HR Manager II-People Leader

King-County,-W; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

King County Local Services seeks an experienced Human Resources Manager (People Leader) to lead our HR team, serving as a strategic advisor and collaborator across the department.

You will mentor HR practitioners handling employee and labor relations, recruitment, leaves, accommodations, and more, while developing systems to attract, retain, and engage staff. You will champion equity, inclusivity, and healthy workplace culture at all levels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Public or Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated skill in resolving workplace conflict.
• Experience coaching supervisors to develop employees and improve performance outcomes.
• Experience advising and partnering with at all levels of management on HR policies and practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall direction for integration of sound HR practices and strategic initiatives for the department.
• Develop and support HR Analysts to implement recruitment strategies.
• Provide advice and consultation on workplace programs, policies, and procedures.
• Collaborate with leadership to design systems for recruitment, development, and retention of a diverse workforce.
• Proactively address employee relations issues, interpret employment law and labor agreements to reduce liability.
• Lead investigations related to HR issues and support collective bargaining processes.
• Coach HR staff to manage accommodation requests in compliance with laws.
• Supervise and develop the HR team to sustain mid-sized operations.
• Lead strategies to strengthen employee engagement and advance equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Skills

Leadership

Employee relations

Communication

Project management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Public/Business Admin

Tools

PeopleSoft

NEOGOV

Job description

The Department of Local Services is seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager (People Leader) to lead our complex department’s Human Resources team.

Utilizing your experience and success as a sound HR advisor and collaborative leader with strong interpersonal skills, you will build effective relationships and influence change at all levels in the Department. Your excellent communication skills and strong project management abilities will be essential for managing competing priorities. You will lead, mentor and inspire a team of dedicated HR practitioners whose work varies from employee and labor relations, recruitment, leaves and accommodations, and other disciplines, while developing systems to attract, retain, and engage employees. As our new leader, you will apply your HR expertise and compassion when problem solving and addressing issues. You will champion the advancement of practices, strategies, and policies that promote a healthy and inclusive workplace culture for all employees.

About the Department of Local Services

King County Local Services is the local government service provider for the roughly 250,000 people who live in the unincorporated areas of the county. Together, the populations of these communities would form the second largest city in the state. The Department of Local Services includes a Director's Office, Road Services Division, and Permitting Division.

Our commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice

The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity and Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our employees, our partners, and the communities we serve. We work to dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge that this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create positive change for our employees and the communities we serve.

The successful candidate is a strategic HR leader with expertise in labor relations, talent development, and organizational culture, demonstrated by a strong record of building partnerships, developing leaders, and advancing workforce recruitment and retention.

Applying the principles of equity and racial and social justice is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. You will apply these principles to all aspects of your work.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Provide overall direction for the integration of sound human resources practices and strategic initiatives for the department, building and leveraging relationships and networks at all levels as a valued and trusted HR partner.
• Develop and support HR Analysts to implement recruitment strategies in today’s dynamic and constricted labor market.
• Provide advice and consultation on workplace programs, policies, and procedures.
• Collaborate with DLS leadership to design systems for recruitment, development, and retention of a high quality, diverse workforce that is prepared for the evolving business needs of the future.
• Proactively assess and, in consultation with leadership, resolve employee relations issues objectively, interpreting employment law, labor agreements, and HR policies and practices to reduce liability and ensure consistency and compliance.
• Develop and support Employee Labor Relations lead to conduct investigations related to human resources issues.
• Participate in negotiations of collective bargaining agreements, support and participate in employee discipline and grievances as needed, and implement and interpret contract language where warranted.
• Coach and support HR Senior Analyst to manage requests for accommodations (Americans with Disabilities Act, religious, and others as applicable by law) ensuring adherence to all federal, state, and local regulations.
• Provide supervision, guidance, and development opportunities to support and sustain a mid-sized HR team.
• Lead the implementation of strategies to strengthen employee engagement and advance equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts.

• A bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Public or Business Administration, or a closely related field; AND five years of increasingly responsible experience in human resources at the professional/management level; OR any combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the job duties of the position.
• Direct working knowledge of major HR functions such as recruitment, compensation and benefits, risk management, Human Resources Information Systems, employee relations, leave management, performance management, training and development, and relevant laws and regulations.
• Demonstrated skill in resolving workplace conflict.
• Experience coaching and counseling supervisors to effectively develop employees and improve performance outcomes. Experience coaching supervisors in having candid conversations with employees regarding performance issues.
• Experience with customer-focused service and ability to advise and partner at all levels of management on a variety of complex HR policies, procedures, and practices.
• Experience advancing equity and social justice, inclusion, and belonging. Demonstrated comfort having candid and sincere conversations with all employees about race and equity in the workplace.
• Strategic thinker with experience solving complex organizational problems through people-related solutions, with the ability to translate strategies into tactical actions and solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate in both written and verbal form at a high level, bringing clarity to human resources issues and providing information to staff and leadership.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable working in a complex environment with multiple labor contracts.

Additional qualifications that will be helpful in this role:

• Experience in the public sector, government, or other municipal agency.
• Experience performing HR service delivery in a unionized environment.
• Strong working knowledge of and proficiency with PeopleSoft.
• Strong working knowledge of and proficiency with NEOGOV applicant tracking system.

This position will be open continuously until filled. The first review of applications will take place the week of September 14, 2026 and weekly thereafter. Applicants who pass the initial screening can expect communication about in-person interviews the following week.

Who may apply:

This position is open to all qualified applicants. If you applied for the recent HRM II position in June, you are welcome to re-apply. This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) career service position and to create an eligibility pool to fill additional vacancies in the same classification that may occur within the next six months.

Forms and materials:

A completed King County Application is required. A resume and supplemental question responses are also required.

Selection process:

Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. Minimum qualifications and answers to supplemental questions must be demonstrated in your application materials. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews.

Work schedule:

The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but may at times require work on the weekends, or outside of normal business hours. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.

Emergency designation status:

This position has been designated as: Mission Critical in an Emergency, a designation that describes employees who staff county functions or services that may be delayed, suspended, or diverted in an emergency while essential functions are prioritized.

Unless otherwise directed by the King County Executive, department director, or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather.

Union Membership:

This position is not represented.

Teleworking Requirement:

The employee in this position will work in the office at least four (4) days a week to foster connection and responsiveness and will be expected to arrive prepared and on time.

Work location

The employee will report to work at the King Street Center (201 S. Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104). Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities and may be required to report to offices in Unincorporated King County.

Employees mustresidein Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. Employees will be provided with a King County-issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Janice Antonio at [e-mail].

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

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.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Janice Antonio, HR Analyst, by email at [e-mail], or by phone at 206-263-2003.