The Civil Service Commission announced that Kandice Taylor-Sherwood, current deputy director of Human Resources for the city of Anaheim, will be the new Director of Civil Service starting in June, replacing Mario Beas who retired in December.

Taylor-Sherwood holds a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology and a bachelors degree in psychology from California State University Long Beach. She’s also served as a human resource specialist for Anaheim and the Los Angeles Unified School District as well as spending time as a part-time instructor at CSULB. In total, Taylor-Sherwood has 12 years of professional experience in the field of human resources.

“Kandice Taylor-Sherwood exemplifies the type of leadership we were looking for in a new Civil Service Director,” President of the Civil Service Commission Larry Keller said in a press release. “She has demonstrated the ability to manage a complex set of responsibilities over the course of her career, and we are pleased to welcome her aboard to this very important position.”

The Civil Service Department is responsible for screening and recruiting job applicants, ensuring that the city selects from a pool of the most qualified applicants when hiring employees. The department also serves as a support staff for the Long Beach Civil Service Commission.

”I am delighted to be appointed the next Director of Civil Service, and will do everything in my power to foster a culture of customer service and enhance coordination and communication with all city departments so they can hire the most qualified candidates in a timely manner,” Taylor-Sherwood said.