Human Resources Manager III

About the Company - The Department of Human Resources (DHR) seeks an experienced leader in human resources (HR) to serve as the HR Manager III who will drive talent acquisition, employee engagement, performance management, labor relations, and workforce development. As a strategic advisor and partner for the department you will serve as a member of its leadership team. Continuing to build an extraordinary workplace, we seek a leader who is creative and innovative in their approach and ideas while remaining flexible and adaptable to a changing and fast-paced environment; and can operate with a high degree of emotional intelligence, embracing different styles, valuing diversity, and demonstrating a commitment to and promotion of an inclusive workplace.

About the Role - The successful candidate will support efforts to align and effectively integrate County and department HR programs and strategic initiatives. You will use your strong interpersonal skills to build and leverage relationships, build effective teams and networks at all levels in the County, influence change, and engage in effective problem solving. You will use a collaborative approach to develop strategies both proactively and responsively, to optimize team performance, effectively allocating resources to meet business needs.

Responsibilities - The HR Manager III is an employee of the Department of Human Resources and reports jointly to the DHR Deputy Director and the Human Resources Services Delivery (HRSD) Division Director for the County. This reporting structure ensures consistent delivery of HR policies and practices across the county, while supporting the unique and varied needs of each department’s line of business.

• Lead the way in the pursuit, evaluation, and implementation of innovative solutions and improvements to ensure high quality and timely HR service delivery for the employees of the Department of Human Resources (DHR).
• Act as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to King County’s HR Director, Deputy, and the Department’s Core leadership team to assist them in carrying out their business plans. The DHR Core leadership team are HR leaders who provide critical central leadership, guidance, oversight, and deliverables to support HR teams and employees throughout the County.
• As both a member of DHR’s Core Leadership and Department HR Manager teams, provide advice and consultation on workplace programs, policies, and procedures at the conceptual and initial planning stage. Participate and advise in DHR leadership and strategic planning sessions to shape enterprise-wide HR programs, policies, and processes.
• Partner with the Senior Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Manager (EIB) from The King County Office of Equity and Racial and Social Justice (OERSJ) and the DHR EIB to evaluate and implement strategies to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts in HR. Pilot efforts to consider for broader expansion and strategize with equity leaders to identify opportunities for greater collaboration.
• Address a wide range of complex HR issues while engaging with diverse individuals. Offer expert guidance to HR leaders and staff, showcasing your confidence, expertise, and capability to advise on intricate issues affecting HR professionals at both peer and leadership levels within the organization.
• Provide leadership and oversight to HR systems for recruiting, developing, and retaining a high quality, diverse workforce that is prepared for the evolving business needs of the future.
• Proactively assess and resolve employee relations issues objectively, interpreting employment law, labor agreements, and HR policies and practices to reduce liability and ensure consistency and compliance. Conduct investigations related to human resources issues.
• Participate in the negotiations of collective bargaining agreements and implement and interpret contract language where warranted. Support and participate in employee discipline and grievances as needed.
• Manage requests for accommodations (ADA, religious, and others as applicable by law) to ensure adherence to all federal, state, and local regulations.
• Provide supervision, guidance, and development to support and sustain a small HR team as well as interns and temporary positions assigned to DHR HR that provide opportunities for development and growth of future HR professionals.
• Oversee and manage the work delegated to other HR partners such as HR systems, leaves management, and accommodation requests.
• Delegated by the DHR Director, serve as an advisor providing oversight and coordination for centralized standard processes such as layoff coordination, unemployment, and paid administrative leave.

Qualifications - The ideal candidate for this role will:

• Bring five years of increasingly responsible experience in HR at the professional/management level OR any combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform all the key deliverables and expectations of the position.
• Have a strong HR background and expertise to support the complex and unique needs of the department.
• Bring a strong background in managing and providing strategic leadership to multi-faceted organizations, including working collaboratively at all levels.
• Be customer-focused and comfortable advising and partnering with senior and executive level management on a variety of complex employment law topics, HR policies, procedures, and practices.
• Be a champion for Equity & Social Justice, understand that systematic racism and its long-term effects are pervasive in our society.
• Be comfortable having candid and sincere conversations with all employees about race and equity in the workplace.
• Design and maintain systems that encourage leader and employee engagement.
• Resolve workplace conflict skillfully.
• Have strong experience managing complex employee leave issues and programs.
• Be able to manage multiple and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment effectively.

Preferred Skills - Additional qualifications that will be helpful in this role:

• Proficiency with PeopleSoft.
• Proficiency with the NEOGOV applicant tracking system (ATS).
• Demonstrated ability to manage change.
• Experience engaging a team that is both on-site and remote.
• Experience performing HR service delivery in a unionized environment.
• Experience in the public sector, government, or other municipal agency.

Pay range and compensation package - $141,024.00 - $178,755.20 Annually

Equal Opportunity Statement - King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.