City of Sunnyvale, CA
02/26/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/26/2026 19:23
NR020126 Sunnyvale Appoints New Human Resources Director
Release #02 01 26
Contact:
Jennifer Garnett, APR
408-718-2601
[email protected]
SUNNYVALE APPOINTS NEW HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - City Manager Tim Kirby today announced the appointment of Heather Ruiz as the City's new Director of Human Resources, effective March 30.
"Heather combines deep technical expertise with a genuine, people-centered approach," said Kirby. "She is a clear communicator and has a track record for building collaborative, high-performing teams. Her focus on organizational development and employee engagement will help us continue to attract and retain top talent to deliver City services."
Ruiz brings 25 years of public-sector human resources experience and is a widely respected and trusted executive leader. She is currently the Director of Human Resources for the City of Napa. She has also held senior human resources leadership roles with the City of Vallejo, Napa County, the City of San Jose, and San Mateo County.
Throughout her career, Ruiz has been recognized for her ability to mentor talent, develop leaders, and align human resources strategies with organizational goals. She is known as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, bringing sound judgment, professionalism, and a strong understanding of public-sector operations.
"I am excited to join the City of Sunnyvale and contribute to an organization that values its employees and the services they provide to the community," Ruiz said. "I look forward to working with City leadership and staff to support professional growth, strengthen our organizational culture, and advance the City's goals."
Ruiz holds a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in public management from California State University, East Bay, and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology/business administration from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her starting salary with Sunnyvale will be $350,000.
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About the City of Sunnyvale - Sunnyvale is the heart of Silicon Valley. With a population of 159,673, Sunnyvale is the seventh-largest city in the Bay Area. We're a center of technology and innovation, but also a town of quiet family neighborhoods, strong schools and a diverse community of people. The city has 27 parks; facilities for golf, tennis and swimming; a library; and an arts complex. Sunnyvale's downtown is home to a variety of local eateries and merchants, and hosts frequent art festivals, concerts and a year-round farmers' market. Sunnyvale has over 11,000 businesses that provide a rich mixture of goods and services, including many icons in tech, manufacturing, retail and research and development.
City of Sunnyvale, CA published this content on February 26, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 27, 2026 at 01:23 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]