WMS Specialist

Full Job Description

WMS Specialist

Full Time | Permanent

Location: Headquarters | WMS Band 2

Salary Range: $111,312 - $123,816 Annually

This is a telework/hybrid position. The candidate of choice may work from anywhere within the state of Washington with a reliable internet connection. Travel may be required.

The Department of Corrections (DOC) is seeking a skilled and strategic WMS Specialist to join our Human Resources Classification and Compensation Unit.

This role serves as the agency’s professional expert for Washington Management Service (WMS) positions, providing leadership, analysis, and consultation to ensure positions are accurately classified, competitively compensated, and compliant with state and federal requirements.

In this role, you will independently plan, prioritize, and deliver classification, compensation, and labor relations services that directly impact DOC’s leadership workforce.

The decisions made in this position have both intra- and interagency impact and help shape how DOC structures, supports, and compensates its management teams.

You will work closely with executive leadership, managers, and human resources partners to ensure consistency, equity, and compliance across all WMS positions.

The WMS Specialist provides expert guidance on the interpretation and application of collective bargaining agreements, agency policies, Civil Service Rules, Fair Labor Standards Act requirements, Equal Employment Opportunity considerations, and established practices.

You will be responsible for developing and evaluating position descriptions, conducting classification and compensation analyses, and ensuring positions are properly allocated and appropriately compensated.

This position also plans and conducts agency-wide classification and compensation studies and administers DOC’s WMS classification and compensation programs, services, and processes.

Through this work, you will help ensure DOC maintains a strong, compliant, and well-structured leadership workforce that supports the agency’s mission of improving public safety by positively changing lives.

The WMS Specialist will provide HR guidance as well as labor relations services to all levels of the agency to include local HR offices through the Executive leadership of the department.

If you are a detail-driven, analytical HR professional who enjoys navigating complex employment frameworks and partnering with leadership to build a strong organization, we encourage you to apply!

A completed application packet will include:

Requirements

We are looking for teammates who share our vision of public service, committed to an equitable and inclusive culture that fosters and inspires excellence, while promoting innovation, engagement, and safety, leading to better outcomes for our incarcerated population, our agency, and our community.

As a WMS Specialist, some of your duties will include:

• Managing Statewide WMS structure and program and serving as the Expert for the Classification and Compensation team with regards to WMS
• Managing Workforce Development Data
• Providing oversight and serving on WMS Review Committees
• Managing, leading, implementing, or directing Classification and Compensation CBA/law/rule changes for DOC related to WMS position management
• Participating as a member of the Classification and Compensation team
• Collaborating, consulting, advising and providing professional level support to management, human resources staff, supervisors and other stakeholders regarding day-to-day and long-term complex labor relations and human resource issues having intra and interagency impact.
• Serving as the Department representative and/or Secretary designed in multiple arenas including pre-arbitration review meetings (PARMs)/mediation, grievance arbitration hearings, Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) hearings, Unfair Labor Practices (ULP), Contract Negotiations, Demands to Bargain, Personnel Resources Board and Labor/Management Communication Committees (LMCC), disciplinary and disability separations

Managing and administering comprehensive HR programs in accordance with agency policy, WACs, CBA, and laws.

Program areas include but are not limited to: classification and compensation; recruitment, screening and selection; interpretation of rules, regulations, state and federal laws; employee relations; labor relations; leave programs; diversity; and corrective/disciplinary actions

• Ensuring WMS employee investigations are conducted in accordance with Just Cause Standards
• Remaining current and knowledgeable regarding employment laws and regulations, case law, WAC Chapter 357, DOC policies, and arbitration and PERC decisions and union agreements
• Preparing and presenting human resources and labor-related training
• Analyzing, processing and coordinating responses to requests for information and public disclosure requests
• Providing local and area Human Resources staff with advice, guidance, direction, leadership and assistance on all matters related to Human Resources and labor relations, policy guidance and interpretations and applicable laws.
• Participating on teams, committees and work groups and ensures the involvement of HR staff members in same

Qualifications

We are evolving from degree/years of experience to skills-based qualifications. Experience for required qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment and educational experience. See below for how you may qualify.

What we need (required qualifications):

Education to experience equivalency (experience may be gained concurrently):

In addition to the above education and experience, the below the knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviors (KSAB’s) are required:

Any combination of education and experience that meets the knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviors (KSAB’s) listed below. Typical ways KSAB’s are obtained but are not limited to, are relevant degrees, training, coursework and work experience relevant to the assignment.

What will make your application stand out (preferred qualifications):

Additional Information

Vision: Working together for safer communities.

Mission: Improving public safety by positively changing lives.

Our Commitment: To operate a safe and humane corrections system and partner with others to transform lives for a better Washington.

DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• This recruitment may be utilized to fill more than one position.

Please include a minimum of three (3) professional references with your application.

A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies.

If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.**Please note: Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.

• A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire. 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 position.
• Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.

We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws.

A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration.

• Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire.

When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.

Foreign equivalent degrees awarded outside the United States must have a credential evaluation report attached to your application.

You may request the required evaluation/documentation from www.wes.org and www.aice-eval.org. Until this documentation is provided, you will not be selected to move forward in the hiring process.

DOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements for the federal employment eligibility verification form I-9.

The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form.

https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

• DOC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Telework Details

This position may be allocated for telework.

Work may be performed from your home or another offsite location within the state of Washington using a reliable internet or cellular hotspot service at that time.

Employees are expected to perform assigned duties in a safe manner, to take proper care all state-issued equipment, and maintain confidentiality of all information in possession while working offsite.

Employees will be required to commute to a Department of Corrections facility or field office as business requires, to potentially include components of the onboarding process.

Some offices will have a “drop in” area available, however, a dedicated workspace within a DOC facility will not be provided.

What We Offer:

As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority.

Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation.

Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:

• Remote/telework/flexible schedules (depending on position)
• Up to 25 paid vacations days a year
• 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
• 12 paid holidays a year
• Generous retirement plan
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Dependent Care Assistance
• Deferred Compensation and so much more!

PERS: State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email mackenzie.conley@doc1.wa.gov or call us at 509-630-9160. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.