HR Business Partner

City of Portland, OR

$113K — $160K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of HR administration experience in labor and employee relations, training, and performance management.
  • Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, persuasive reports.
  • Experience interpreting and applying labor agreements and administrative rules effectively.
  • Proven experience in change management and conflict resolution.

Responsibilities

  • Provide training and coaching to management on employee development and performance recognition.
  • Conduct investigations into sensitive HR matters and present findings to leadership.
  • Advise management on HR issues and ensure compliance with employment laws.
  • Guide management on collective bargaining agreements and participate in negotiations.
  • Support management with resolving workplace conflicts and employee relations issues.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health care (medical, vision, dental).
  • Wellness and life insurance benefits.
  • Retirement plan with contributions to the Oregon PERS IAP plan paid by the employer.
  • Flexible spending accounts and employee assistance programs.
  • Paid parental leave and family medical leave.
Full Job Description
Salary: $113,131.20 - $160,180.80 Annually
Location : Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave, OR
Job Type: Regular
Job Number:
Bureau: Bureau of Human Resources
Opening Date: 08/10/2026
Closing Date: 8/24/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

The Position
Job Appointment: Full Time, Regular.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm. Alternate schedule may be available after probationary period.

Work Location: Hybrid. In-person work to be conducted at The Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Avenue. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington. For more information, .

Benefits: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland's online portal. You will need to attach a cover letter and resume.

About the Position:As a Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) at the City of Portland, you'll be a champion of the City's culture, partnering with bureau leaders to help them build their organizations and improve the quality of their people decisions. Whether coaching clients on how to better lead their teams, navigating and resolving employee and labor relations issues, or providing guidance on the most complex and sensitive people problems, you are exceptionally focused on enabling organizational and employee success at the City.

The HRBP is a senior-level human resources role within our bureau. HRBPs provide consultation by providing direct client support services to senior-level bureau management and performing a wide variety of difficult and complex human resource generalist responsibilities in support of the City's human resource management programs. Responsibilities are carried out independently and with awareness of human resource services issues and sensitivities.

What you'll get to do:
  • Provide training and coaching to Bureau/Office management regarding assessing, coaching, counseling, and developing employees; providing guidance to managers and supervisors on recognizing and rewarding performance; coaching and counseling managers, supervisors, and employees on resolving workplace issues; providing information about career development opportunities.
  • Conduct a variety of investigations on confidential and sensitive HR matters; reviewing complaints and determining appropriate investigative approaches and methodologies; performing fact-finding activities, developing interview questions; writing reports; presenting findings to management.
  • Advise assigned Bureau/Office management and making recommendations on HR issues, employee relations practices, discipline and corrective action; providing advice and guidance to ensure Bureaus/Offices comply with federal and state employment laws, rules, and policies, City code, policies, procedures, requirements, and goals.
  • Guide management and employees on the interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements; providing input into labor/management issues for collective bargaining purposes; participating in negotiations; participating in grievance resolution processes on behalf of Bureau/Office management; consulting with labor relations staff on interpretation and intent of collective bargaining contract language.

Questions?

Jamaal Anthony, Recruitment Supervisor

Bureau of Human Resources
To Qualify
Applicants must demonstrate how their education, training, and experience meet each of the minimum qualifications listed below:

  1. Experienceapplying the principles of Human Resources administration. Examples could include labor and employee relations, training, employee discipline and performance management, organizational development and workforce planning, recruitment and selection, classification, compensation, EEO/affirmative action.
  2. Experienceapplying federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to areas of assigned responsibilities.
  3. Experiencecommunicating effectively orally and in writing, including preparing clear, concise, accurate and persuasive reports, correspondence, analytical studies and other written materials, presenting proposals and recommendations clearly and logically and providing employee training.
  4. Experienceunderstanding, interpreting, and applying administrative rules, laws, regulations and labor agreements.
  5. Experience in change management, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.

The Recruitment Process
STEP 1: Apply online between August 10, 2026 to August 24, 2026
Required Application Materials:
  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
    • Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
  • Answer to three (3) Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:
  • Veteran documents to request for Veteran Preference (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.)
  • Update: As of March 3, 2025, if you have already submitted veteran documents and qualified for preference, you do not need to resubmit them for future recruitments.
  • To update or remove veteran preference for this recruitment or from your profile, contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.
Application Tips:
  • Your cover letter should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
  • Your resume should support the details described in your cover letter.
  • Salary Range/Equity Pay Analysis: Please note per the Oregon State Pay Equity Law your salary is determined based on the experience and education listed in your resume/application. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all directly related and equivalent experience.
  • Do not attach materials not requested.
  • All completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
  • All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
  • You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting; instead, use AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of August 24, 2026
  • An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and cover letter, weighted 100%.
  • Your resume and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
  • You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the for complete information.
  • Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of August 31, 2026
  • Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

Step 4: Selection (Interview): September 2026

  • Hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview.

Step 5: Offer of Employment: Late September/ Early October 2026
Step 6: Start Date: TBD
  • A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.


*Timeline is approximate and subject to change*

Additional Information

Click here for additional information regarding the following:
  • Veteran Preference
  • ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
  • Work Status


We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to
  • Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)
  • Carrot Fertility
  • Wellness Benefits
  • Life Insurance
  • Long-term disability
  • Employee Assistance Plan
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Retirement
  • Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), including contributions to the PERS IAP plan paid by employer
  • Family Medical Leave
  • City Paid Parental Leave
AND SO MANY MORE!

Benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status.
01

Thank you for your interest in joining the team at the City of Portland. We sincerely value your time and hope to make your application experience as positive as possible.

Your cover letter, and resume are an important step in the examination and selection process to assist us in determining if you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the posted vacancy.
A lack of a complete and thorough information in your application materials to each of the qualifications listed in the To Qualify section may result in disqualification from the examination. The information you provide must accurately reflect what is documented in your work history/resume.
Your cover letter needs to specifically address all of the qualifications listed in the "To Qualify" section, they are required for this position. Please provide detailed examples for each qualification that specifically address the qualification(s). Saying "See resume", to any of the minimum qualifications may result in elimination from further consideration.
If you are requesting veterans' preference, please be sure to indicate that you are a veteran and also upload a copy of your DD214 and/or Veteran's administration letter stating your disability. Veteran's preference documentation must be submitted by the closing time of this announcement.
Have you read and understood all of the information listed above?
  • Yes
  • No

02

Where did you first learn about this job opportunity? (If on a website or job board, please specify which one)
03

The City of Portland sometimes gets requests for public records. Please choose the response that best fits your preference:
(Your choice will not affect your application process.)
  • I want my application to stay private. I understand that the City of Portland will keep my information confidential unless required to share it by law.
  • I allow my application to be shared. I understand that by choosing this option, my information is no longer private.

04

Are you a current City of Portland permanent, full time, part time, seasonal/casual, temporary, limited term or qualifying laid-off employee? If not, you are not eligible to apply for this recruitment.
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

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