HR Manager II-People Leader

Salary: $136,281.39 - $172,744.42 Annually
Location : King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service (Exec)
Job Number: 2026JA27956
Department: DLS - Dept. of Local Services
Division: DLS-Directors Office
Opening Date: 09/03/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week

Summary
The Department of Local Services is seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager (People Leader) to lead our complex department's Human Resources team.

Utilizing your experience and success as a sound HR advisor and collaborative leader with strong interpersonal skills, you will build effective relationships and influence change at all levels in the Department. Your excellent communication skills and strong project management abilities will be essential for managing competing priorities. You will lead, mentor and inspire a team of dedicated HR practitioners whose work varies from employee and labor relations, recruitment, leaves and accommodations, and other disciplines, while developing systems to attract, retain, and engage employees. As our new leader, you will apply your HR expertise and compassion when problem solving and addressing issues. You will champion the advancement of practices, strategies, and policies that promote a healthy and inclusive workplace culture for all employees.

Job Duties
The successful candidate is a strategic HR leader with expertise in labor relations, talent development, and organizational culture, demonstrated by a strong record of building partnerships, developing leaders, and advancing workforce recruitment and retention.

Applying the principles of equity and racial and social justice is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. You will apply these principles to all aspects of your work.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Provide overall direction for the integration of sound human resources practices and strategic initiatives for the department, building and leveraging relationships and networks at all levels as a valued and trusted HR partner.
• Develop and support HR Analysts to implement recruitment strategies in today's dynamic and constricted labor market.
• Provide advice and consultation on workplace programs, policies, and procedures.
• Collaborate with DLS leadership to design systems for recruitment, development, and retention of a high quality, diverse workforce that is prepared for the evolving business needs of the future.
• Proactively assess and, in consultation with leadership, resolve employee relations issues objectively, interpreting employment law, labor agreements, and HR policies and practices to reduce liability and ensure consistency and compliance.
• Develop and support Employee Labor Relations lead to conduct investigations related to human resources issues.
• Participate in negotiations of collective bargaining agreements, support and participate in employee discipline and grievances as needed, and implement and interpret contract language where warranted.
• Coach and support HR Senior Analyst to manage requests for accommodations (Americans with Disabilities Act, religious, and others as applicable by law) ensuring adherence to all federal, state, and local regulations.
• Provide supervision, guidance, and development opportunities to support and sustain a mid-sized HR team.
• Lead the implementation of strategies to strengthen employee engagement and advance equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• A bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Public or Business Administration, or a closely related field; AND five years of increasingly responsible experience in human resources at the professional/management level; OR any combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the job duties of the position.
• Direct working knowledge of major HR functions such as recruitment, compensation and benefits, risk management, Human Resources Information Systems, employee relations, leave management, performance management, training and development, and relevant laws and regulations.
• Demonstrated skill in resolving workplace conflict.
• Experience coaching and counseling supervisors to effectively develop employees and improve performance outcomes. Experience coaching supervisors in having candid conversations with employees regarding performance issues.
• Experience with customer-focused service and ability to advise and partner at all levels of management on a variety of complex HR policies, procedures, and practices.
• Experience advancing equity and social justice, inclusion, and belonging. Demonstrated comfort having candid and sincere conversations with all employees about race and equity in the workplace.
• Strategic thinker with experience solving complex organizational problems through people-related solutions, with the ability to translate strategies into tactical actions and solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate in both written and verbal form at a high level, bringing clarity to human resources issues and providing information to staff and leadership.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable working in a complex environment with multiple labor contracts.

Additional qualifications that will be helpful in this role:

• Experience in the public sector, government, or other municipal agency.
• Experience performing HR service delivery in a unionized environment.
• Strong working knowledge of and proficiency with PeopleSoft.
• Strong working knowledge of and proficiency with NEOGOV applicant tracking system.

Supplemental Information
This position will be open continuously until filled. The first review of applications will take place the week of September 14, 2026 and weekly thereafter. Applicants who pass the initial screening can expect communication about in-person interviews the following week.

Who may apply: This position is open to all qualified applicants. If you applied for the recent HRM II position in June, you are welcome to re-apply.
This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) career service position and to create an eligibility pool to fill additional vacancies in the same classification that may occur within the next six months.
Forms and materials: A completed King County Application is required. A resume and supplemental question responses are also required.
Selection process: Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. Minimum qualifications and answers to supplemental questions must be demonstrated in your application materials. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews.

Work schedule: The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but may at times require work on the weekends, or outside of normal business hours. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.

Emergency designation status: This position has been designated as: Mission Critical in an Emergency, a designation that describes employees who staff county functions or services that may be delayed, suspended, or diverted in an emergency while essential functions are prioritized.

Unless otherwise directed by the King County Executive, department director, or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather.
Union Membership: This position is not represented.
Teleworking Requirement: The employee in this position will work in the office at least four (4) days a week to foster connection and responsiveness and will be expected to arrive prepared and on time.

Work location: The employee will report to work at the King Street Center (201 S. Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104). Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities and may be required to report to offices in Unincorporated King County.

Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. Employees will be provided with a King County-issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. King County has a robust collection of to support working remotely.

To apply: If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County's vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Janice Antonio at

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Janice Antonio, HR Analyst, by email at jantonio@kingcounty.gov, or by phone at 206-263-2003.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective