HR Business Partner (HRC 4) DOH9011

This position offers a hybrid work arrangement, combining remote work with scheduled onsite work at the Public Health Laboratories located in Shoreline, WA.

The Office of People Services (OPS) manages employee experience and HR operations for the Department of Health. We are looking for an expert-level HR Business Partner (Human Resource Consultant 4) to join our HR Business Partner team and serve as a trusted advisor to agency leaders on their most complex workforce issues and opportunities.

In this role, you will serve as the HR generalist and business partner for your assigned DOH programs, including the Public Health Laboratories in Shoreline, where you will provide in-person support. You will bring expert knowledge of HR best practices, agency policy, collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), and Washington Administrative Codes (WACs) to consult, advise, and coach management on employee performance management, organizational structure and strategy, and employee and labor relations. You will partner closely with specialty teams in classification, compensation, reasonable accommodations, investigations, and talent acquisition. Your expertise in Equal Employment Opportunity requirements, the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, and anti-discrimination law will help the agency reduce risk and sustain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.

You’ll take a human-centered approach, incorporating the needs, abilities, and experiences of people into your advice and consultation, to support leaders in managing our most valuable state resource, our workforce.

Key Responsibilities Include: Consult, Advise, and Coach Leaders and Employees on Complex Workplace Issues

• Provide expert-level analysis and strategy, in person and remotely, drawing on HR best practices, CBAs, WACs, and agency policy to advise managers and employees on complex, multidimensional issues with long-range impact
• Resolve complex interpersonal and personnel issues by identifying and mitigating risk to the agency
• Consult with supervisors and managers on performance management, including corrective action and progressive discipline in accordance with WACs and CBAs
• Advise leaders on writing letters of expectations, memos of concern, and letters of reprimand, and review final products before delivery to ensure accuracy and consistency

Write Legally Defensible Decisions and Manage the Grievance Process

• Write pre-disciplinary and disciplinary decision letters on behalf of the Appointing Authority, consulting with the HR Business Partner Manager and the Assistant Attorney General when needed
• Advise Appointing Authorities on the Step Two grievance process and attend meetings to document the conversation
• Write Step Two grievance responses for the Appointing Authority, applying expert knowledge of the relevant CBA articles

Support Investigations, Accommodations, and Protected Leave

• Serve as the assigned investigator or assist with internal personnel investigations
• Act as the point of contact for external investigators when DOH contracts them to investigate personnel misconduct
• Advise employees and leaders on reasonable accommodations and protected leave options, including FMLA and Paid Family and Medical Leave, in partnership with the Reasonable Accommodation and Protected Leave team
• Refer employees to that team for direct support when they or a qualifying family member are facing a serious health condition

Guide Organizational Planning, Staffing Strategy, and Layoffs

• Consult with supervisors and managers on organizational planning and positional structure to meet agency business needs
• Analyze data in employee staffing reports to identify organizational needs and advise management on strategies to address them
• Provide consultation on the rules and process for administering layoffs in accordance with CBAs, WACs, and agency policy
• Assess employee layoff rights, advise employees on their unique employment history, determine legally defensible layoff position options, and facilitate the process between management and employees
• Analyze Employee Engagement Survey results in partnership with the Employee Experience Program to help leaders turn employee feedback into organizational planning and engagement strategies

Represent DOH and Build Leadership Capability

• Represent DOH in Unemployment Insurance hearings
• Partner with management and the Employee and Labor Relations Manager to represent the agency at mediations and arbitrations
• Represent DOH alongside management at appeals, including Personnel Resources Board and Director's Reviews
• Assist the Employee and Labor Relations Manager with written responses to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Human Rights Commission complaints
• Facilitate training and development workshops for supervisors and managers on topics such as performance management, Performance and Development Plans, hours of work, supervisory files, and leader onboarding
• Serve as a subject matter expert on internal workgroups, committees, and improvement initiatives as assigned

Process Personnel and Position Actions

• Process personnel and position actions in Service Central for your assigned programs in compliance with CBAs, civil service rules, and DOH policy
• Write letters to employees formally notifying them of approved actions, such as duty station changes, step increases, and review period extensions

Why You’ll Enjoy This Role This is work that matters, and you will see the results of it. You will help managers navigate their hardest decisions, support employees through impactful moments, and protect the agency while treating people fairly. Because your assigned programs include the Public Health Laboratories, you will be a familiar face on site, close to the people you support and the mission they carry out every day. You will also join a collaborative, supportive HR team that shares expertise across specialties, from labor relations and investigations to classification, accommodations, and talent acquisition. You will never be working through a tough situation alone. The role pairs regular time onsite at the Public Health Laboratories with hybrid flexibility to work from home or another location.

Required Qualifications There are multiple pathways to qualify for this position. You must meet one of the options provided and any additional criteria listed. Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile. Option 1: Six (6) or more years of complex professional human resource experience in assessing and facilitating solutions to resolve workplace complaints and advising on just cause principles and progressive discipline for complex workplace personnel issues. Option 2: An Associate’s degree and four (4) or more years of professional human resource experience in assessing and facilitating solutions to resolve workplace complaints and advising on just cause principles and progressive discipline for complex workplace personnel issues. Option 3: A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business Administration, Human Resources, Social or Organizational Science, or a closely allied field, and two (2) or more years of professional human resource experience in assessing and facilitating solutions to resolve workplace complaints and advising on just cause principles and progressive discipline for complex workplace personnel issues.

And demonstrated experience in the following:

• Writing professional-level, legally defensible decision letters and responses on behalf of agency leadership.
• Interpreting and applying state civil service rules and collective bargaining agreements
• Strategically advising management in complex personnel scenarios using strong analytical skills and a human-centered approach
• Applying principles of job classification and employee compensation to position and staffing decisions.
• Working with state and federal employment laws, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and PFML (Paid Family and Medical Leave)

Preferred Qualifications Qualifying experience must have been gained in a professional human resources or employment-related capacity, such as administering, supporting, or advising on these processes.

• Experience with Washington state civil service rules and collective bargaining agreements

• Experience with Washington state’s HR Management System (HRMS) employee database

• Experience with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), and the Reasonable Accommodation Process

• Experience with Washington state’s Washington Management Service (WMS) and Exempt Management Service (EMS) employment levels and associated rules

• Experience with reductions in force and layoffs in Washington state government

• Experience with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaints, and Human Rights Commission (HRC).

• Experience with Union grievance process

• Experience providing mediation services

Employee Benefits We offer a solid benefits package that supports you and your family’s health, financial security, and work-life balance. You’ll have access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, and retirement plans that help you plan for tomorrow while you’re living today. Paid holidays, vacation and sick leave help you recharge, and additional programs like dependent care assistance and professional development opportunities add value beyond basic coverage. Join us and enjoy benefits designed to care for you as much as you care about public health. Learn more about DOH benefits and see how we support your life at work and beyond by visiting Work@Health.

About the Washington State Department of Health We're nearly 2,700 professionals across Washington working together to protect and improve community health. Guided by our values of Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, we address health disparities, respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen systems that support resilience. At DOH, we help reduce barriers, collaborate with diverse communities, and champion equitable health outcomes. We're passionate people who are driven to make a difference in public health. Our work depends on people who take action to learn and grow and who take action to meet the needs of others every day, in service of a healthier Washington. Explore more about the Department of Health, our programs, and our impact by visiting our website.

Working Conditions: The following describes the working conditions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Setting: This position requires regular in-person attendance to perform duties at the Public Health Laboratory in Shoreline, Washington. When not working on-site, this position may work from home, a DOH office, or an alternative location. Exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly found in an indoor home or office environment. This position is sedentary, working at a computer for extended periods. Schedule: This position has a work schedule of 40 hours per week; however, the position may be expected to work longer hours to meet business demands and deadlines. An alternative or flexible work schedule may be considered at the incumbent's request, subject to supervisory approval. Travel Requirements: Travel is not required to perform the duties of this position; however occasional travel may be expected to attend meetings, trainings or conferences. Tools & Equipment: This position uses standard office furniture and equipment, such as a desk, office chair, cell phone, computer, monitor(s), keyboard, and mouse; and when in the office, the position may also require the use of a printer, phone, fax machine, and/or copy machine. This position requires reliable access to an internet connection sufficient to perform all job duties remotely. Customer Interactions: The position frequently requires engaging with employees in a variety of settings where they must exercise discretion, maintain confidentiality of personal information, and approach interactions with tact and diplomacy, even when employees may be upset, frustrated or angry. Other: The DOH campus is a smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free, scent-neutral environment. This position may be required to conduct and/or participate in public health emergency preparedness and response activities.

APPLICATION DIRECTIONS: We’re committed to a fair and equitable hiring process. Only materials submitted through the official application will be considered. Emailed resumes or documents won’t be accepted or shared with the hiring manager. Click “Apply” to complete your application. Attach your resume, cover letter, and DD-214 (if applicable). List at least three professional references, directly in your Applicant Profile or as a separate attachment, including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led (if applicable). DO NOT INCLUDE private details like your SSN or birth year, personal photos, transcripts, certifications, diplomas, projects, portfolios, or letters of recommendation.

Veterans Preference: Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or a signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth year

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve. DOH is an equal-opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity.

Questions and Accommodations: If you have questions, need assistance with the application process, require an accommodation, or would like to request this posting in an alternative format, please contact Zach Covington at [email protected] and reference DOH9011.

Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues.

SUBSCRIBE to DOH Job Alerts This position is located in King County. The advertised pay includes a 5% location-based salary adjustment. This recruitment may be used to fill positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment are filled, the candidate pool may be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days. Only applicants who follow the directions and complete the Application Process in full will have their responses reviewed for consideration. Experience and education selected, listed, or detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable on the submitted applicant profile.