HR Manager - Visual Arts

University of Washington; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Washington's College of Arts & Sciences is hiring an HR Manager to partner with SoAAHD and the DXArts department, translating policy into workable guidance for leaders. This role balances a significant transactional workload with trusted-advisor responsibilities, supporting faculty, staff, and student employees in a dynamic university environment.

Based on the Seattle campus, the role follows a Monday–Friday schedule with up to two remote days per week, requiring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and four years of HR experience.
• Experience interpreting employment policies and labor agreements.
• Ability to advise leaders and translate policy into practice.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication to non-HR audiences.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary HR partner for SoAAHD and DXArts.
• Advise department leaders on personnel matters and employment actions.
• Manage faculty, student employee, and staff actions with high volume.
• Provide consultation on workforce planning and budgeting.
• Navigate complex institutional requirements and deadlines.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Policy interpretation

Advisory / consultation

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Hybrid (telework 2 days or less per week)

Seattle, WA

Full time

REQ-0000138318

Job Description

The College of Arts & Sciences has an outstanding opportunity for an HR Manager to join their team.

Reporting to the Director of Personnel Services, the HR Manager serves as the primary HR partner for the School of Art + Art History + Design (SoAAHD) and the Department of Digital Arts & Experimental Media (DXArts). Operating at the intersection of university policy and department operations, this role helps academic leaders understand, interpret, and apply complex employment policies, labor agreements, and personnel processes. Rather than creating policy, the HR Manager translates policy into practice, guiding leaders through personnel decisions and employment actions.

This role combines a significant transactional workload with trusted-advisor responsibilities. The HR Manager manages a high volume of faculty, academic student employee, and staff employment actions while providing consultation to department chairs, directors, faculty leaders, and administrators on personnel matters and employment practices. Successful candidates will have experience advising leaders on complex personnel matters, balancing high-volume operational work with consultative partnership, and building credibility and influence without direct authority. They will possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, exercise sound judgment, communicate complex information clearly to non-HR audiences, and enjoy helping leaders navigate ambiguity, competing priorities, and complex institutional requirements. This role is ideal for an HR professional who enjoys both operational execution and leadership consultation and is energized by supporting the teaching, research, and service mission of a major public university.

This role is located on the Seattle campus and operates on a Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM schedule. While primarily onsite, the position may offer up to two remote workdays per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary human resources advisor for assigned academic units, providing guidance to department chairs, directors, and administrators on faculty and staff personnel matters. Interpret and apply university policies, academic personnel procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and employment programs to support local decision-making. Manage all aspects of faculty employment actions, including recruitment, appointments, reappointments, leaves, and sabbaticals, ensuring timely and accurate submission of required documentation. (40%)
• Serve as the primary expert on student employment matters, helping faculty navigate ASE contracts, university policy, and appointment processes. Manage academic student employee and hourly hiring activities from appointment planning through execution, ensuring compliant and timely employment actions. Partner with faculty leadership and fiscal staff to support hiring, fellowships, stipends, and workforce planning needs. (35%)
• Partner closely with Finance Analyst to coordinate personnel actions, assess operational impacts, and ensure leaders have the information needed for workforce planning and budget decisions. Provide consultation on the personnel implications of proposed organizational and staffing changes. (20%)
• Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of four years of experience in human resources
• Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department.

Additional Qualifications

• Human resources experience in higher education, government, non-profit, or other complex organizations.
• Experience synthesizing diverse data sources to reach personnel and policy/procedural recommendations. Ability to communicate complex ideas to audiences that are not HR experts
• Problem solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting faculty, academic personnel, researchers, or professional staff.
• Experience interpreting and applying policies within a decentralized organizational structure.
• Curiosity and imagination
• Enjoy puzzles
• Able to deal with ambiguity

About the Team

The College of Arts & Sciences is at the heart of UW Seattle, bringing together 43 departments and centers across the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. With more than 1,400 distinguished faculty members and $120 million in annual research funding, the College drives innovation while supporting a vibrant academic community of over 24,600 students. It is also home to two world-class museums and a premier performance hall.

Beyond the impact of meaningful work, UW offers outstanding benefits, strong work-life balance, and opportunities for professional growth within a prestigious and diverse campus environment known for its natural beauty. If you are a highly organized, energetic professional who thrives on financial challenges and collaboration, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of higher education finance and making a difference across Washington state and beyond.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$76,800.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum:

$85,800.00 annual

Other Compensation:

-

Benefits:

For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

100.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit:

Not Applicable

About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81 (https://policy.uw.edu/directory/po/executive-orders/eo-81-prohibiting-discrimination-harassment-and-sexual-misconduct/).

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [e-mail].

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law (https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=28B.112.080).

There are many perks to working for the University of Washington. Learn more about the benefits (https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/) that could be available to you as a UW employee.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.