Senior Human Resource Analyst
King County
FreshPosted Feb 6
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Posted: February 6, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Human Resource Consultant 4 (In-Training)
State of Washington
Dept. of Transportation
Location
Washington, 98504
Salary
$67,992 - $100,980
per year
Type
Full Time
More Education & Training jobs →Closes
February 16, 2026More State jobs →
SES Pay Grade
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
Job Description
Summary
This job involves advising managers and employees on tricky workplace issues like conflicts, performance problems, and labor rules in the Washington State Department of Transportation's Olympic Region.
You'll handle sensitive investigations, guide disciplinary actions, and ensure everything follows laws and agreements to keep the team running smoothly.
It's a great fit for someone with strong people skills, good judgment under pressure, and experience in HR who enjoys solving complex problems in a big organization.
Key Requirements
- Expert knowledge of labor relations, employee relations, and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs)
- Ability to interpret civil service rules, state and federal employment laws
- Experience conducting complex investigations into harassment, retaliation, and Title VII complaints
- Skills in facilitating conflict resolution, performance management, and disciplinary processes
- Proficiency in preparing reports, corrective action letters, grievance responses, and performance improvement plans
- Strong advisory and training abilities for supervisors on HR best practices
- Excellent judgment, discretion, and initiative for handling high-risk, precedent-setting matters
Full Job Description
About WSDOT
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal organization with a global reputation for excellence!
Our dedicated workforce is responsible to plan, design, build, and operate an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state.
In addition to maintaining over 18,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT manages the world's longest floating bridge, executes an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds a record for the world's widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!
The Opportunity
WSDOT is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Human Resource Consultant 4 to support Olympic Region in Lacey, WA.
Reporting to the Human Resources Manager, this position serves as a trusted strategic advisor and subject matter expert for assigned business units, providing high-level consultation to leadership and staff.
This role requires sound judgment, initiative, and discretion, as the work frequently addresses complex, high-risk, and precedent-setting HR matters.
The Human Resource Consultant 4 manages the organization’s most sensitive employee and labor relations issues and delivers expert guidance on a broad range of strategic and operational human resources topics, ensuring solutions align with organizational goals, employment laws, and best practices.
What to Expect
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Human Resource Consultant 4 will:
- Provide expert labor/employee relations consultative services to assigned management, staff, and employees.
- Administer labor relations policies, practices, and collective bargaining agreements (CBA) and independently make decisions on complex labor relations and employee relations issues with widespread impact, including providing clear interpretation of CBAs, civil service rules, and applicable state and federal laws.
- Facilitate, provide consultation, and share best practices for resolution of conflict and performance management issues.
- Research and conduct complex and sensitive investigations and prepare associated written reports, including Title VII, harassment, and retaliation complaints.
- Provide analysis and recommendations for action to the appointing authority and/or senior management—counsel supervisory staff on corrective and disciplinary actions.
- Participate in and guide the appointing authority or their designee through pre-disciplinary, disciplinary, grievance, and mediation processes.
- Prepare corrective actions, pre-disciplinary and disciplinary letters, appeal and/or grievance responses, and other related correspondence.
- Prepare mandatory bargaining notices as needed.
- Advise and consult on the development of Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) and performance evaluations. Maintain /management / investigatory files and databases.
- Provide supervisory and labor-management relations training.
- Provide coaching, feedback, and guidance on complex or unusual circumstances
Qualifications
This is a Human Resource Consultant 4 position.
However, the hiring manager reserves the right to fill the position at a lower level in the classification series based on candidate qualifications, providing an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal “in-training” plan.
To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:
- Advanced HR Consultation & Employee Relations: Progressive experience in a broad-based human resources role providing independent consultation and guidance to managers and employees on complex and sensitive matters related to employee relations, labor relations, performance management, recruitment, retention, and workforce planning.
- Labor Relations: Demonstrated experience researching, interpreting, and applying employment laws (state and federal) and regulations, agency policy, and/or collective bargaining agreements accurately and consistently.
- Classification, Compensation & Compliance: Demonstrated experience analyzing job classifications and compensation, including evaluating position duties, scope, and impact; advising on classification and supporting establishments, reallocations, and in-training positions in accordance with policies, civil service rules, and collective bargaining agreements.
- Workplace Investigations & Risk Management: Proficient in conducting sensitive and confidential workplace investigations, including complaints regarding performance, harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation.
Leadership & Professional Judgment: Prior experience supervising, leading, or mentoring staff, including responsibilities such as performance management, workload distribution, training, and/or development.
Experience in exercising independent judgment in resolving issues with significant operational, legal, and/or organizational impact, including matters that may set precedent or involve elevated risk.
Communication, Analysis & Problem Solving: Strong communication skills, both in written and verbal forms, to prepare letters, reports, and deliver presentations.
Strong interpersonal skills to be able to work with managers and their employees on employee relations issues that are often sensitive and confidential in nature.
Substantive HR experience to be able to think fast and accurately make decisions based on HR best practices.
Competent research and analytical skills to be able to identify unique employment issues and solutions.
- Leave Management & Reasonable Accommodation:Demonstrated experience managing processes related to ADA accommodations, FMLA, or other protected leaves.
- Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
- Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.
It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:
- HR Professional Expertise & Credentialing: Demonstrated advanced professional HR knowledge consistent with PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP standards, including application of best practices, ethical decision-making, and strategic HR principles.
- Labor Relations & Performance Management: Demonstrated advanced knowledge of labor relations and performance management principles, including the ability to advise leadership on discipline, corrective action, and contract-informed decision-making.
- Mentorship & Professional Development: Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and support the development of professional-level HR staff through knowledge sharing, feedback, and guidance.
- HRIS & HR Technology Proficiency: Demonstrated ability to effectively use HR information systems, such as applicant tracking systems, learning management systems, and performance management platforms, to support HR operations and decision-making.
- Digital & Collaboration Tools: Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams) to produce professional documentation, analyze data, and collaborate in a remote or hybrid environment.
- Public Sector HR & Civil Service Systems: Experience as a generalist in the public sector, to include advising and interpreting civil service rules. Experience researching, interpreting, and applying union contracts.
- Union & Government Familiarity: Documented experience working in a unionized or government setting with exposure to collective bargaining agreements or structured personnel systems.
Important Notes
- This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
- This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options. Local travel may be required to perform work assignments. Some regional and statewide travel may be required to attend meetings/conferences or participate in training.
- To review the full Position Description, please follow the directions in the “Contact Us” section of this posting.
- WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
- Human Resource Consultant 4: $75,108 – $100,980
In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position.
For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements.
Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code.
This is a Human Resource Consultant 4 position.
However, the hiring manager reserves the right to fill the position at a lower level in the classification series based on candidate qualifications, providing an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal “in-training” plan.
The base salaries for each level are: Human Resource Consultant 3: $67,992 – $91,464
Why WSDOT
- Work-Life Balance – We offer flexible work schedules that allow you time for your life outside of this excellent opportunity.
- Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
- Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
- Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have a choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.
Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?
How to Apply
Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible.
In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:
- An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
- An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
- Contact details for a minimum of three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment.
Please click the "APPLY" button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.
WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency.
Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace.
All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply.
Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the recruiter listed.
Contact Us
For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter, Amanda Strebeck, at amanda.strebeck@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference Human Resource Consultant 4 #04004 in the subject line.
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