HR Director

State of Washington; Lacey, Washington (WA, District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Washington State Gambling Commission is seeking a Human Resources Director to oversee HR functions and lead a team. This hybrid position will involve managing HR programs, developing policies, and advising leadership. The ideal candidate will have extensive HR experience and a commitment to equity and inclusion.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Comprehensive benefits package

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in HR management.
• Experience advising executive leadership on HR issues.
• Supervising or managing professional HR staff.

Responsibilities

• Oversee HR management activities for the Washington State Gambling Commission.
• Develop HR policies and procedures compliant with laws.
• Lead a team of HR professionals to deliver quality service.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Diversity

Budget Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management

Job description

Application Review will begin on May 28, 2025. You are encouraged to submit your application materials as soon as possible. The hiring manager reserves the right to close the posting at any time.

The salary reflected above does not include the 3% general wage increase approved by the Legislature effective July 1, 2025.

Gambling Commission Career Opportunity

The Washington State Gambling Commission is seeking a Human Resources Director. This position is a Washington Management Services (WMS) Band 3 employment opportunity.

This position is responsible for the administration and oversight of all human resource management activities for the Washington State Gambling Commission (WSGC). This position manages and oversees the agency’s Human Resources Division by providing leadership and direction to a team of human resource professionals in the delivery of high quality, customer focused service in all areas of human resource management programs, functions and responsibilities.

This hybrid position is in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA and is eligible to split work between Lacey and a home office. You should live within a commutable distance to our Lacey office for in-person meetings and work activities. For the first few months of employment, it is expected that you will be in the office Monday through Friday. Our Lacey office is within walking distance of the transit center, grocery store, restaurants, and other services. Our building is adjacent to a park hosting many festivals and activities throughout the year.

If you are ready to contribute your expertise to a mission-driven, people-focused organization, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity!

Who We Are:

Our mission is to protect the public by ensuring that gambling is legal and honest. The Gambling Commission is a state accredited, limited-jurisdiction law enforcement agency and is the second oldest gambling regulatory agency in the country. We are the only statewide agency that licenses and regulates an estimated $3.5 billion per year gambling industry.

Why Join Our Team

If you are interested in working in an environment where employee voices matter and employees are recognized for their contributions, this may be the agency for you.

We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and we foster an inclusive work environment.

As a Washington state agency, we offer:

• Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups that bring together groups of employees with a common interest or characteristic.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Educational and career development aid.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility;
• A comprehensivebenefits package designed to meet the needs of you and your family. Beyond the traditional benefits such as Health, Life Insurance, Retirement, and related benefits, we offer Flex Spending Accounts, Dependent Care Assistance, Deferred Compensation and so much more.

To learn more about our agency, we invite you to visitour websiteor watch why you shouldjoin our team.

• Leads, manages, and directs the human resources programs for the agency. Ensures programs support the agency’s mission, vision, values, goals and strategic plan. Leadership of staff and oversight of projects is accomplished while keeping both short-term requirements and longer-term goals in mind.

• Develops HR related policies and procedures that comply with applicable state and federal laws. Is responsible for the implementation of these same policies and procedures. Oversees human resource policy development, interpretation and application.

• Manages a team of human resource professionals who deliver high-quality, customer-focused service to agency staff, external entities and the general public.

• Serves as a member of the agency’s Leadership Team.Provides strategic and tactical guidance and counsel in the development and accomplishment of the agency’s mission, vision, and goals.

• Serves as the principal advisor to the Director and Deputy Director on human resources issues.

• Is the agency’s primary representative for employment actions and appeals.

• Serve as the agency’s Ethics advisor providing guidance to staff in areas where ethics laws may apply.

• Works with Commissioners on projects and processes as needed.

• During legislative sessions, provides comprehensive analysis of bills that will potentially impact agency processes, programs, or functions as well as for bills that will have an impact on agency staff.

Note: We are evolving from degree/years of experience to skills-based qualifications, we encourage all people who believe they possess the skills/abilities below to share how within their online application and cover letter.

This position requires thorough knowledge of the principles of human resources administration and state and federal employment laws (including FMLA, Affirmative Action, FLSA, ERISA, USERRA, Civil Service Rules, RCW, FCRA, and the ADA). This position must also possess an in-depth, expert level understanding of management principles, diversity, communication, budget management, and the element of just cause.

Required experience must include:

• Supervising or managing professional level HR staff dealing with complex HR issues. At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in this area is preferred.

• Serving as a key advisor to organization managers to ensure practices and processes are legally defensible. At least 2 years as an advisor to an organization’s executive leadership is preferred.
• Experience representing an organization in appeals or grievances of personnel/employment matters or decisions.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, and guiding professional HR staff in all aspects of HR.
• Experience with progressive corrective and disciplinary action.
• Experience in the application of the principles of just cause in employee discipline.
• Experience providing strategic and tactical guidance to organization leadership.

Some key competencies of this position are to:

• Actively listen.
• Treat all people with respect.
• Delegate responsibility with associated authority.
• Promote a cooperative work environment and gains support and buy-in through participation of others.
• Lead by example and be accountable for results.
• Ensure clear and consistent communication with staff, across agency lines, and with people outside the agency.
• Address problems with people quickly and directly.
• Establish clear performance expectations and measures through the use of Performance and Development Plans.
• Anticipates and understands risks, develops contingency plans and, whenever possible, removes barriers.

*This experience is typically acquired through eight or more years of Human Resources work with a Washington state agency; however, a specific number of years of experience is not a requirement.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience supervising or managing staff in a Washington State agency’s HR Department.
• Specific classification and compensation experience with Washington General Service, Washington Management Service, Exempt Management Service, and Information Technology Professional Structure.
• Experience with and understanding of Washington state employment systems, practices, and policies; experience interpreting and applying RCW and WAC; and experience developing and administering agency policies.
• A bachelor’s degree in human resources management, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, or allied field.
• Advanced knowledge of human resource management and/or administration gained through a minimum of five years of experience directing and overseeing an organizational human resources program.
• Advanced knowledge of strategic planning within the context of complex program management.
• Advanced capability in the management of human resources, including comprehensive training and development of staff toward effectiveness in delivery of agency services and regulatory performance.
• Budget development and management experience.
• Experience developing a strategic plan and associated metrics.
• Proficiency incommunication, consulting, leadership (including change leadership) and customer service.

For a copy of the position description, please [e-mail]

The Washington State Gambling Commission is a licensing, regulatory, and law enforcement agency. Applicants must be willing to undergo and be able to pass an extensive background investigation, which includes a criminal history check, credit check, and fingerprinting. Information obtained from background checks will not necessarily preclude employment.

If hired, employees must adhere to the agency policy of prohibiting employees from serving as officers or managers of any corporation or organization that conducts a gambling activity. Employees may not participate in any licensed gambling activities within the state of Washington.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested? We would love to hear from you. Click the Apply button at the top of this page to start your application. In your submission, please include the following:

A complete application.Applications that do not provide work history detail or say “see resume” may not be reviewed.

A cover letterthat addresses your interest in the position and how experience has prepared you for success in this role.

Three professional referenceswith current contact information as part of your application. A professional reference is an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.

Note: As part of our hiring process, we require an employment reference for the preferred candidate from their current or most recent supervisor. If the preferred candidate is a current or recent state employee, we will also review the personnel file as part of our process. References are typically contacted after interviews.

It is anticipated that interviews will occur mid-June through mid-July. The appointing authority may make an employment offer at any time, so it is advisable to apply early to ensure consideration.

General suggestions for creating a good application packet

• Make sure your application and supplemental question responses address how you meet each of the required and desired qualifications.
• Carefully read each of the supplemental questions and respond completely to each one. Pay attention to each component of the question, providing examples, and thoroughly describing when and where you achieved the experience. Detail the types of work you performed, the work products, etc., to demonstrate 'how'.
• Specifically include all of your work experiences doing the same or similar work, especially if you reference work in these jobs in describing when/where you gained experience or skills.
• Make sure your application reflects your best writing.

Do NOT include your salary history.Wage/salary depends on qualifications or, if applicable, rules of promotion.

The initial screening will be based on the content and completeness of your application and the materials submitted. All information may be verified, and documentation may be required. Applications with comments such as "see attachments" or "N/A" in the supplemental question responses will be considered incomplete.

The Washington State Gambling Commission is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals with disabilities needing assistance in the application process or needing this job announcement in an alternative format should provide contact information via [e-mail]. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

For questions regarding this recruitment announcement, email us [e-mail] call Christie Harris @ 360-252-9964.