Helix Water District Recognized for Excellence in Human Resources by Helix Water District Mar 5, 2025 Member Submitted News Helix Water District received the Agency of Excellence Award from the Public Sector Human Resources Association for the quality of its human resources program in 2024 and its contribution to the district’s performance. Helix is a public utility responsible for the tap water in San Diego’s east county suburbs. Its 158 employees operate dams and reservoirs, a water treatment plant serving 500,000 people and a water distribution system serving 278,000. Like other organizations, Helix is focused on replenishing its ranks with fresh talent as its Baby Boomer employees leave the workforce for retirement. Last year, their 4-person HR team conducted over 40 recruitments, reviewing more than 2,300 applications and conducting 232 interviews to find the best fit for the district’s culture and operational needs. What likely attracted the attention of the PSHRA were the improvements the Helix HR team implemented in 2024 to attract a diverse and qualified pool of candidates and streamline the hiring process. Recruiting The team updated its marketing techniques, prospecting for talent within the communities the district serves and transforming outreach and advertising. They overhauled the standard format for job posts, began producing videos tailored to job openings and are using new media channels. They are also partnering with community cohorts to participate in local hiring events. The team’s collaboration with veteran organizations provides a good example. They show veterans how water utilities like Helix need their unique skills and experience, which is the kind of support veterans need when they are transitioning into civilian careers. Hiring Process The Helix HR team also introduced new approaches to the district’s hiring process. Here, water utility workers provide a good example. This position is the gateway job into a career in water utility operations. The team’s focus on targeted recruiting for these jobs evolved into the development of new, streamlined assessments for applicants and enhancements to the training program for new hires. The team also developed and implemented a new onboarding program to provide all new employees with a strong foundation in the district’s values and policies and procedures, so they are prepared to contribute on day one. The team used input from employees in every department and across all levels of the organization to design the program and trained direct supervisors in their critical role in welcoming new employees, setting expectations and opening the lines of communication. The team also established a Values and Employee Recognition Committee to organize employee appreciation events and recognize employees for exhibiting district values. Results The initiatives are working. The team is seeing a notable increase in the quality and diversity of their applicant pool. They succeeded in reducing the time between job application submission and the job offer. And employee morale and engagement in the values program remains high. “The Board and I are quite proud of our human resources team,” said Helix Water District Board President Dan McMillan. “We want our customers to know that the more effectively we recruit new talent, the more efficiently we operate. Our HR team is at the front end of all the steps we take to save customers money.”
