LOS ANGELES - Mayor Karen Bass announced today that she has selected Malaika Billups as the new General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Department of Personnel. Currently serving as the Assistant City Administrative Officer, Ms. Billups brings decades of experience in the public and private sectors, and will provide the Personnel Department with strategic leadership to support the City workforce, implement strategies to reduce the City’s liability payments and improve City hiring practices.
“Malaika Billups will bring urgency and innovation to the Personnel Department, drawing on her experience as a dedicated City leader to continue shaking up the status quo at City Hall,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “Especially in tough fiscal times, we need a leader like Ms. Billups to support employees, help address these extreme liability costs and improve city processes. I am confident Ms. Billups' extensive experience and expertise will best serve this City and the people of Los Angeles.”
“I am honored to be appointed by Mayor Bass as the next General Manager of the Department of Personnel,” said Department of Personnel General Manager appointee Malaika Billups. “I’m ready to hit the ground running, working collaboratively to ensure that hiring practices for the City are streamlined, ensuring that we hire only the best because that is what Angelenos deserve.”
Ms. Billups will lead the department following Grayce Liu’s service as Interim General Manager. Under Ms. Liu’s leadership, the Department activated the Disaster Service Worker program to staff up the Disaster Recovery Center in response to the Palisades Fire, helped guide the rollout and implementation of the City’s new HR/Payroll system and provided continuity in serving the client departments that depend on Personnel.
Mayor Bass added, “I thank Grayce Liu who served as Interim General Manager of the Personnel Department while the City conducted a nationwide search. Her service in this role in challenging times is deeply appreciated, and I am grateful that she will continue serving in her role as Assistant General Manager in the department.
The modernization of the City’s hiring practices is paramount to Mayor Bass’ efforts to change the status quo and deliver on the essential needs of Angelenos. Currently, it takes months for someone to be hired by the City of Los Angeles. In that time, qualified individuals receive offers from neighboring cities, reducing the City’s talent pool. That timeline is unacceptable to the Mayor and the appointment of Malaika Billups is an important step to transforming, streamlining and creating a modernized the City’s hiring practices.
Malaika has been a fixture in City leadership since 2017. Currently, she serves as the Assistant City Administrative Officer serving in a wide range of capacities to support the annual budget process, labor and employee relations as well as developing financial management practices for City departments. Prior to joining the Office of the City Administrative Officer, Billups was the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the Department of Personnel, overseeing the implementation of a comprehensive Workplace Equity Policy and developing the City’s Culture and Climate Survey.
She began her career at the City as the Deputy City Attorney in the Labor Relations Division where she helped create the Workplace Equity Policy, ensuring the City was in compliance with state employment laws. Furthermore, she provided counsel to over ten City departments regarding City employment matters. Ms. Billups’ experience across various City departments, working directly with City employees will aid in addressing the City’s high liability costs by working to ensure that City employees have access to the resources they need.
Graduating from Loyola Law School, Malaika worked for reputable law firms in Los Angeles before joining the City. She began her career as a Fourth Grade Teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Ms. Billups’ appointment will be considered by the Personnel and Hiring Committee, followed by the full City Council on Friday, April 11.
