DSHS OOS Chief of Human Resources Business Partners

Full Job Description

DSHS Human Resources Business Partner Office Chief We have an exciting opportunity for a Human Resources leader to join our team.

The Department of Social and Health Services is seeking an Office Chief to oversee the policies, procedures, and programs associated with the Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) section within the Human Resources Division.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is the foundational organization for human services in Washington State.

The Department's mission is to transform lives through providing shelter, care, protection and support to our state's most vulnerable population.

DSHS collaborates with many State and Federal agencies to provide these services and comprises four direct service administrations and two support administrations.

It occupies 205 locations throughout the state, including several 24/7 facilities, and employs over 18,000 employees, including over 2,000 supervisors and managers.

This position reports to the Senior Director of HRD and is a member of the HR Leadership team. They oversee the BP section comprised of approximately 50 positions.

To be successful in this role, you'll need a demonstrated history of supervisory and leadership experience, strong background in human resources consultation and expert knowledge of human resources rules, laws, and collective bargaining.

Additionally, you should have exceptional communication skills, expertise in building relationships, strong leadership qualities, outstanding problem-solving abilities, and a firm commitment to diversity and inclusion.

You should also have the ability to develop and execute strategic plans and translate goals into actionable initiatives.

It is also essential to be capable of successfully leading a human resources team through projects of various scopes, implementing innovative programs and achieving objectives in a rapidly changing environment for this role.

This will be a hybrid role and will require a minimum of two days per week in office.

The incumbent must be able to report to their official duty station every Tuesday/Wednesday and any other days as necessary. The duty station can be either DSHS headquarters in Olympia or Spokane.

Primary Responsibilities:

As the Chief of Human Resource Business Partners, you will oversee the policies, procedures, and programs associated with the Human Resource Business Partner section within the Human Resources Division.

You will direct, lead, and monitor the management of all HRD services through the HRD Human Resource Business Partner section, with statewide impacts to the department and consultation to executive management.

Your duties will include leading teams and supervising Senior Business Partners in the areas of:

Strategic Partnerships: Partner closely with executive leaders, HR teams, unions, state agencies, and law enforcement to understand organizational needs and solve workforce challenges.

Use data to spot trends, reduce turnover, strengthen leadership pipelines, and support long-term staffing and strategic planning.

Executive Leadership Support: Advise executive leaders, anticipate HR needs, and help guide organizational change so each administration can meet its goals. Ensures policies, laws, and collective bargaining agreements are followed.

Coaching and Development: Coach executives and managers, lead onboarding for key leadership roles, and build programs that strengthen leadership skills and support succession planning.

Essential in advising leaders on progressive discipline and navigating complex situations, ensuring appropriate and timely responses.

Analytics: Review HR data, identify trends, and use that information to create solutions.

Layoff, Reversion, and Return-from-Exempt Actions: Ensure that all layoff, reversion, and return-from-exempt actions follow the correct rules, policies, procedures, laws, and collective bargaining agreements.

What we're looking for:

Competencies and Leadership Capabilities

• Influencing and Guiding Team Success
• Building Partnerships and Creating a Culture of Trust
• Strategic Planning and Facilitating Change
• Courage and Execution

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated success designing and delivering innovative HR programs in fast-paced, rapidly evolving, and complex organizational environments.
• Proven ability to lead and manage HR teams through large-scale projects, ensuring high-quality execution and achievement of key objectives.
• Extensive experience developing and implementing core HR strategies, policies, and procedures that support organizational goals and long-term workforce needs.
• Exceptional leadership and influence skills, with a strong track record of guiding diverse workgroups toward shared goals and unified outcomes.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Certification

• A bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, human resources, organizational development or closely related field and six or more years of progressively more responsible management experience in human resources is preferred but not required.
• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP preferred.
• PHR or SPHR preferred.

To Apply—

1. Completed application
2. Resume
3. Cover letter

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work.

It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS.

We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Questions? Contact the recruiter, Jourdan Kovacs, at jourdan.kovacs@dshs.wa.gov and reference 00442.

Additional Information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.



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