The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved the appointment of Kristine Schmidt — currently Goleta’s assistant city manager — as the county’s director of human resources.

Schmidt has been Goleta’s assistant city manager since 2019. Before that, she worked for the City of Santa Barbara for 22 years in various human resources, employee relations, and administrative services roles.

“I am honored to join the County of Santa Barbara as the director of human resources,” Schmidt said. “It is a privilege to serve this community, and I am committed to fostering a work environment that values employees and promotes their growth and well-being. I look forward to collaborating with the County’s dedicated team to continue to attract, develop, and retain top talent to serve our community effectively.”

County Executive Officer Mona Miyasoto and County Supervisor Das Williams both shared their confidence in Schmidt for the new role and commended her experience in local leadership.

“Kristine Schmidt’s experience in local government and familiarity with our community’s unique needs will make her a perfect fit for this position,” Williams said. “Her expertise and commitment to enhancing our workforce will undoubtedly contribute to the success of the County. I am confident that she will lead the department with integrity and dedication.”

Schmidt will begin the new role on Jan. 2 following the retirement of current director Maria Elena De Guevara, who has served as the county’s human resources director since 2018.

“Under her leadership the County has launched innovative organizational talent development programs for employees; implemented a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program that features a toolkit, annual symposium and a space for County employees to connect; and led initiatives to attract and recruit top talent to join and stay with the County,” the county said about De Guevara in a news release.

The County’s human resources department supports and handles recruitment and selection; training and development; labor relations; performance management; benefits and wellness; and classification and compensation.

More information on Santa Barbara County’s human resources department can be found on the county’s website here.