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15554
ID
Email: MArnoldus@SantaBarbaraCA.gov
Title

Michael Arnoldus

Position
Human Resources Director
Bio

In September 2025, Michael Arnoldus was appointed Human Resources Director for the City of Santa Barbara. With more than 20 years of leadership in public sector human resources, he has guided organizations through complex workforce challenges while supporting employees and aligning human resources strategy with organizational priorities.

Before joining Santa Barbara, Michael served as Human Resources Manager for the City of Santa Monica, where he led key initiatives in recruitment, organizational design, and benefits administration. Earlier in his career, he spent 12 years as Director of Employment Services for the Ventura County Community College District, overseeing a wide range of HR operations and workforce programs.

Michael holds a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology from California State University, Long Beach, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, Fullerton.