Talent HR Manager

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

King County's Metro Transit Talent Acquisition team is seeking a hands-on Talent HR Manager to lead recruitment and workforce development, while delivering high-quality HR services.

You will supervise 10–15 HR professionals, partner with division leaders, and promote equity, inclusion, and employee engagement across a large, unionized workforce in Seattle.

Qualifications

• Five years of progressively responsible HR experience with emphasis in Talent Acquisition.
• Two years of experience in recruiting senior, lead, supervisor or manager roles.
• Proven experience leading Talent Acquisition teams and coaching staff.
• Experience designing, implementing, and improving recruitment strategies using metrics and workforce data.
• Knowledge of HR functions including recruitment, labor relations, classification/ compensation, training, and performance management.
• Experience in a unionized, high-volume labor environment.
• Ability to provide legally defensible HR guidance and build relationships with applicants, employees, supervisors, and partners.
• Strong relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent customer service and communication, with the ability to handle sensitive situations.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR services for Metro Transit with timely, high-quality support.
• Design and implement systems to recruit, develop, and retain a diverse, high-performing workforce.
• Oversee HR data and records management systems.
• Communicate complex HR concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ensure HR practices comply with collective bargaining agreements and applicable laws.
• Coach and develop direct reports; support other managers in developing their teams.
• Set and monitor goals for high-quality, customer-focused service.
• Foster continuous learning and create a welcoming, inclusive work environment.

Skills

Talent Acquisition

Leadership

Recruitment strategies

Employee relations

HR policies

Communication

Diversity & Inclusion

Labor relations

Performance management

Job description

Metro Transit's Talent Acquisition team is seeking a hands-on, collaborative Talent HR Manager with a strong passion for recruitment and workforce development. This role provides leadership to support the development and retention of a highly skilled workforce while delivering high-quality, customer-focused HR services. A strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, transparency, and employee engagement is essential.

This position supports department-wide recruitment efforts and works closely with Division and Department leaders to strengthen organizational health and labor practices.

Role Overview

The Talent HR Manager reports to the Metro Transit Human Resource Manager II and supports the division by identifying best practices, establishing and following standard procedures, and continuously improving HR recruitment services. Success in this role requires strong interpersonal skills, the ability to build effective teams and partnerships, and the capacity to influence change and solve complex problems.

In addition to managing a team of 10-15 Talent Acquisition and HR professionals, you will actively support employee relations across the division, interpret and apply employment law, and ensure HR policies and practices are followed. The goal is to provide reliable, efficient, and consistent HR services while minimizing organizational risk.

Position Information

This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Career Service Talent HR Manager (HR Manager I classification) position. The selection process may also be used to create an eligibility list for future Career Service (CS), Special Duty Assignment (SDA), or Term Limited Temporary (TLT) opportunities in this classification. The eligibility list may be used for up to 12 months at the discretion of the hiring authority.

We welcome applications from all interested candidates, including current King County employees and the general public.

Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees.

HR Leadership and Recruitment

• Lead and manage timely, high-quality HR services for Metro Transit.


• Design and implement systems to recruit, develop, and retain a diverse, high-performing workforce.


• Oversee HR data and records management systems.


• Communicate complex HR concepts clearly to diverse audiences.


• Ensure HR practices comply with collective bargaining agreements and applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Team Leadership and Development

• Allocate staff and resources to meet recruitment demands and workload changes.


• Coach, mentor, and develop direct reports; support other managers in developing their teams.


• Set and monitor goals for high-quality, customer-focused service.

Employee Management and Workplace Culture

• Foster continuous learning and skill development.


• Promote accountability for service excellence.


• Create and maintain a welcoming, inclusive work environment.


• Provide performance feedback, manage performance issues, and handle disciplinary actions with compassion and consistency.

Minimum Qualifications

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience, with an emphasis in Talent Acquisition, including at least two (2) years of experience in a recruiting senior, lead, supervisor or manager role.


• Demonstrated success leading and developing Talent Acquisition teams, including coaching, assigning work, providing performance feedback, setting goals, and fostering continuous improvement.


• Proven experience designing, implementing, and improving recruitment strategies, processes, and service delivery models using recruitment metrics and workforce data to improve hiring outcomes.


• Knowledge of essential HR functions, including recruitment, labor relations, classification and compensation, training, and performance management.


• Strong knowledge of recruitment practices in a unionized, high-volume, and complex labor environment, with the ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining excellent customer service.


• Ability to provide legally defensible HR guidance and build productive relationships with applicants, employees, supervisors, managers, and external partners.


• Strong relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders.


• Excellent customer service, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to handle sensitive situations professionally, fairly, and respectfully.


• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through inclusive leadership and equitable employment practices.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience leading or overseeing a Talent Acquisition function in a large, complex public-sector organization, including workforce planning, recruitment strategy, and supervision of multiple employees or teams.


• Experience developing and delivering recruitment training, standard operating procedures (SOPs), onboarding programs, and coaching for recruiters and hiring managers.


• Experience partnering with executive leadership, hiring managers, HR Business Partners, labor relations, and external stakeholders to develop and implement recruitment strategies that meet organizational hiring goals.


• Experience managing recruitment operations in a unionized civil service environment while ensuring compliance with employment laws, policies, collective bargaining agreements, and merit system principles.


• Experience leading enterprise-wide Talent Acquisition initiatives, technology implementations, or business process improvements.
  

Who May Apply

This recruitment is open to King County Employees, and the general public.

NOTE

Application materials will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews and possibly other selection process elements. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks and/or a record review.

Work Schedule

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. Work hours are comprised of a 40-hour work week within core business hours, 7:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Work Location

This position follows a hybrid work schedule requiring a minimum of 3 days per week onsite at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104, to support team collaboration, coaching, and in-person leadership presence. Consistent with King County's hybrid work policy. Remote workdays may be adjusted based on operational or business needs.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Union Membership: This position is not represented by a union.

Class Code: 117401/ Human Resources Manager I

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.