Interim HR Senior Advisor (Out-of-Class or Temporary)

The City of Seattle Finance and Administrative Services Department (FAS) is seeking a dynamic and accomplished Senior HR Generalist for the position of Interim HR Senior Advisor. This position will be a utility player and contribute deep HR generalist knowledge to a small but mighty HR team that provides superior customer service and strategic solutions to support divisional leadership and employees.

**This position is temporary non-benefit eligible (for candidates external to the City) or Out of Class (for employees internal to the City) and is expected to last up to six months.**

In this role you will report to the HR Division Director providing direct operational and strategic support. You will partner closely with HR team members specializing in employee and labor relations accommodations leaves employee development and safety. You will work closely with key customers and stakeholders within the department to develop and deliver customized HR solutions and programming to fulfill key HR needs.

In support of department labor relations you will support and maintain positive relationships with the departments labor partners. FAS has a large and diverse group of labor partners and a wide-ranging span from office professionals to auto mechanics to animal control officers. The position will be a primary point of contact between management and labor and offer excellent customer service proactive communications and early resolution on budding issues. The position will also advocate for management interests and defend grievances as necessary.

You will serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) that team members will consult with on complex investigations employee relations matters and risk management. You will be a consultant and advisor to management on workforce complaints mediation of disputes the performance management process and employee development. At times you will be asked to conduct complex investigations and advise on resolutions of complex matters.

You will own special HR projects with department wide impact such as helping to oversee the annual performance review process or developing HR related training and learning opportunities for employees and managers.

You will be expected to be familiar with labor and employment laws including federal and state leave laws. The position will also provide guidance and oversee staff that manages employee leave of absence policies and its equitable application.

In all aspects of this position you will advocate for equity and will promote an FAS workplace culture that emphasizes customer service accountability respect and kindness and equity.

ABOUT US
The Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) is often the publics first interaction with the City of Seattle operating as a customer-focused front door that assists with everything from paying utilities or reporting a pothole to requesting public information or even adopting a new pet.

Leadership

• Collaborate closely as a member of the HR team.
• Develop strong relationships with FAS leadership and understand business needs for 10 distinct lines of business.
• Provide advice and counsel to management and team members on complex HR matters.

Employee and Labor Relations

• Manage close partnerships with labor partners to resolve complex labor matters and assist with hosting the Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC). Promote and develop new tools to ensure equity and race and social justice work is incorporated into all aspects of the teams work.
• Represent managements interest with labor partners defend grievances and establish and maintain workgroup/labor monitoring committees as necessary.
• Advise management through complex personnel matters develop policies and procedures centered on equity and provide firm and fair guidance through all steps of the performance management process.
• Draft written responses and organize documentation for responses to EEOC matters claims against the Department and lawsuits.

Accommodations and Leave Management

• Serve as backup and provide support for accommodations and leave management work as needed.

Employee Development

• Partner with the Race and Social Justice Change Team to identify and create training opportunities.
• Help employees develop tools to succeed and thrive through training plans and identification of knowledge/skills gaps.
• Deliver training and new employee orientations to promote FAS respectful and equitable work culture.

HR Systems

• Maximize use of HR reporting and tracking systems to address inequities and produce efficiencies.
• Implement process improvements across the HR work unit.
• Ensure compliance with all regulations.

Customer Service

• Develop strong relationships with FAS leadership to understand business needs.
• Work with competing demands difficult timelines and a large volume of work.
• Help lead change in a supportive way and work towards buy-in from stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:
A successful candidate will have at least six (6) years of human resources experience in employee and/or labor relations leave management accommodations or a related field.

The candidate will have experience partnering directly with senior leaders and stakeholders on complex human resources issues.

(A combination of education and/or training and/or experience that provides an equivalent background required tosuccessfully perform the work will be considered.)

Desired Qualifications:
The successful candidate will:

• Be a strong advocate of equity.
• Have the creative ability to conduct HR work with an emphasis on race and social justice.
• Have the ability to develop employee labor and HR strategies to support FAS very diverse lines of business.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with coworkers department leadership Race and Social Justice change team labor leaders and employeegroups.
• HavethedrivetodevelopandimplementinnovativeHRsolutions.

The most competitive candidates will:

• Possessexcellentoralandwrittenandcommunicationproblem-solvingandanalyticalskills.
• Demonstrate sound judgment and initiative.
• Exercise tact diplomacy and patience in dealing with sensitive and complex issues and employees.
• Be a strong team player and partner well with human resource staff and managers.
• HaveabroadHRexperience.
• Have experience leading and successfully delivering on projects.
• Have experience or education in employment law and legal issues.
• Maintain confidentiality of human resource issues and employee situations.
• Be highly organized detail oriented and able to effectively multi-task.

This position is classified as Strategic Advisor 2 Exempt and is exempt from Civil Service and FLSA guidelines. The full range for this position is $54.60 - $81.93 hourly.

Key Recruitment Dates:
Please note the following dates for remote interviews for selected candidates.

• Virtual interviews: Tuesday Sept. 30 2025

Application Process

Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. You must submit the following items to be considered for this position no later than 4:00pm Pacific Time on the scheduled closed date.

1. Completed NEOGOV online application.
2. Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
3. Current resume indicating relevant experience knowledge skills and education.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state see my resume or see my personnel file are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE: This job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Work Schedule: Most work will fall within a regular business week. This position may require conducting some duties as necessary off-hours including evenings and weekends. This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Employees are currently expected to work in-office a minimum of three days a week. Individual schedules will be based on agreement between the employee and their supervisor.

Background Check:Applicants must successfully pass a background check which will be conducted in accordance with Seattles 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.

Why work at the City of Seattle The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior our personal commitments and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures unlearn the way things have always been done and provide equitable processes and services.

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 Citys website at: May Apply: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 regarding this bulletin or employment at Finance and Administrative Services please send an email to . FAS promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. If accommodations are needed during the selection process please contact us.

CANDIDATE NOTIFICATION:

Many important notifications including interview or test invitations result notices and status updates will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add to your email address book and to the list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail. Candidates can also check for notifications by logging into and viewing their profile inbox which saves a copy of all emailed notices. It is the applicants responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence.