Human Resources Director

International Public Management Association for Human Resources; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

King County District Court is seeking an innovative Human Resources Director to lead all HR services and act as a strategic business partner to court leadership. The role oversees labor relations, contract administration, investigations, leaves, accommodations and recruitments.

The incumbent reports to the CAO/DCAO and supervises HR staff, delivering high-quality HR services across eight courthouse locations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR management, business, or public administration.
• Strong leadership and strategic partnership with courts and executive teams.
• Experience in labor relations and policy directives.
• Ability to manage confidential matters and complex employee issues.
• Excellent advisory, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Senior Advisor to the Court’s Chief Presiding Judge and Executive Committee.
• Lead and develop the HR team; improve service delivery and processes.
• Advise on Labor Management, Contract Administration, and wage bargaining.
• Oversee employment investigations and responses to EEOC, OCR, and Ombudsman.
• Provide staff support to the Judges’ Personnel Committee.
• Draft and implement policies on personnel matters and compliance.
• Develop and deliver training on personnel policies, supervision, performance management, benefits, EEO, FMLA/KCFML, ADA.
• Update personnel guidelines to align with updated laws and decisions.
• Handle complex, confidential issues and coach staff.

Skills

HR functions

Public-sector labor relations

Contract administration

Employment investigations

Leaves & accommodation

Recruitment

Strategic partner

Policy development

Training development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR management / related field

Job description

King County District Court(KCDC) is the largest andmost technologicallyadvanced Court of Limited Jurisdiction in the State of Washington. It currently processes approximately300,000 matters per yearwith25 elected judgesand roughly 250 employees at8 courthouse locations. The Court is a leader in many areas involvingpublic safety and access to justice, including the use ofproblem-solving courts, jail-alternative programs, technology- and judge-managed probation services. Thirteen cities contract with King County for court services provided by KCDC.

Position Summary

King County District Court is seeking applicants for aHuman Resources Director. The Human Resources Director is a strong, innovative, action-oriented leader with well-rounded experience in a multitude ofHR functions, includingpublic-sector labor relations,contract administration,employment investigations, leaves, accommodation and recruitments.The incumbent is responsible for theday-to-day managementof all HR service delivery. Work is performed at a professional level with the expectation of being astrategic business partnerby providing expert advice to all levels of employees and judicial officers throughout the Court. This position reports to theChief Administrative Officer(CAO) andDeputy Chief Administrative Officer(DCAO) and supervises all Human Resources employees.

Job Duties

• Serve as theSenior Advisorto the Court’s Chief Presiding Judge, Executive Committee, CAO and DCAO.
• Collaborate as part of the Court’sSenior Leadership Teamby utilizingcontinuous improvement methodsto improve delivery ofhuman resources functions.
• Lead, educate and advise onLabor ManagementandContract Administrationmatters, and strategize, advise and leadNegotiationsfor the Court’s working conditions contract. Participate in the County’s coalition and wage contract bargaining.
• Conduct or superviseemployment investigationsand respond to complaints from theEEOC,OCR, andOmbudsman’s Office. Serve as the Court’s representative inhearingsand respond toemployee grievancesandarbitrations.
• ProvidesStaff supportto the Judges’ Personnel Committee.
• Draft, recommend, bargain and implement policies regardingpersonnel matters.
• Assist with the development and delivery oftrainingrelated to personnel policies, procedures, supervision,performance management & appraisal, benefits,EEO,FMLA/KCFML(King County Family Medical Leave),ADA, and otherregulatory complianceas deemed necessary by the Court.
• Update and maintain theKCDC Personnel Guidelinesand other policies to keep in compliance withupdated laws,rulesandpolicies decisions.
• Handlecomplex issuesand questions includingsensitive and confidential matters.
• Coaches, trains, motivates staff, and manages theworkflow and prioritization of projects, and measures the performance of the HR unit.
• Through oversight of the CAO/DCAO, oversee, lead and handle all aspects of HR service delivery.

Job Requirements

• Ability to provide expert and customer service focusedHuman Resources adviceto all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering and advocatinglabor and policy directivesfrom the Court’s Executive Committee, CAO and DCAO with a strategic focus.
• Ability to clearly advocate the Court’s position innegotiations,grievances, andarbitration proceedings.
• Demonstrated experience inHuman Resources Managementwith an emphasis in the areas ofemployee and public-sector labor relations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with colleagues at all levels of the organization, includingJudicial Officersand external customers.
• Ability to be aself-starter, take initiative, apply creativity to juggle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to welcome and accept feedback to continuously improveleadership skills.
• Ability to build and sustaininclusive and equitable teamsthrough employee engagement, performance management and development in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability toanalyze,solve problems, andplan operational needs.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure andresolve conflictat the lowest level in stressful situations.
• Bachelor’s degreefrom an accredited college or university inHuman Resources management, Business or Public Administration, Social Sciences or closely related field, or any combination of education and/or experience that demonstrate the ability to perform the essential functions of this position.