Chief Human Resources Officer

Chief Human Resources Officer

Office of Administrative Hearings

Headquarters Division

NOTE: The salary for this position will be $142,512 annually.

NOTE: This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, as there are some on-site leader responsibilities. If approved to telework, the alternate worksite must be within the state of Washington.

The Opportunity:

OAH is currently looking to fill our Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) position in our Headquarters division. The CHRO is the most prominent role in the agency’s Human Resources (HR) office. It is a member of the Executive Management Team (EMT), reports directly to the Agency Director (Chief Administrative Law Judge), and is responsible for the overall management of the Office of Administrative Hearings’ (OAH) human resources functions, in support of the agency’s mission.

The CHRO contributes to the agency mission by working with the EMT, division and caseload leaders, employees, labor organizations, and other stakeholders in order to provide agency-wide leadership, strategic direction, and oversight of human resources programs and staff. This position prioritizes activities to take advantage of strengths and opportunities, mitigate threats and weaknesses, and assigns personnel and other resources to implement specific strategies and programs in support of the agency’s mission, vision, values and goals.

The CHRO provides high level oversight to the agency’s training, recruitment, onboarding, classification/compensation, and HR data integrity programs, with a strategic focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Other areas of responsibility include:

• Employee/Labor relations management
• Workforce data and planning
• Employee engagement and retention 
• Employee and organizational development
• Employee performance management and corrective action
• Personnel investigations and discipline
• HR policy development
• Reasonable accommodation
• Attendance and leave administration
• HR operations and records management
• Safety, ergonomics, and workers compensation

The CHRO leads the agency in establishing practices to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, rules, and regulations. This position advises managers in compliance with all of the above as well as in the implementation of two collective bargaining agreements between the state of Washington and Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). This position provides guidance on risk mitigation strategies related to the health and safety of employees and visitors, including making recommendations to facilities staff. The incumbent consults with the Attorney General’s Office regarding issues that may result in litigation. The incumbent represents and speaks on behalf of the agency in personnel-related legal matters.

About the Agency:

The 1981 Legislature created the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) to offer Washingtonians an independent, fair, and neutral forum to hold administrative hearings on disputed matters referred by state and local government agencies. Operating out of field offices in Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane Valley there are currently 230 employees, including 120 administrative law judges who preside over administrative hearings involving unemployment insurance benefits, child support, food assistance, medical benefits, business and professional licensing, and more.

OAH conducts hearings for more than 30 agencies and 160 programs. Our referring agencies include the Employment Security Department (ESD), Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Health Care Authority (HCA), Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and others.

For more information about OAH, please visit our website at oah.wa.gov.

OAH Mission: To hear and independently resolve disputes between the public and state agencies with an impartial, quick, and easy to access process.

OAH Vision: All people of Washington can meaningfully participate in their hearing and understand the result.

OAH Values:

• Fairness and independence
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect
• Performance excellence
• Integrity

  OAH Goals:

• Performance Excellence: We deliver high quality, timely work.
• Convenience & Accessibility: We make it easy for people to do business with us.
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect: We promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect.
• Good Stewards: We are efficient, effective, and accountable.

OAH Offers:

• Work that is important and makes a difference.
• In-house training and professional development opportunities.
• Healthy work/life balance, including remote work options.
• Comprehensive benefits package.

The CHRO is responsible for the co-creation of the agency’s strategic plan and implementation of personnel strategies, policies, and programs. Sets human resource policy for the agency, reviews policy revisions in other areas to determine potential impacts. Works closely with other leadership and project management teams to strategically align personnel and allocate resources to accomplish key objectives. Works closely with the Chief Financial Officer on biennial budget for agency-wide staffing model. 

Directs the agency’s Human Resources office. Maintains and shares knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, Washington Administrative Code, federal and state employment and anti-discrimination laws, gubernatorial directives and executive orders, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources. Establishes and communicates expectations to direct reports, sets priorities, clarifies roles and responsibilities, and limits for independent decision-making. Provides training, coaching, mentoring and accountability to HR staff in a professional setting to ensure they meet performance expectations. 

• Monitors and oversees the Recruitment and Data Integrity Manager, responsible for implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruitment and onboarding; manages HR data integrity procedures, classification and compensation procedures, and reports.
• Monitors and oversees the Training & Development Coordinator and Training Program Steering Committee, working with the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) committee in the implementation of training and development strategies that enhance employee learning and performance and reduce risk.
• Provides general direction to Senior HR Consultants assigned to work with management and employees in need of general guidance regarding personnel and organizational matters for both represented and non-represented staff.
• Provides general direction to HR Consultant responsible for appointment letters, HR data entry, personnel records management, and payroll coordination. 

Uses data to plan, lead, direct, develop, coordinate and/or execute strategies and human resource programs in support of the agency mission and strategic plan. Ensures compliance with employment laws, rules, collective bargaining agreements (CBA) and best practices. 

Ensures Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is incorporated into HR functional areas, works closely with the agency’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager, and participates in statewide and agency workgroups

• Promotes a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and respect, and fosters constructive resolution of conflicts.
• Supports the agency’s Pro-Equity Anti-Racism (PEAR) plan. 

Functions as a strategic business advisor and expert consultant to the Chief ALJ and EMT on key HR-related issues such as disciplinary actions, disability separations, layoffs and handling other complex personnel issues.

Works closely with the Deputy Chief ALJ for Strategy & Performance to develop, recommend, and/or implement proactive strategies to support the workforce in navigating organizational change.

• Leads and communicates change management initiatives. 
• Encourages, enables and empowers innovation, input, feedback and collaboration across organizational units. 

Manages the agency labor relations program, promoting productive working relationships while maintaining the agency’s business interests. Ensures notice is provided to Unions on mandatory subjects of bargaining. 

• Negotiates biennial CBA for Administrative Law Judges represented under their own contract with the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), under the leadership of OFM-State HR Labor Relations, and in conjunction with the Deputy Chief ALJ for Operations. 
• Maintains knowledge of WFSE General Government collective bargaining agreement, ensures that OAH provides input or feedback to OFM-State HR Labor Relations for negotiations as appropriate.

Represents OAH’s interests in grievances and labor relations matters, lawsuits, Personnel Resources Board appeals, Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) proceedings, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) mediations, investigations, and other proceedings related to personnel matters, including responding to discovery requests and participating in depositions. 

Synthesizes and analyzes information and data, prepares reports and communication for internal and external stakeholders, implements avenues for employees to provide feedback. Presents information in a variety of methods, including delivering trainings or presentations to large and small groups on HR-related topics. Develops key messages and carefully plans communications to effectively deliver messages to appropriate audience(s). 

Identifies HR risk areas and develops mitigation strategies to address, working closely and in consultation with the agency Risk Manager.

Required education and/or experience include all of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree with focus on business management, human resources, political science, public relations, public administration, social or organizational behavioral sciences, or related field. (4 years of relevant experience and/or education can be substituted for degree.)
• At least five (5) years of senior level human resources, labor relations, or management experience, which includes:
  • Demonstrated knowledge of public policy, employment law procedures, operations management, investigatory and disciplinary processes, and advising and communicating with supervisors and managers on complex personnel issues.
  • Experience making high-level decisions under conditions of volatility, complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity.
  • Excellent commitment to customer service and public service.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt communications appropriately to the audience.
  • Demonstrated experience successfully managing multiple projects and competing priorities.
  • Demonstration of strong analytical and organizational skills.
  • Demonstrated adherence to high standards of professional and ethical conduct.
• At least three (3) years’ experience in strategic planning, change management, or related leadership experience. 

Preferred education and/or experience:

• Advanced degree in human resources, public administration, business management or related field. 
• At least four (4) years of supervisory/management experience.
• At least three (3) years’ experience in labor relations that includes administering collective bargaining agreements and relationship management.
• Experience working in a legal office, court, or other adjudicatory environment. 
• Professional Certification such as:
  • PHR - Professional in Human Resources 
  • SPHR - Senior Professional in Human Resources 
  • SHRM-CP – Society for HR Management -Certified Professional
  • SHRM-SCP – Society for HR Management -Senior Certified Professional
  • Or related certification

Salary : $79,944 - $142,512