Senior Human Resource Manager

Cushing Terrell; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Cushing Terrell seeks a Senior Human Resource Manager to act as a strategic partner to senior practice leaders and enterprise stakeholders in an in-office capacity in one of several U.S. offices, including Seattle.

This role guides complex organizational design, succession planning, and sensitive employee relations with broad influence. The position focuses on partnering with senior leaders, shaping firmwide programs, and navigating challenging people challenges for a growing architecture,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Organizational Development, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or related field.
• 15+ years of progressive HR experience, including 8+ years in HRBP or strategic partnering roles.
• Prior experience supporting senior executives and practice or regional leaders.
• Deep working knowledge of multi-state employment law and navigating regulatory risk.
• Experience leading complex, sensitive workplace investigations and employee relations matters.
• Executive presence to counsel, challenge, and influence senior leaders.
• Ability to travel up to 15% annually.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to senior leaders and regional executives.
• Translate enterprise strategy into multi-year people strategies and workforce plans.
• Partner on complex organizational design and leadership transitions.
• Lead succession planning and readiness for critical roles.
• Guide hiring, leveling, and onboarding for principal and regional leader roles.
• Coach senior leaders on leadership effectiveness and team building.
• Lead sensitive employee relations matters and investigations with legal partnership.
• Advise on performance management, transitions, and separations.
• Support M&A people diligence and change management for large-scale changes.
• Help build and lead a growing HR function.

Skills

Executive coaching

Organizational design

Change management

Employee relations

Leadership counseling

People strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR / Business / OD / I/O Psychology

Master's degree or MBA

SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification

Tools

ADP

Payfactors

Job description

Senior Human Resource Manager

Position Description

The Senior Human Resource Manager is a newly created, in-office role based in one of our Boise, Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, Denver, Seattle, or Austin offices, serving as a strategic partner and counselor to senior practice leaders, regional executives, and enterprise stakeholders.

What does this role involve? This person operates with broad latitude and influence, leading complex organizational design, succession planning for senior roles, executive coaching, and the most sensitive employee relations and investigative matters. What will you create? You will shape the strategies and organizational conditions that allow Cushing Terrell's leaders and teams to thrive as the firm grows. This role does not currently have direct reports, but will help build and lead a supporting team as the function grows.

This is a senior, highly consultative role for an HR leader who has earned the credibility to partner with and coach senior leaders, shape firmwide programs, and navigate the most complex people challenges of a growing architecture, engineering, and design firm.

Position Salary Range*

The expected salary range for this position is $145,000 to $165,000 annually.

Required Qualifications**

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of experience and education
• 15+ years of progressive HR experience, including 8+ years in HRBP or strategic partnering roles
• Prior experience supporting senior executives and practice or regional leaders
• Deep working knowledge of multi-state employment law and the ability to navigate complex legal and regulatory risk
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, sensitive workplace investigations and employee relations matters
• Executive presence and credibility to counsel, challenge, and influence senior leaders with confidence and care
• Ability to travel up to 15% annually

Preferred Qualifications**

• Master's degree or MBA
• SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification
• Experience supporting technical or licensed professionals such as architects, engineers, and designers, and an understanding of career progression in these disciplines
• Experience supporting firms through acquisitions, integrations, and geographic expansion
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms such as ADP or Payfactors, and people analytics tools

Position Responsibilities***

• Serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to senior practice leaders, regional executives, and functional leaders
• Translate enterprise strategy into multi-year people strategies and workforce plans for an assigned practice group, region, or function
• Partner with leadership on complex organizational design, senior leader transitions, and firmwide change
• Lead succession planning, bench assessment, and readiness planning for critical leadership roles
• Partner on hiring, leveling, and onboarding for principal, associate principal, and regional leader roles
• Coach senior leaders on leadership effectiveness, influence, and team building
• Lead the most sensitive and high-risk employee relations matters and workplace investigations, partnering with legal on high-stakes matters
• Advise senior leaders on complex performance management, including counseling, transitions, and separations
• Support M&A people diligence, integration planning, and change management for large-scale organizational change
• Help build and lead a supporting team as the function grows, mentoring HR colleagues through coaching and case consultation

Working at Cushing Terrell

Cushing Terrell is a multidisciplinary design firm with 17 offices and more than 500 team members who bring together their expertise to deliver holistic built environments. Leveraging our influence as designers, we work to create sustainable systems and spaces that help people live their best lives.

Why Cushing Terrell

At Cushing Terrell, we empower creative designers to discover imaginative, responsible, first-of-their-kind environments. But more than that, we support a strong, cohesive team, from our design professionals to our business operations staff. Together, we champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, placing people at the center of our practice, thus our tagline, 'design meets you.' Together, we find joy in uncovering imaginative solutions for the people who work here, the people we work for, and the planet as a whole. We offer a competitive benefits package, work opportunities in a variety of locations and markets, and a company culture that celebrates all the unique viewpoints and personalities that make up our talented team. View our Employee Benefits Guide: https://cushingterrell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CushingTerrell_BenefitsGuide_2026_rev.pdf

Things to Note

*Actual pay will be determined based on the candidate's years of experience, licensure status, location, level of proficiency, and other job-related factors (as permitted by law). This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus.**Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. Cushing Terrell will not sponsor applicants for work visas.***The majority of the time, a person in this role will be sitting in an office with limited physical requirements. This may require individuals to bend, stretch, twist, and reach.

EEO Statement

Cushing Terrell is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Contact 406.248.7455 if you require assistance or accommodation during the employment application process.

Agency Note

Note to recruitment agencies: Cushing Terrell does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of Cushing Terrell without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of Cushing Terrell.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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