Senior Human Resources Business Partner (Strategic Advisor 1, Gen Govt)

Full Job Description

About Seattle Center:

Seattle Center is where community comes together—an iconic, inclusive destination that delights and inspires the human spirit.

Seattle Center is the region's premier civic, arts and family gathering place in the core of our city and region, home to more than 30 arts, cultural, and entertainment organizations, family attractions, and tourist amenities.

Seattle Center expanded its role recently beyond our well-known 74-acre campus, to serve as the City’s lead for operating Seattle’s new Waterfront Park, a series of new public spaces on Seattle’s downtown waterfront between Pioneer Square and the Seattle Aquarium.

As a department of the City of Seattle, Seattle Center contributes to the quality of life for Seattle residents—and the region's economy and image as its top visitor destination.

About this position:

Are you people-centered? A big-picture thinker? Motivated by meaningful impact and energized by collaborative, creative work? Seattle Center is seeking an experienced Senior Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) to join our small but mighty team of HR visionaries.

This role focuses primarily on employee and labor relations, while also providing broad HR consultation across policy, staffing, training and performance management. You will serve as a strategic thought-partner to the HR Manager and step in as needed during their absence.

We are committed to equitable policies and practices. This position requires a relational approach, openness to learning, and the ability to apply race and social justice principles to all work.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

Employee & Labor Relations

• Serve as the primary HR consultant and advisor for labor and employee relations matters.
• Provide results-oriented resolutions that prioritize those harmed and restore functional workgroups.
• Mediate disputes and facilitate conflict-resolution discussions.
• Conduct thorough, objective investigations and prepare clear reports.
• Advise managers on performance management, disciplinary actions, and performance improvement plans.
• Participate in grievance responses and settlement analyses.
• Ensure consistent interpretation and application of Collective Bargaining Agreements.
• Attend Labor Management Committee and Joint Labor Management Committee meetings.

HR Consultation & Advisory Support

• Build trust with managers, employees, and labor partners while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
• Educate leaders on HR policies, legal requirements, and best practices.
• Provide guidance that integrates fairness, equity, compassion, and business needs.
• Support department-wide strategies to address performance or disciplinary issues.
• Collaborate with the HR Manager and agency leadership as a strategic thought partner.

Training, Development & Organizational Effectiveness

• Work with the Organizational Development team member to assess training needs and deliver 1:1 or group training sessions.
• Review and analyze business data to identify trends and recommend improvements to employee experience, performance, and retention.
• Lead or participate in projects to create, revise, or improve HR policies, procedures, and practices.
• Work collaboratively across the organization to enhance customer service and HR effectiveness.

General HR Support

As part of a small, flexible team, this role may also advise on:

• Recruitment, selection, hiring, onboarding and offboarding
• Leave and ADA management
• Benefits
• Training and development initiatives

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

A demonstrated deep technical knowledge and expertise in Human Resources, particularly in providing coaching, guidance, and direction to executives, managers and line-level staff will be essential in this role.

A commitment to listening, creating space for diverse perspectives, and the pursuit of inclusive and just outcomes must be at the center of your professional practice.

Your strong, hands-on work ethic and desire to achieve excellence will be essential. Specifically, you'll be prepared to take on this role if you have experience in:

• Professional communication skills, verbal and in writing, with a diverse employee base, as well as with all levels of staff and management
• Exercising professional judgment with sensitive and confidential issues
• Effectively managing conflict while maintaining positive working relationships
• Experience in multiple HR disciplines, including performance management, policy development, tracking trends and training
• Providing coaching and consultative services to executives and management
• Handling employee and labor relations cases in a complex organization, with an eye on the big picture

You will be most successful in this role with a combination of the following:

A commitment to:

• Focusing your work through an equity lens and with the customers’ service needs top of mind

• Ensuring the City’s treatment of employees is fair, respectful, and consistent with core business values and expectations of the department

• Maintaining relationships, even when the issue at hand is highly complex and filled with strong emotions

• Having a high level of attention to detail

• Innovation and service excellence

The ability to:

• De-escalate highly complex matters

• Know when to engage the right staff to create a plan

• Communicate proactively when issues arise

• Work collaboratively in a team environment, be flexible

• Be accountable, take action, and exercise independent and critical thinking

• Demonstrate strong communication and collaboration skills

• Exercise tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality

• Articulate your recommendations and be willing to adjust as more information is made available

• Use your strong working knowledge of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and apply contractual provisions and Personnel Rules (or HR policies) to individual matters and operational decisions
  
  

Experience in:

• A municipal or other public sector setting, particularly in a human resources role

• Providing HR Generalist support

• Working collaboratively as a part of and across a team

• Navigating an HRIS system, particularly Workday

• Proactively managing multiple competing priorities with tight deadlines

• Identifying inefficiencies and proposing and implementing process improvements

• Labor relations, employee relations and organizational design

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• This work is performed in an office environment.

• This position offers flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Employees will be expected to be in-office three times a week. Individual schedules will be based on agreement between the employee and their supervisor.

Additional Information

This position reports to the Human Resources Manager and is classified as a Strategic Advisor 1, Gen Govt. It is exempt from FLSA (not eligible for overtime).

The full pay range for this position is $51.88 - $77.82 per hour. The salary range for this individual position has been identified as $51.88-$63.43 hourly. These hourly rates are reflective of the 2026 salary schedule.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Please submit your application no later than 4:00 pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. To be considered for this position, in addition to completing your application fully, please:

• Provide thoughtful and accurate responses to all supplemental questions
• Attach a PDF of your cover letter and current resume which illustrates your related skills, experience, and abilities

IMPORTANT NOTE: To align with our commitment to equity and the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative, Seattle Center is collecting cover letters and resumes without personal identifiers to achieve a blind screening process.

This position is open to all applicants that demonstrate alignment with the skills and experience described above. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences.

Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy.

The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

If you have questions, please contact Michelle Holmes at: michelle.holmes@seattle.gov.

Background Check - Applicants must successfully pass a background check, which will be conducted in accordance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17.

Applicants will be given a chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information of good conduct and rehabilitation.

Individuals selected to fill this position may be eligible to receive Language Premium Pay (SMC 4.20.360), which provides a $200.00 monthly stipend to qualified bilingual employees who are properly evaluated and assigned to provide direct communication in-language, interpretation, or translation services to the public on behalf of the City of Seattle.

We encourage you to review the City of Seattle’s Application and Interviewing Tips Guide, which may be used as a resource as you prepare to apply and interview for positions with the City of Seattle.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Why work at the City?

At the City of Seattle, public service is more than a job; it’s a chance to shape the future and make a meaningful difference in the lives of everyone who works, lives, or plays in our city.

With 12,000 employees across 40+ departments and 1,100 job titles, we are united by a common purpose: to create a Seattle that is vibrant and welcoming for all.

Whatever your role, you’ll help power a forward-looking city that leads by example — inclusive, innovative, equitable, and community-focused – while joining a diverse team committed to solving challenges and making a lasting impact together.

Join us in building a Seattle where everyone thrives!