Contact Norma Santoyo

The Director of Human Resources plans, directs, manages, and oversees the activities and operations of the Human Resources Department including employee benefits, employee relations, labor relations, and related operations and services. This position is also involved in the management decisions affecting collective bargaining and serves on the Management Team for the City.

Santoyo comes to the City of Reno with more than 25 years of public sector human resource management experience, most recently serving the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), where she was the Administrator of the Office of Research and Project Management. In that role, she led her team on all strategic change initiatives to respond to customer demands, improve performance and comply with internal and external standards, regulations, and laws. 

Prior, Santoyo served as Director of Human Resources for the City of Modesto, California, Director of Human Resources & Administration for the Nevada Rural Housing Authority, and Director of Human Resources for Douglas County. 

Santoyo has also worked in various personnel and administrative roles for the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, and Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.

Originally from Durango, Mexico, Santoyo grew up in the Carson Valley and is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno and holds her Masters of Science in Business Administration. She and her husband have two sons, love the great outdoors and enjoy spending time with family and friends.