Senior Human Resources Consultant

Job Summary

The City of Bellevue’s Human Resources (HR) Department is “committed to being a strategic partner by providing outstanding customer service and stewardship of resources in attracting and retaining a high-performance, diverse, workforce in support of the changing needs of the organization.”   In the HR Department, you’ll be a part of an engaged, enthusiastic team, dedicated to providing exceptional services to the city’s managers and employees, and to job seekers and external partners.  Bellevue employees embrace the values of innovation, integrity, stewardship, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and take pride in the work they do.  The City Council’s vision is that Bellevue welcomes the world, our diversity is our strength, we embrace the future while respecting our past.

We are seeking an experienced Senior HR Consultant who will serve as a strategic advisor to assigned departments, staff, and other customers on HR matters and help further city initiatives and goals.  The Senior HR Consultant will be one of three generalists providing consultative support to over 10 departments and 1200 employees.  The position will collaborate with stakeholders to administer, apply, and integrate citywide approaches and policies to solve customer needs.  The Senior HR Consultant will manage employee relations that include labor relations issues (e.g., investigations, grievances), leave management, workforce planning, performance management, employee engagement, inclusion, and retention, and organizational training and development.  This position will also provide backup support to recruitment and hiring processes as needed.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate must have a strong human resources expertise, experience advising managers on employment issues, has a knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations used to ensure that compliance and best practices are achieved.  It is important that the individual has a good understanding of HR business process systems, has great collaborative skills to build positive relationships with multi-disciplinary teams/departments, and be able to engage our customers in a way that provides the level of consultation needed to educate, inform, resolve, partner and/or provide the services or products needed/requested.  We are looking for a dynamic, highly motivated individual with great interpersonal skills, technical knowledge, and proven experience in the HR field, who wants to join a future-focused, diversity and equity driven, high performing City team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• HR Consulting – Provide human resources support to department management and employees as a strategic business partner. Through a collaborative approach, work with others in the human resources department to address organizational needs, either leading or advising on communications, training, team building, needs assessments, or other organizational development focused activities to proactively address departmental needs. Familiar with using organizational data to aid leadership in strategic direction and identification of opportunities to increase overall performance.
• Employee & Labor Relations – Serve as an advisor to managers on handling performance or disciplinary issues, complaints and grievances, inappropriate behavior, and other aspects of employee issues that may arise. Manages complex employee relations issues from coaching up to  termination. Interpret policies and procedures and provisions in the collective bargaining agreements to ensure the consistent application, ensuring precedence and past practice are taken into consideration. Develops and maintains respectful labor relations.
• Workplace Investigations – Oversee external or conduct internal investigations as required, ensuring all parties involved are notified of the pending investigation, all parties are interviewed, a summary of findings is prepared, an action plan identified, recommended, and implemented, and all key players are provided a written summary of the findings or outcome. Maintain documentation of investigation in compliance with records retention guidelines. 
• Leave Management & Accommodations – Oversee,  monitor, and implement employment leave programs, such as Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Washington State Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) program, Family Care Act (FCA), unpaid leave, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) including managing the  interactive process.  Provide technical guidance to managers and employees on complex leave and accommodation scenarios. 
• COVID-19 Administration – Serve as primary point of contact for assigned departments and staff on COVID-19 situations and provide guidance on illness and exposure cases.  Monitor vaccine verifications and tracking and conduct interactive dialogues for medical or religious accommodation requests.
• Exit Interviews – Conduct exit interviews, notify appropriate Human Resources staff of employee separations, and follow up with various departments as needed depending upon outcome of the exit interview.
• Recruitment & Staffing – Serve as a backup to the recruiting and hiring process.  Provide consultative support as needed to departments on workplace staffing strategies involving restructures/reorganizations, creation of new positions, and/or realignment of existing positions, and hiring for equity.
• Special Projects and Other Duties as Assigned – Coordinate and oversee special long-term and short-term projects as required and/or any other duties as assigned to further advance city initiatives and programs including those related to performance management, employee engagement, workplace culture, and organizational development.

 
Supervision Received and Exercised:

• Works under the general supervision of the HR Manager.
• No formal supervisory responsibilities but may act as lead to other staff and given responsibility for various HR related programs

Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in human resources, psychology, communications, business, public administration or related field.
• Five or more years of professional related experience in human resources in a generalist capacity with demonstrated experience and expertise in employee and labor relations, performance management, workplace investigations, leave management, employee engagement and development, workplace planning and staffing.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be taken into consideration.
• Relevant education credentials including HR certifications (IPMA-HR, HRCI, or SHRM) highly desired but not required.

 
Job Knowledge – Functional/Technical Skills 

• Considerable knowledge of employment laws and the ability to apply federal, state, and local laws and internal policies, procedures, and contracts to all HR matters, communications and services.
• Knowledge of how to assess, coach, investigate and write employee relation reports; conduct investigations and prepare written findings; document performance issues and prepare responses to grievances, etc. 
• Knowledge of federal and state leave laws and leave administration practices.  
• Knowledge of and skill in developing and administering talent management models -- Recruitment & Staffing, Job Analysis, Develop/Deliver Assessment Services - Testing/ Interviewing/Evaluating competencies, administering selection processes, ensuring compliance with policy and regulations.  Experienced in all facets of the recruitment and selection process. 
• Proficient in the Microsoft Suite - Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.  Must be comfortable and efficient with retrieving data from HRIS systems.

Problem Solving/Judgment/Decision Making

• Skill in compiling and analyzing data/information and formulating recommendations and reports. Successful experience researching moderately complex issues and developing recommended action.   
• Demonstrated ability to apply organizational development principles and practices to work performed.
• Ability to analyze statistical data with accuracy and efficiency.
• Ability to see and consider the “big picture” before coming to a conclusion and making a recommendation on a course of action that has impact on a service, product or business system.
• Ability to investigate, problem solve and reach conclusions using objective, unbiased approaches and methods.  
• Ability to analyze and interpret laws, regulations, policies and convey the information to customers as an HR business consultant to assist them in accomplishing their strategic and operational goals and objectives.
• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information.

Organization and Planning Skills

• Skill in organizing work/assignments efficiently and consistently producing quality work and accuracy of information/data provided. Skill in planning and delivering products and services efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to follow-through on assignments/projects, keeping stakeholders informed, meeting timelines, and project expectations. 
• Ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines in a fast-paced work environment. 
• Ability to plan, organize and facilitate meetings.

Oral & Written Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Skill in preparing and writing reports involving research, comparative analysis, trending data, investigatory findings and compiling the information in a written report and/or presentation.  
• Ability to express ideas and exchange information clearly and persuasively, both in writing and verbally.
• Exceptional interpersonal and collaborative skills.   Demonstrated ability to build and sustain trust-based relationships, both individually and collectively over time with colleagues and customers.
• Skill in collaborating with diverse customers to form partnerships to achieve common objectives.  Ability to interact with employees at all levels of the organization in a professional and diplomatic manner.
• Excellent customer service skills, including the ability to listen and assess the needs of the customer. Proven skills in listening to customer needs and communicating accurate information concerning process, policies and procedures.
• Skill in working through conflict to provide a remedy that helps to foster a better understanding of expectations with individuals and/or groups, and that acknowledges the parties’ interests and concerns.
• Ability to work effectively on cross-functional teams.   

Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 

• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 20 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.

 
For further information about this position, please contact Rebecca Su via email at rsu@bellevuewa.gov or at 425-452-6817.  For any technical difficulties with your application, please contact the NEOGOV support line at 855-524-5627.
 

At the City of Bellevue, you'll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest and advancing the  community vision.  The five essential and enduring principles that guide our individual actions, our interactions, and our decision making in the City of Bellevue organization is:  exceptional public service, stewardship, committee to employees, integrity, and innovation.   You'll work in an environment that is innovative, collaborative,  future focused, and committed to excellence.  Bellevue welcomes the world.  Our diversity is our strength.  We embrace the future while respecting our past.  It's what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.
 
 Have we peaked your interest yet?  Come join our team!  All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, genetic information, disability age, veteran status, or any other protected status.  Persons needing assistance with the application process may call the Human Resources Office at 425-452-6838.
 
 Bellevue is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to the health and safety of its employees.  The work associated with this position may be performed remotely, in compliance with the Governor's Safe Start guidance and the department's telework agreement.   Employees reporting to work onsite need to follow safety precautions and procedures as required by the city.
 
 ** Please be sure to check your junk folder for any messages that may be sent to you about this recruitment.**