HR Manager III

Salary: $141,024.00 - $178,755.20 Annually
Location : Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Job Number: 2025JER23759
Department: DHR - Dept. of Human Resources
Division: Human Resources Svc Delvry
Opening Date: 02/07/2025
Closing Date: 3/2/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week

Summary
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.

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.

This position is a working manager, so in addition to leading a team of highly skilled HR professionals, you will address employee relations issues across the organization, interpret employment law, and apply HR policies and practices in a complex and ever-changing work environment. Our goal is to provide reliable, efficient, and customer-focused HR services while ensuring consistency and reducing organizational liability.
Job Duties
The HR Manager III is an employee of the Department of Human Resources andreports 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.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• 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.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
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.

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.

Supplemental Information

Required Application Materials

An online employment application, to include all relevant employment history and experience related to this role as well as responses to supplemental questions.

A cover letter that describes your skills, abilities and qualifications related to this role.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Jamie Robinson at

Work Schedule
The work schedule is normally Monday through Friday, 40-hour work week. Variations may be required depending on the demands and training needs of the work.

Union Membership
This position is not represented by a union.

Work Location
The incumbent will have a hybrid work schedule and may work remotely and onsite. The Primary onsite work location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104.
Teleworking Requirement

The work associated with this position is currently being performed in a hybrid fashion including teleworking, complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.
The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

King County
As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nations' history, King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. Together, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.

We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking, and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all residents, regardless of their race or income. All of these qualities make King County one of the nation's best places to live, work, and play.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

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.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
01

What best describes your experience?

• I am currently in a public sector role, providing strategic organizational leadership in the delivery of human resources (HR) services.
• I am not currently in a public sector Human Resources role providing strategic organizational leadership but was within the last 5-10 years.
• I have never been in a public sector role but am currently providing strategic organizational leadership in the delivery of human resources (HR) services.
• I have never been in a public sector role and am not currently providing strategic organizational leadership in the delivery of human resources (HR) services.

02

What best describes your experience serving as a leader (i.e. supervisor, manager, director, etc.) in the delivery of human resources (HR) services?

• None, but willing to learn
• Less than one year
• One year but less than three years
• Three years but less than five years
• Five years but less than seven years
• Seven years or more

03

What best describes your experience in supervising, coaching. and providing professional development guidance to Human Resources staff as direct reports?

• None, but willing to learn
• Less than one year
• One year but less than three years
• Three years but less than five years
• Five years but less than seven years
• Seven years or more

04

How many years of professional-level experience do you have providing advice to senior leaders (senior managers, directors and above) in the delivery of human resources (HR) services?

• None, but willing to learn
• Less than one year
• One year but less than three years
• Three years but less than five years
• Five years but less than seven years
• Seven years or more

05

I have experience working in the following Human Resources Information System and/or ATS systems (please choose all that apply):

• Workday
• ADP
• PeopleSoft
• ICIMS
• NEOGOV
• eRecruit
• Taleo
• Others not listed
• None, but willing to learn

06

Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?

• Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
• No.

07

If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided:1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff
08

Please tell us how you heard about position (check all that apply):

• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Handshake
• WorkSource
• Seattle Times
• Podcast / Streaming platform
• Radio advertisement
• King County billboard
• ShoWare Center advertisement
• King County Careers webpage
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Community Event (describe below)
• Career Fair (describe below)
• Other (describe below)

09

If you selected 'Other', please tell us how you heard about this position. If not applicable, enter 'N/A'.
10

If you selected 'Career Fair' or 'Community Event' to the above question, please tell us the name of the event. If not applicable, enter 'N/A'.
Required Question