The Opportunity:
The Washington State Department of Transportation's Northwest Region (NWR) Office is looking for a skilled Human Resources professional to join our dynamic HR team.  We offer a fast paced, challenging work environment, with the opportunity to contribute, grow and learn. This position will provide generalist support to Senior Human Resources Consultant(s) and assigned client groups.  Duties will include, but are not limited to, benefits administration, retirement administration, employee relations, compensation, performance management, reasonable accommodation, and leave administration. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to solidify their foundational knowledge in HR to become a full-spectrum professional.
 
The Northwest Region Human Resources Office supports approximately 1,400 employees in Western Washington.  Besides being an initial point of contact the incumbent independently responds to routine inquiries from employees and managers and ensures that human resources policies and procedures are implemented efficiently. The top candidate must be prepared to maintain acute attention to detail through a highly repetitive and often substantial daily workload. Additionally, the incumbent must possess the ability to quickly build, develop and maintain positive working relationships with diverse customer groups. You will use professional experience in human resources practices, policies and procedures and collective bargaining agreements to respond to inquiries, educate staff and communicate updates and changes.
 
At WSDOT, we value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. To learn more, please watch the following video: Why WSDOT?

Daily work requires analysis of a variety of policies and rules, and development of strategies to resolve problems consistent with established standards.  In carrying out this requirement, this position will, in part, perform the following work:
 

• Respond to questions and inquiries related to issues such as employment, benefits, compensation, contract provisions and leave.
• Prepare and process a variety of personnel actions relating to employment, benefits, compensation, contract provisions, and leave.
• Coordinate new employee paperwork and conduct new hire orientation.
• Work with HR team as one of the primary contacts at the HR front desk and main NWR HR phone line.
• Provide assistance and guidance on FMLA/ADA/Shared Leave requests.
• Explain pertinent policies, procedures, and guidelines in person, via telephone or by email.
• Create and maintain accurate and complete confidential employee personnel files and records.
• Prepare and process forms for position establishments, reallocations, and data changes.
• Assist with performance appraisals and the performance appraisal system, including, but not limited to; providing training, answering questions, and ensuring all employee reviews are completed on time.
• Respond professionally to inquiries regarding training, set up classes, register attendees, and input class and self-study rosters into the training database (Learning Management System (LMS)).
• Assist with special projects and ad-hoc reports, including data research and analysis, and data clean-up.
• Other duties as assigned.

• A Bachelor's degree with focus on human resources, social or organizational behavioral sciences, business or related field or any combination of training, education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree with major course work in human resources, or a closely related field OR two or more years' experience as a HR professional.
• 1 year experience applying general principles and practices in one or more areas of a human resource function such as: recruitment, compensation, benefits, leave of absence, employee/labor relations, training, or performance management.
• Professional experience communicating effectively in written and oral forms. Basic understanding of HRIS systems.
• 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.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain consistent and regular attendance, in order to meet customer needs and support pertinent deadlines.