Human Resources Assistant

City of Anacortes; Anacortes (WA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Anacortes is seeking a Human Resources Assistant to provide advanced administrative and technical HR support within the Human Resources Department. Responsibilities include recruitment, onboarding, HRIS management, benefits coordination, wellness program support, and handling leave programs with confidentiality and accuracy.

Applicants should have an AA degree in office management and at least three years of related experience; a bachelor’s in HR or business is preferred.

Qualifications

• AA degree in office management or related field with strong administrative experience.
• Bachelor’s in HR, business administration, or related field preferred; HR experience is a plus.
• Ability to establish organizational systems, prioritize work, and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment, posting jobs, coordinating interviews, and communicating with applicants.
• Onboarding and regular onboarding of new employees; update materials.
• Administer leave programs (FMLA/PFML) and track usage with payroll coordination.

Skills

Recruitment

Onboarding

HRIS management

Benefits administration

Leave management

Wellness program coordination

Record keeping

Public records requests

Education

AA degree in office management

Bachelor’s degree in HR or business administration preferred

Tools

HRIS software

Microsoft Office

Payroll coordination tools

Job description

Important Information:

This position is anticipated to begin in early January 2027. First-round interviews will be held on November 12 or 13, with second-round interviews scheduled for November 20.

Job Description:

The Human Resources Assistant plays an essential role in the Human Resources Department by providing advanced technical and administrative services within the department and to all City staff. Responsibilities include recruitment, civil service recruitment, onboarding, HRIS management, employee benefit coordination, wellness program management, invoice management, report generation, and varying special projects. This position exercises considerable judgment in interpreting policies, practices, regulations, and procedures and must be able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

1. Performs general recruitment, including managing job postings and advertisements, coordinating interview schedules, preparing interview materials, and facilitating applicant communication. Conduct reference and criminal background checks.
2. Performs new hire orientation and regular onboarding of new employees. Updates materials as changes occur.
3. Performs the exit interview process and assists employees with retirement procedures, ensuring all required documentation is completed and submitted accurately.
4. Supports Civil Service hiring by scheduling interviews, communicating with candidates, maintaining eligibility list, taking meeting minutes and scheduling and maintaining the reoccurring civil service meeting.
5. Administers employee FMLA, PFML, and other leave programs, including processing required documentation, tracking leave status and usage, communicating with employees and departments, coordinating with payroll, and maintaining accurate and confidential leave records in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and procedures.
6. Provides administrative support for employee benefit programs, including open enrollment, processing employee benefit changes, maintaining accurate benefit records, and responding to routine employee benefit inquiries.
7. Leads wellness committee and coordinates activities to meet City’s Wellness Program goals. Create and distribute wellness newsletter. Prepare WellCity Award application.
8. Provides administrative support for CDL drug and alcohol testing processes in coordination with the Designated Employer Representative (DER).
9. Responds to general inquiries and provide accurate information and guidance regarding personnel policies, established collective bargaining agreements, programs, regulations, procedures, and processes.
10. Maintains and ensure accuracy of confidential employee data in the HRIS and other recordkeeping systems; generate various personnel related reports. Maintain, archive and purge both employee digital and paper personnel files and other Human Resources records in an accurate and timely manner in accordance with City policy, legal requirements, and confidentiality requirements.
11. Provides clerical, organizational, and administrative support, including processing department mail, taking meeting minutes, and other general administrative support.
12. Conducts research and compile data for various projects as assigned. Respond to surveys and requests for information.
13. Responds to public records requests as directed; research, compile and summarize data for special projects and records request. Respond to and complete employment verifications.
14. Supports LEOFF-1 disability claim documentation and recordkeeping in accordance with Skagit County Disability Board requirements.
15. Manages Student Recreational Assistant application process.
16. Manages volunteer application processes for all departments. Approve volunteer applications for departments.
17. Manages the training portal, including coordinating available training, working with outside agencies, and assigning and tracking all new-hire training.
18. Reviews and processes invoices and receipts; submit invoices for department purchases; track and purchase annual department membership subscriptions; use and maintain the department's credit cards in accordance with City purchasing policies, including reconciliation of monthly billing.
19. Maintains the Human Resources Department inventory of supplies; schedule maintenance for machines and equipment; coordinate phone and computer installations.
20. Maintains and updates the internal and external Human Resources web pages and other communication pieces.
21. Generates, reviews, and submits federally required reporting such as the biennial EEO-4 report. Collaborate with finance to generate and review the ACA report for their submittal. Coordinate mandatory postings at multiple city locations.
22. Establishes and maintains effective and cooperative working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, City officials, other City departments and the public using good judgement, tact, and courtesy.
23. Other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

AA degree in office management or a related field, plus three (3) years of successful related administrative experience, or an equivalent combination of related education and experience. A bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration or a related field is preferred. Human resources experience is preferred. Requires exceptional ability to establish and maintain organizational systems, set priorities, organize workload, handle multiple responsibilities, and meet deadlines. Attention to detail and accuracy required. A combination of experience and training that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform this job will be considered.

Licenses and other requirements:

Must possess a valid Washington State driver's license. Certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or (SPHR) either through the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) or the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Knowledge of record keeping methods and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of English, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Skills in gathering, interpreting, and presenting data clearly and concisely in reports.
• Skills in the use of all office equipment including personal computers and related software applications.
• Flexible and efficient time management and workload organization and prioritization skills.
• Skills in conducting research via the internet and other resources.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, other departments and city staff, city officials and the public.

Ability to:

• Quickly gain knowledge of federal and state employment and benefits law.
• Quickly gain knowledge of human resource disciplines as well as current trends and practices of public human resources administration.
• Learn general personnel policies and procedures applicable to the City
• Communicate effectively demonstrating excellent written and verbal communications skills using tact, courtesy, and good judgment.
• Work independently with minimal supervision.
• Multi-task and work with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail in an environment of frequent interruptions.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive materials and information.
• Conduct research and organize and summarize findings.

LEVEL OF AUTHORITY:

Performs routine duties independently, setting priorities and scheduling work in accordance with established and general policies and procedures requiring regular interpretation. Is responsible for sound judgment, thoroughness, and competence, where failure to perform effectively and efficiently could have serious impact on public relations, employee effectiveness, and the efficient use of resources.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in a fast-paced office setting with frequent interruptions. Requires ability to communicate well in difficult situations. Occasional need to drive a City vehicle to other work locations.

PHYSICAL:

Position requires hearing, seeing, talking and repetitive motions of hands and wrists. Frequent sitting or standing. Occasional ability to push, pull, or lift ten pounds and carry up to twenty pounds. Ability to sit or stand at a workstation for extended period. Ability to stand, work, and drive throughout the day.

OTHER:

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility; but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. The Individual may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or is a logical assignment to the position. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned.

Following an offer of employment, and prior to starting work, individuals may be required to have a pre-employment physical examination by a physician designated by the City of Anacortes. The City will pay for the examination. Satisfactory clearance to perform essential job functions will be required for employment. As an absolute condition of employment, employees are required upon hire to sign a drug-free workplace agreement and an agreement not to use tobacco products in any form while on the job.

The City of Anacortes is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, creed, sex (including pregnancy), age (over 40), marital status, families with children, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, genetic information, sexual orientation including gender identity, or status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, or any other class protected by federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are provided on request.