HR Director

City of Seattle•West Precinct - 810 Virginia Street, WA

15d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join us in transforming the delivery of public safety services by supporting the work and first responders of Seattle’s Community Assisted Response & Engagement department (CARE). CARE operates the City’s primary 9-1-1 center and the Community Crisis Responder program, unarmed behavioral health professionals responding to 9-1-1 calls in the field. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Human Resources Director will be responsible for establishing essential human resource functions – Talent Acquisition, Onboarding/Offboarding, Compensation/Classification, Employee and Labor Relations, Leave Administration, Workforce Planning, Employee Engagement, Fit for Duty programs, ADA Accommodation, Performance Management, Policy Development and Compliance, and Records Management within the department. This role serves as a member of the Citywide Human Resources Leadership Team (HRLT) and other HR-related groups. This is a working position where you will serve as a trusted business partner, coach, consultant, and change agent, providing high-level technical, policy, and strategic expertise and guidance on a wide variety of HR matters. This position plays a vital role in developing, implementing, and communicating human resources strategies that align with the goals of the department. You will build strong working relationships with customers at all levels, contribute to and execute special projects. All work will be focused through an equity lens and with the employee experience top of mind.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, human resources, or another discipline related to human resources management or a combination of education, training, and experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work described above.
Eight or more years of progressively responsibly human resources management in an organization or comparable scope and size.
Experience in successfully managing change in HR teams.
Expert level technical knowledge as an HR Generalist.
Thorough understanding of City HR practices, systems, and policies.
Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to communicate at all levels effectively and tactfully, create trusted partnerships and strong relationships.
Apply a calm, positive, solutions-oriented approach, including understanding when and how to re-prioritize deliverables.
Project management skills, including the ability to produce, track, and manage multiple deliverables with overlapping deadlines in a high-performing environment.
Self-starter and able to work independently.
Ability to take immediate action in response to a challenge, obstacle or opportunity while thinking ahead to address future challenges or opportunities.
Ability to work proactively rather than simply considering future actions.
Hold yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work.
Demonstrate thoughtful initiative in actions, decision-making, and promoting high-quality standards.
Identify and implement HR solutions that are aligned with the City’s commitment to equity, citywide HR practices, and business needs.
Model racial equity in relationships with co-workers, colleagues, community, and others.
Facilitate recruitment processes that result in hiring diverse and talented individuals in a public safety environment.
Interact with people with a high level of empathy and emotional intelligence for the parties involved.
Communicate to diverse audiences effectively through public speaking, group settings, and one-on-one.
Cultivate a work culture that embraces transparency and accountability.
Champion of workforce equity and diversity.
Ability to communicate effectively with union representatives, other departments and agencies, employees at all levels and management regarding sensitive or controversial issues.
Demonstrated ability to provide effective leadership in programs, methods, and procedures to ensure employee wellbeing, to improve work effectiveness, to control costs, to ensure ethical practices, and to meet policy and operational needs.
Problem-solving, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills.
Fostering and developing respectful and collaborative relationships with people at all levels of an organization.
Open, honest, and accessible management style.
An understanding of labor law and employment standards.
Experience in internal investigation and the principle of Equal Employment Opportunity.
Familiarity with the relevant Revised Code of Washington laws and Washington Administrative Code regulations.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with public safety or paramilitary organizations.
Contract negotiation experience.
Completion of on-going diversity, equity, and including training is an expectation of this position.
Graduate degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Human Resources, or another discipline related to human resources management is desired.
Certified Professional Human Resource Management (PHR) or Senior Professional Human Resource Management (SPHR) by the Hyman Resource Certificate Institute is desired.

Responsibilities

Provide effective HR services.
Foster a high-performing HR team through appropriate staffing, mentorship, professional development, and a focus on continuous improvement, ensuring HR services effectively support the department’s mission.
Oversee and provide technical support to HR service delivery functional areas, ensuring that all HR programs are compliant with current state and federal employment laws, including equal employment opportunity, Fair Labor Standards Act, Washington Minimum Wage Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act.
Monitor the City’s personnel practices and collaborate with city HR leaders to implement and improve essential HR functions.
Serve as a strategic HR consultant.
Provides counsel and expertise to CARE’s strategic plan and department policy decision-making.
Creates HR vision and strategic direction to move the department forward and builds the structure to enable implementation.
Develops the annual workplan for the HR business unit.
Support employee success and high-performing teams.
Provide guidance and coaching to managers and employees with the goal of successful work performance and commitment.
Receive, assess, and facilitate employee complaints and concerns, working closely with managers, and making recommendations for actions as needed.
Conduct intakes to assess and handle employee complaints and concerns, making recommendations for actions as needed.
Promote a culture that encourages open dialogue and communication that supports the work of the department.
Provide employee and labor relations consultative services.
Advise and partner with the City Attorney and senior leadership regarding complex and confidential HR issues.
Ensure compliance with labor contractual agreements by monitoring and implementing contractual requirements, partnering with the SDHR Labor Relations Division, and participating in grievance proceedings and investigations as necessary.
Build management initiatives to support organizational transformation, including structuring communication, training, and support mechanisms that facilitate smooth transitions and foster a positive culture.
Champion the Race & Social Justice Initiative within the department and the city at large, ensuring HR practices and policies promote an inclusive and equitable workplace.
Provide talent acquisition services.
Assist in assessment of staffing needs, development of job descriptions, facilitate classification of work, and facilitate full-cycle recruitment services.
Seek to solve problems and create innovative ideas through collaborative teamwork.
Engage in a continuous and consistent flow of communication regarding the work of the department, among all levels of employees, and with City partners.