Senior Human Resource Consultant (HRC4) - Green Hill School

State of Washington; Chehalis (WA); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a Senior Human Resource Consultant to support the Green Hill School in Chehalis and Harbor Heights in Aberdeen. This on-site role requires presence in Harbor Heights 1–2 days per week with up to two days of telework.

You will provide expert HR guidance across multiple locations, including employee relations, classification and compensation, recruitment, and performance management, under the HR Operations Manager.

Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of experience and/or education as described below.
• Experience in broad-based human resource work, including advising and consulting on human resource issues.
• Education involving a major study in human resources, labor relations, organizational development, business, public administration, social or behavioral sciences.

Responsibilities

• Provides confidential, legally defensible expert-level consultation and guidance to managers and employees on multiple HR issues.
• Advises on interpretation and application of policies, laws, and CBAs.
• Coordinates with Labor Relations and recruitment teams to ensure compliant processes.
• Reviews and prepares disciplinary and performance documentation.
• Participates in grievance processes and supports management throughout.
• Supervises HR Consultants and ensures delivery of HR services across locations.
• Establishes performance expectations and provides coaching.

Skills

Consulting

Analysis and problem solving

Communication and interpersonal

Customer focus and business

Change leadership

Teamwork

Research and analysis

Accountability and dependability

HR knowledge (WACs/RCWs/CBA)

Education

HR-related degree or equivalent

Tools

NeoGov

HRMS

Job description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community.”

Job Title: Senior Human Resource Consultant (HRC4) Location: Chehalis, WA - This duty station is located at the Green Hill School facility in Chehalis while also supporting the Harbor Heights Facility in Aberdeen. This position requires on-site work at Harbor Heights 1–2 days per week and allows for up to 2 days of telework per week.

Closes: Monday, October 26th, 2026 Salary: $76,608 - $102,996 Annually *The listed salary does not include an on-site 24/7 facility, 5% premium pay.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking an experienced and adaptable Human Resource Consultant to support JR Headquarters, the Green Hill School (GHS) facility in Chehalis and the Harbor Heights Facility in Aberdeen. This role is essential to delivering high-quality HR services across multiple locations and requires on-site presence at Harbor Heights 1–2 days per week, with the flexibility to telework up to two days per week. As part of a mission-driven agency dedicated to strengthening families and supporting Washington’s children and youth, you will help ensure our workforce is supported with accurate guidance, consistent processes, and expert consultation.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

This is a dynamic and impactful role for an HR professional who thrives in complex environments and enjoys partnering with leaders and staff across regions. As a Human Resource Consultant, you will provide expert-level advice on a wide range of HR matters, including employee and labor relations, classification and compensation, recruitment and selection, performance management, just-cause principles, corrective and disciplinary actions, layoffs, reversions, and rights of return. You will serve as a trusted consultant to managers and employees, resolving sensitive and challenging HR issues with significant potential impact. Under the general direction of the HR Operations Manager, you will help foster a culture of excellence and consistency in HR practices across DCYF. This position also includes direct supervisory responsibility for an HR Consultant 1 (HRC1), ensuring quality work, developmental support, and the successful delivery of HR services.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Independently provides confidential, legally defensible, and sound expert level consultation, advice, guidance, and support to appointing authorities, managers, supervisors and employees (customers) regarding multiple and diverse HR issues and processes.
• Consults with the assigned Assistant Attorney General (AAG) as necessary regarding legal implications.
• Provides guidance to customers on interpretation and application of CBA’s, Federal Law, RCW’s, Civil Service Laws (WAC), DCYF administrative and HR Policies and other agency rules, guidelines, protocols and best practices regarding HR matters.
• Provides labor relations guidance to customers in partnership with the Labor Relations unit.
• Participates in grievance hearings and provides guidance and advice to management throughout the grievance process.
• Writes/reviews grievance responses.
• Reviews, analyzes, and advises appointing authorities, managers, and supervisors on employee conduct and performance.
• Reviews investigative reports for completion, thoroughness, and accuracy.
• Participates in performance meetings with appointing authorities as appropriate, providing consultation and recommendations.
• Prepares pre-disciplinary and disciplinary letters for appointing authority review, approval, and signature.
• Researches and provides information for litigation, arbitration, and disciplinary case preparation. Represents the agency at hearings and meetings pertaining to disciplinary actions.
• Coordinates with the centralized Talent Acquisition team to identify, plan, conduct, and assess recruitments are in compliance with agency policy and procedures.
• Consults with and advises managers/supervisors about the recruitment and selection process and paperwork requirements.
• Reviews interview questions for appropriateness, assists with identifying diverse interview panels, and conducts file reviews for current/former state employees.
• Provides compensation consultation. Conducts preliminary review and advises on the position allocation process in the creation/update of WGS and WMS position descriptions for correct classification and appropriate language.
• Serves as the first-line supervisor for assigned HR consultant(s).
• Review completed work of HR Consultants to ensure effectiveness and results.
• Establish results-based performance expectations, set performance priorities and provide ongoing direction, coaching and guidance to accomplish job duties and tasks.
• Address performance and misconduct issues in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Review and process leave requests.

Required Qualifications:

Seven (7) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in broad-based human resource work, including advising and consulting on human resource issues.
• Education involving a major study in human resources, labor relations, organizational development, business, public administration, social or behavioral sciences.

Demonstrated competency in the following areas (competency may be gained through education, experience, or a combination):

• Consulting
• Analysis and problem solving
• Communication and interpersonal interaction
• Customer focus and business orientation
• Change leadership
• Teamwork
• Research and analysis
• Accountability and dependability
• Working knowledge of HR-related WACs, RCWs, federal laws, agency policies and procedures, and CBA's.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• SHRM-CP/SCP, S/PHR, or other professional HR certification
• Six (6) months or more experience using NeoGov and/or HRMS
• Lead/supervisory experience

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Maintains regular and reliable attendance.

Incumbent must pass a national (fingerprint) criminal records background check prior to employment, with renewals every five (5) years.

Successfully complete, within mandated timeframes, employee orientation and all other mandatory annual, in-service, and other required training.

Incumbent is required to complete Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) training within the first month of employment and comply with JR Policy 5.90, Applying PREA Juvenile Standards in JR.

Incumbent must comply with JR health screening requirements, to include tuberculous testing, measles and chickenpox immunity, and Hepatitis B vaccination, as indicated during the first month of employment.

Incumbent must sign and abide by the DCYF HR Confidentiality Agreement.

Become familiar with and comply with all agency policies, procedures, and CBAs as applicable.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement. For more information on employee benefits eligibility, visit Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).

If you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at [phone] or email [e-mail]. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22, or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, the individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact)the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veterans’ Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.