Human Resources Manager I

Why This Opportunity May Be Perfect for You: We're seeking an experienced and dynamic Human Resources professional to help our Hazardous Waste Management Program (Program) to fulfill its vision in making the Puget Sound region the cleanest in the country. As a mission-driven regional organization, our goal is to eliminate hazardous material risks to our communities and environment, serving all King County jurisdictions through policy initiatives, prevention programs, and collection and disposal services.
As a strategic advisor to the Program Director and Hazardous Waste Management leadership team, you will facilitate collaborative problem-solving, develop effective teams and networks, and provide leadership in areas such as organizational effectiveness, change management, and team and leadership development. You will interpret employment law, proactively assess, and resolve issues, and apply HR policies and practices. This is a unique opportunity to join a dedicated team passionate about protecting our communities and environment. With your expertise, we can make a real difference. Join us in creating a safer and cleaner future for our region.
Who Are We? The Hazardous Waste Management Program is a regional coalition working to protect public health and the environment. The Program provides grant funding to cities, towns, and tribal governments within King County to help residents properly dispose of hazardous waste and to promote using safer alternatives. The Program recognizes that individual, structural, and institutional racism contribute to inequities and disproportionality in the services that it provides and has a “leading with race” framework of racial justice strategies to address root causes and eliminate these inequities. You can find the Program’s Racial Equity Plan here and more information on the Program’s website. Five coalition partners provide oversight, strategic guidance, and accountability through a multi-jurisdictional Management Coordination Committee: King County Solid Waste Division, Public Health – Seattle & King County, Seattle Public Utilities, Sound Cities Association, and King County Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD).
The Water and Land Resources Division is at the forefront of King County’s efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 400 supported by an annual budget of ~$250 million. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies for protecting working farms and forests, restoring habitat, protecting water quality, and ensuring people have equitable access to green space. We reduce flood hazards, manage stormwater facilities, and reduce toxic threats. Our Environmental Lab and Science sections maintain high-quality data sets used in long term-water quality trend analysis and use Best Available Science to inform decision making. We house three salmon recovery forums and support the Land Conservation Initiative, which will preserve our last, most important natural lands and urban green spaces over the next 30 years. Our forestry and agricultural programs help people protect their lands and support local food production.
Duration: This Term-Limited-Temporary (TLT) or Special Duty (SDA) position is anticipated to be 18 months in duration. King County employees must have their supervisor's approval to accept a special duty assignment.
Who is Eligible: This position is open to all qualified applicants. This recruitment may also be used to create an eligibility pool to fill future temporary, term-limited, or special duty positions.
Commitment to Equity and Social Justice:
As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts. To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.
Working Conditions:
Telecommuting Requirement: The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly by telecommuting, with occasional onsite work and meetings, as influenced by business needs. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in WA state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.
Work Location: Predominantly teleworking and the King Street Center 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle WA 98104.
Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and it is not overtime eligible. This full-time position works a 40-hour work week, Monday through Friday.
Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.

• Ensure efficient and effective operations of policies, processes, and systems for recruiting, developing, and retaining a high quality, diverse workforce that is prepared for the evolving business needs of the future.
• Ensure services and interventions link to organizational goals with measurable outcomes.
• Overseeing complex employee relations issues, investigations, grievance and Loudermill hearings, and arbitration or litigation processes.
• Support the advancement of the Program’s racial equity principles and practices throughout operations, services, workforce, and partnerships, and its alignment to the County’s ESJ Strategic Plan.
• Coordinate with stakeholders including Department leadership, HR Managers, Labor, Management Coordination Committee, and staff to ensure alignment and gain and support for change initiatives.
• Serve as the senior advisor for the full range of human resources and labor relations matters. Manage continuous improvement initiatives, organizational development, change management, and succession planning activities to support the business needs of the Program.

The Successful Candidate will have the Following Competencies:

• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Organizational Savvy - Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics.
• Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of the different audiences.
• Courage – Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
• Values Differences - Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.

• Skill in system/organizational analysis and process design.
• Knowledgeable and skilled in change management practices.
• A strong and proven commitment to the principles of equity and social justice.
• Experience in creating initiatives to develop, coach, and mentor a culturally and generationally diverse staff in a collaborative manner that focuses on employee engagement, excellent communication, and team building.
• Proficiency in commonly used MS Office applications.
• Demonstrated analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and build trust while establishing effective working relationships and partnerships across boundaries at all levels of the organization.
• Thorough understanding of employment-related laws, labor law and labor relations, collective bargaining principles and practices, and principles of labor contract interpretation and administration.

Application and Selection Process: Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness including online application, cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.

• King County application.
• Resume.
• Cover Letter detailing your background and what you can bring to this position.
• Responses to supplemental questions.