Recruitment and Classification Specialist

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Retirement (PERS)

Paid holidays

Job summary

State of Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State seeks a Recruitment and Classification Specialist (HRC4) to lead full-cycle recruitment, advise executives, and manage complex classification and compensation programs. The role requires strong collaboration, policy knowledge, and advanced HR consultation across multiple disciplines.

You will oversee postings in NeoGov, assist with onboarding, and ensure DEI in all job communications, working with executive leadership in Olympia and

Qualifications

• Five years’ HR experience across multiple disciplines.
• Expert level in at least one HR discipline.
• Proven ability to write business communications and manage records.
• Familiarity with RCWs and FLSA in HR classifications

Responsibilities

• Advise leadership on recruitment best practices and emerging trends.
• Oversee complex recruitment programs including hard-to-fill classifications.
• Lead collaboration with stakeholders to tailor recruitment strategies for various job classes.
• Provide expert consultation on organizational restructuring, new programs, or classification changes.
• Manage job postings in NeoGov and OLRS, updating documents and screening applications.
• Develop and coordinate application questionnaires with hiring managers.
• Build relationships with managers to ensure smooth recruitment and onboarding processes.
• Incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into all postings.
• Attend career/job fairs representing the office.
• Oversee end-to-end onboarding for new hires and input into HRMS.
• Ensure recruitment records meet the State General Records Retention Schedule.
• Review interview questions for policy alignment (RCWs).
• Lead complex classification studies and organization-wide reallocations.
• Interpret and apply FLSA, CBAs, and other policies in classifications.

Skills

Full cycle recruitment

Manager consultation

NeoGov/OLRS

Training development

Tools

NeoGov

OLRS

Job description

The Office of Secretary of State (OSOS) offers some of the most unique and diverse job opportunities in state government. Its critical responsibilities include ensuring a fair and accurate elections process; connecting Washingtonians through the power of libraries; protecting our important government records; and registering corporations and charities. The Secretary of State also administers vital community programs that inspire giving, document our history, and assist crime survivors in avoiding further abuse. This independent office under the state Constitution operates from facilities in the Olympia area and statewide.

Recruitment and Classification Specialist (HRC4)

• Full-Time, Permanent

Duties

• Manages Full Cycle Recruitment: Serves as the office’s technical expert on recruitment methodologies, advising executive leadership and hiring authorities on best practices, emerging trends, and innovative sourcing strategies.
• Oversees implementation of complex recruitment programs, including hard-to-fill and mission-critical classifications, by tailoring strategies that meet the Office’s specialized workforce needs.
• Leads the collaboration process with co-workers, customers, and stakeholders to build robust recruitment strategies with core components in each plan for various job classes, hard-to-fill positions, and other vacancies.
• Provides expert consultation to managers on complex recruitment situations, such as organizational restructuring, new program implementation, or classification redesign.
• Manages job postings using NeoGov including, but not limited to updating hiring documents, screening candidate applications and materials, and serving as the subject matter expert on the Online Recruiting System (OLRS).
• Serves as the main contact for hiring managers and division leadership to develop application questionnaires.
• Builds relationships with hiring managers and supervisors across the office to ensure a seamless and efficient recruitment and onboarding process.
• Incorporates diversity, equity, and inclusion in all job postings.
• Attends career/job fairs representing the office and employment opportunities.
• Manages the end-to-end onboarding process of all new hires to include coordinating communication, preparing onboarding documentation, scheduling orientations, and input into HRMS.
• Ensures all appropriate recruitment records are stored and retained according to the State General Records Retention Schedule.
• Reviews interview questions to ensure they are in accordance with policies and RCWs.
• Determines and decides the appropriate allocation of positions independently including continuity of positions, ensuring adherence with classification specifications, and in accordance with Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
• Leads complex classification studies, including multi‑position restructures, new program builds, and organization‑wide reallocation projects, ensuring consistency, equity, and compliance with state classification frameworks.
• Develops and interprets classification and compensation policies, providing expert guidance to executives, managers, and HR partners on rule application, job family alignment, and long‑term workforce planning implications.
• Manages and oversees classification and compensation processes including establishing uniform intake procedures, reviewing standard processes, and creating documentation templates to ensure consistent practices across the office.
• Applies current knowledge and expertise of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and overtime laws, project employment, in‑training employment, and other required actions in the administration of classification and compensation for the office.
• Provides guidance to executives, managers and supervisors when establishing, reallocating, or updating position descriptions to ensure consistency and alignment across the office.
• Reviews and analyzes management‑initiated establishments and/or management/employee‑initiated reallocations of Washington General Service positions.
• Provides expertise during audits, appeals, or classification review processes, representing the Office’s position and ensuring documentation and rationale support defensible decisions.
• Provides accurate interpretation and explanation of applicable WACs, RCS, CBA, agency policies and procedures related to classification and compensation, providing clarification when needed.
• Maintains electronic position files, ensuring all required documents are included.
• Serves as the office representative at statewide training manager meetings.
• Creates and updates training curriculum for classes.
• Serves as the liaison with Executive team to facilitate the OSOS Leadership Academy.
• Subject matter expert on The Learning Center (TLC), responsible for uploading training.
• Coordinates all internal and external training requested by office leadership, including scheduling and administrative requirements.
• Serves as the HR consultant to the Executive team.
• Works on special projects as they arise to meet HR mission, goals, and deadlines, including policy development.
• Assists in investigations as needed.
• Monitors shared email inbox; processes requests, responds to inquiries, and/or forwards to appropriate staff members as needed.
• Responds to routine employment verification inquiries.
• Runs monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Supports the HR Operations Manager by scheduling and facilitating committee activities for the Washington Management Service (WMS) and Information Technology Professional Structure (ITPS), may represent HR on various committees.
• Performs as a member of the HR team, opens mail, orders supplies, and files.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Incumbent would provide consultation and guidance, but not at the expert level for every HR discipline. Expert level consultation would be expected in at least 2 of the following subject areas: payroll, recruitment, reasonable accommodation, position description writing and allocation, and/or FMLA. In addition, incumbent would not be responsible for providing guidance to HR staff in the other HR disciplines that they are not considered to be an expert in.

Qualifications

HRC4 level - Pay Range 63 ($6,384-$8,583)

• At least five years of experience providing support or consultation in more than one human resource discipline; Experience should include at least one year at expert level for at least one HR discipline and also include independently composing business communications, managing records, and responding to customer inquiries; Education may be substituted for up to 2 years of required experience.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to present training and speak in front of groups.
• Ability to efficiently use a personal computer and applicable software to successfully perform the essential job functions of the position.

HRC3 level - Pay Range 59 ($5,779-$7,774)

• At least four years of experience providing support or consultation in at least two human resource disciplines; experience should also include independently composing business communications, managing records, and responding to customer inquiries; Education may be substituted for up to 2 years of required experience.
• Ability to efficiently use a personal computer and applicable software to successfully perform the essential job functions of the position.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.

Working Conditions

The incumbent will be working with a tightly knit team of established HR professionals. The majority of day will be spent working at a desk with standard office equipment: computer copier, scanner, fax and phone. Must be able to and maneuver boxes weight up to 30 lbs. The standard business hours are Monday – Friday from 8am –5pm. The option to adjust work hours will be given. Depending on emergencies or natural disasters, the incumbent may be required to work outside normal business hours. Additionally, the incumbent will work with both internal and external customers by phone, email, and in person. Incumbent must have the ability to handle complaints and interact with difficult and impatient people/customers.

Benefits

• Potential eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• Medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance with multiple medical plans and flexible spending accounts.
• Health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that can be mixed and matched.
• Dependent care assistance, payroll deduction for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program, Washington Wellness program, PEBB benefits.
• Retirement: Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) with two employer‑contributed retirement programs and Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).
• Social Security and Medicare coverage.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness program eligibility.
• Paid holidays, personal holiday, and union leave options.
• Sick leave accruals, vacation leave accrual per WAC laws and CBAs.
• Military leave, bereavement leave, leave sharing, parental leave, FMLA, leave without pay.

The Office of the Secretary of State is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, sexual orientation, disability, familial status, marital status, and age. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Persons of disability needing assistance in the application process should email [e-mail].