City of Long Beach Announces Departure of Director of Human Resources Joe Ambrosini

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach announced today the upcoming departure of Joe Ambrosini, Director of the Human Resources Department. Mr. Ambrosini, who has served as the Human Resources Director since March 2021, has been appointed Human Resources Director for Placer County in Northern California.

"Mr. Ambrosini's leadership has been a vital part of our team," said City Manager Tom Modica. "His commitment to fostering a positive work environment and enhancing our human resources capabilities has set a strong foundation for future success. His efforts have not only improved the Human Resources Department but have also positively impacted the overall functioning of our City organization. We are grateful for his dedicated service and wish him the very best on this next chapter in his career."

As the Human Resources Director for Long Beach, Mr. Ambrosini oversaw the function of over 85 full-time and part-time Human Resources staff and the human resource needs of over 6,100 City employees. He led the department in the implementation of innovative and collaborative human resources initiatives and operational support to various City departments while simultaneously identifying and implementing enhanced recruitment and retention of a qualified and diverse workforce.

Most recently, Mr. Ambrosini has played an integral role in the City's preparations to implement Measure JB, the voter-approved charter amendment that will streamline and modernize the City's hiring processes and merge the Human Resources Department and the Civil Service Department into one unified hiring department. He's led the preparation, organization and direction of the Human Resources Department's role in this endeavor and helped position the organization to fully and successfully carry out the voter approved measure.

Most notably, during Mr. Ambrosini's tenure, he helped spearhead the development and implementation of various new department work streams and processes, including the establishment of a new Talent Acquisition Division to centralize the unclassified hiring process that resulted in a decrease in the hiring time for unclassified positions to under 90 business days, and also oversaw the establishment of the Organizational Development Division to focus on employee professional development, training and succession planning. Furthermore, he successfully led the City's efforts to complete 12 safety and non-safety labor negotiations resulting in new, three-year MOUs that are both fair and equitable to employees the City organization.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the City of Long Beach as the Director of Human Resources. Having been in this role for nearly four years, I have had the opportunity to work alongside dedicated public servants committed to improving our community. The Human Resources staff has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment to supporting our employees and ensuring the success of the organization," said Ambrosini. "I am deeply grateful for the support, trust and collaboration I've received from my colleagues and the City Manager. While I am excited for the next chapter in my journey, I will always cherish the work we've accomplished together and remain passionate about the continued success and growth of Long Beach."

Mr. Ambrosini is from Northern California and is returning to be closer to family. His last day with the City is Jan. 10, 2025. The City Manager has appointed Assistant City Manager April Walker to serve as the Acting Director, who will simultaneously continue her role as Assistant City Manager, while the City conducts a national recruitment to permanently fill the position.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

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