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Employee Relations Business Partner - Human Resources
State of Washington
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Location
Washington, 98504
Salary
$89,250 - $105,000
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Human Resources jobs →Closes
April 3, 2026
Job Description
Summary
This job involves working as a human resources specialist focused on employee relations, helping to manage workplace issues, support staff, and ensure fair treatment within Washington's public education system.
It supports the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in creating a positive work environment for educators and administrators.
A good fit would be someone with HR experience who values work-life balance, equity, and collaboration in a mission-driven public agency.
Key Requirements
- Experience in employee relations or human resources, particularly in public sector or education settings
- Strong knowledge of labor laws, policies, and practices related to workplace equity and inclusion
- Ability to handle conflict resolution, investigations, and employee support
- Skills in communication, collaboration, and promoting diversity and equity
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent in HR, business, or related field (preferred)
- Ability to work in Olympia, WA, with potential for partial telework
- Commitment to continuous improvement and supporting work-life balance initiatives
Full Job Description
WASHINGTON MANAGEMENT SERVICE
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Employee Relations Business Partner - Human Resources
$89,250 - $105,000 annually
Closes April 2, 2026
The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) seeks to fill a Employee Relations Business Parter position.
This full-time permanent position is based in Olympia, Washington. This position may be eligible for partial telework. Telework is a combination of in-building and off-site days.
We encourage interested candidates to visit the OSPI website to gain insight into our agency.
About OSPI and our initiatives
OSPI is the primary agency charged with overseeing public K–12 education in Washington state.
Working with the state's 295 public school districts and 7 state-tribal education compact schools, OSPI allocates funding and provides tools, resources, and technical assistance so every student in Washington is provided a high-quality public education.
At OSPI, we recognize that our employees are the key to the success of the agency. We are committed to our work but value the balance with our personal lives.
We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth and values them for their expertise.
OSPI is a great place to work and has several initiatives to help create a great working environment, including:
- We support a healthy work/life balance by offering flexible/alternative work schedules and mobile and telework options. (Depending on job duties and work location.)
- We have an Infant at Work Program that is based on long-term values of newborns and infant-parent bonding. Eligible employees who are new parents or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when returning to work. (Depending on job duties and work location.)
We value and are actively involved in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within OSPI by way of cross-divisional, collaborative committee.
The focus of the committee includes employee engagement and education; reinforcing OSPI values; and maximizing the value of diversity and identifying strategies for inclusion.
Vision, Mission, and Values Vision: All students prepared for post-secondary pathways, careers, and civic engagement.
Mission: Transform K-12 education to a system that is centered on closing opportunity gaps and is characterized by high expectations for all students and educators.
We achieve this by developing equity-based policies and supports that empower educators, families, and communities.
Values: Ensuring Equity, Collaboration and Service, Achieving Excellence through Continuous Improvement, Focus on the Whole Child
Equity
Each student, family, and community possesses strengths and cultural knowledge that benefits their peers, educators, and schools. Ensuring educational equity:
- Goes beyond equality; it requires education leaders to examine the ways current policies and practices result in disparate outcomes for our students of color, students living in poverty, students receiving special education and English Learner services, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and highly mobile student populations.
- Requires education leaders to develop an understanding of historical contexts; engage students, families, and community representatives as partners in decision-making; and actively dismantle systemic barriers, replacing them with policies and practices that ensure all students have access to the instruction and support they need to succeed in our schools.
Position Overview
This position will independently provide expert labor relations guidance and consultation to supervisors throughout OSPI, ensuring compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
Develop positive and effective working relationships with other state agencies, union representatives, and shop stewards.
Ensure the union receives proper and timely notices in accordance with the CBAs. Collaborate with HR Consultants and managers in the resolution of employee concerns and grievances.
Collaborate with HR Consultants on the interpretation of and advice regarding the CBAs and labor-related topics.
While the position is primarily focused on labor relations work, it will also support the HR team and agency by providing HR generalist assistance.
Duties
- Provides consultation and interpretation of applicable CBAs and ensures consistent compliance with bargaining agreements, agency policies, best practice human resource management activities and business practices.
- Research and understand labor relation trends, employment data, wage data, and other labor-related information. Present relevant data and information to the Chief HR Officer (CHRO) and other members of the OSPI's Executive Leadership Team.
- Oversee mandatory subject notifications to ensure the unions are properly notified on changes to working conditions and manage OSPI’s response to union demands to bargain, in collaboration with OFM State Human Resources labor relations staff.
- Coordinate scheduling, agendas, and lead Union-Management Communication Committee meetings.
- Responsible for processing and case-managing grievances, Union notifications, demands to bargain, Request for Information (RFIs), unfair labor practices, arbitrations, and other labor related activities and track to completion.
- Reviews, researches, and tracks Union RFIs. Gathers data and responds to Union requests.
- In collaboration with the HR Training Team, identify, create, develop, and provide collective bargaining training for supervisors and managers who may also be part of a union.
- Ensure policies and updates to policies do not conflict with collective bargaining agreements. Submit all proposed changes to policies to the exclusive representative before they are distributed to staff.
- Create, organize, and maintain comprehensive labor relations filing and tracking systems.
- Provide expert level consulting regarding human resource rules, policies, and procedures, RCWs and WACs and internal agency policies.
- Partner with agency administrators and recommends and assists with the selection, training, direction, and evaluation of staff, establishing and monitoring standards of performance.
- Compose letters, memorandums, etc. on behalf of the CHRO.
- Coordinates Union release time requests.
Required Qualifications:
Option 1:
- Bachelor’s degree with focus on business, human resources, social or organizational behavioral sciences, or related field and
- Three (3) years of broad-based professional human resource experience that includes interpreting union contracts, advising, consulting on labor specific issues, grievance management and dispute/conflict resolution.
Option 2:
- Associate degree with focus on business, human resources, social or organizational behavioral sciences, or related field and
- Five (5) years of broad-based professional human resource experience, that includes interpreting union contracts, advising, consulting on labor specific issues, grievance management and dispute/conflict resolution.
Option 3:
- Seven (7) years of broad-based professional human resource experience that includes interpreting union contracts, advising, consulting on labor specific issues, grievance management and dispute/conflict resolution.
Competencies:
- Relationship Building: Build constructive relationships with people inside and outside the OSPI characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation, and mutual regard.
- Tact & Diplomacy: Respond to difficult, stressful, or sensitive interpersonal situations in ways that reduce or minimize potential conflict and maintains good working relationships among internal and external customers.
- Communication Effectiveness: Communicate with a high degree of professionalism and composure to convey clear, timely, persuasive messages that positively influence the thoughts and actions of others.
- Analysis and Connection: ability to glean information, pay attention to small details, and make connections to the details that interlink to a larger picture.
- Initiative: Focus on results and desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. Proactively take appropriate action to get the job done.
- Planning: Logically integrate various ideas, intentions, and information to form effective goals, objectives, timelines, action plans, and solutions.
Demonstrates Self-Awareness: Seeks and acts on feedback and willingly admits when alternate approaches could have been more optimal.
Displays empathy in difficult situations or interactions and models open-mindedness and flexibility.
Seeks to challenge their own assumptions, encourages others to do the same, and demonstrates vulnerability.
CompensationThe annual compensation for the position is $89,250 - $105,000 per year and depends upon experience, educational background and qualifications.
Geographic differentials may be applied based on work location of successful candidate.
Washington State offers a generous benefit package including health, dental and life insurance, retirement and an optional deferred compensation program.
Please visit Health Care Authority for information regarding health benefits and the Department of Retirement Systems for retirement plan information. This is a Washington Management Position.
This position is not represented by a bargaining unit.
Application Process
Those interested in this position must apply through Careers.wa.gov. Applications must include the following documents in MS Word or PDF format:
- A letter of interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this announcement;
- A current résumé, and;
- A list of three or more professional references.
NOTE: Your resume and letter of interest must be attached to your application. Please confirm they are attached before you submit.
Please address any questions to:
Sal Salazar, Human ResourcesOffice of Superintendent of Public Instruction
600 Washington Street Southeast
Olympia, Washington 98504-7200
360-725-6278: sal.salazar@k12.wa.us
Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Office at (360) 725-6270 or (360) 725-6066, or e-mail hroffice@k12.wa.us.
New Jobs Alert Service
OSPI offers a subscription service, which regularly notifies subscribers of new OSPI employment opportunities on careers.wa.gov. Subscribers are notified via text or email alert. If you are interested in this service, then please subscribe at this location.
OSPI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from job seekers who will contribute to our diversity.
OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.
If you would like, please include your name and gender pronouns in your application, to ensure we address you appropriately throughout the application process.
Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resource consultant listed in “Application Process.”
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