse talent through merit-based hiring practices. This will ultimately lead to an improvement in the quality of public services provided to the community.

Mayor Rex Richardson expressed his excitement about this development, stating that Long Beach is now closer than ever to becoming the first big city in California with a 90-day hiring standard. He believes that by bringing together Civil Service and Human Resources, they are cutting red tape and making it easier for individuals to get hired while staying true to their Long Beach Jobs Promise. The Mayor also emphasized the importance of building a strong workforce that reflects the community they serve.

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Under this new structure, all employee recruitment and hiring processes will be managed by a singular and restructured HR Department. This department will also implement local preferences in classified service positions and strive to hire most positions within 90 business days. Additionally, as part of Measure JB, an independent Civil Service Employee Rights and Appeals Commission has been established. This commission will be responsible for adjudicating classified employee disciplinary appeals and resolving complaints regarding Civil Service rules.

City Manager Tom Modica believes that this merge is a forward-thinking approach towards public service that is responsive, efficient, and built to attract top talent while meeting the needs of their growing community. He stated that by removing barriers and reducing bureaucracy, they are ensuring that every employee has the necessary tools and support to thrive.

As part of this merge, the City has also established a new Talent Management Bureau within the HR Department. This bureau will oversee both classified and unclassified positions and further streamline and strengthen recruitment efforts. The majority of transferred employees and resources have been strategically placed in this bureau to enhance collaboration and better serve the hiring needs of different departments.

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Director of Human Resources, Bryce M. Tyler, believes that this merge is about aligning resources to better serve both the community and employees. He stated that by uniting Civil Service and HR Departments, they are not only able to onboard new employees more quickly but also modernizing processes and providing consistent support for their existing workforce. Tyler also expressed his confidence that this merge will allow them to build on their momentum and meet future challenges with even greater purpose.

The City of Long Beach employs over 6,100 full and part-time personnel in 23 departments and offices. The HR Department has made significant progress in modernizing its processes by streamlining workflows and enhancing service delivery across the organization. These efforts have transformed how the department supports the City's workforce, creating a more efficient operational framework.

In recognition of its commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment for people ages 50 and older, the City of Long Beach was recently certified as an Age-Friendly Employer by the Age-Friendly Institute.

For more information about the HR Department, please visit longbeach.gov/hr.

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