Talent HR Manager

Summary Metro Transit's Talent Acquisition team is seeking a hands-on, collaborative Summary Metro Transit's Talent Acquisition team is seeking a hands-on, collaborative Talent HR Manager with a strong passion for recruitment and workforce development. This role provides leadership to support the development and retention of a highly skilled workforce while delivering high-quality, customer-focused HR services. A strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, transparency, and employee engagement is essential. This position supports department-wide recruitment efforts and works closely with Division and Department leaders to strengthen organizational health and labor practices. Role Overview The Talent HR Manager reports to the Metro Transit Human Resource Manager II and supports the division by identifying best practices, establishing and following standard procedures, and continuously improving HR recruitment services. Success in this role requires strong interpersonal skills, the ability to build effective teams and partnerships, and the capacity to influence change and solve complex problems. In addition to managing a team of 10-15 Talent Acquisition and HR professionals, you will actively support employee relations across the division, interpret and apply employment law, and ensure HR policies and practices are followed. The goal is to provide reliable, efficient, and consistent HR services while minimizing organizational risk. Position Information This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Career Service Talent HR Manager (HR Manager I classification) position. The selection process may also be used to create an eligibility list for future Career Service (CS), Special Duty Assignment (SDA), or Term Limited Temporary (TLT) opportunities in this classification. The eligibility list may be used for up to 12 months at the discretion of the hiring authority. We welcome applications from all interested candidates, including current King County employees and the general public. Please refer to the "Supplemental Information" section of this job bulletin for the required application materials. Who May Apply This recruitment is open to King County Employees, and the general public. Job Duties Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As a Talent HR Manager, you will: HR Leadership and Recruitment Lead and manage timely, high-quality HR services for Metro Transit. Design and implement systems to recruit, develop, and retain a diverse, high-performing workforce. Oversee HR data and records management systems. Communicate complex HR concepts clearly to diverse audiences. Ensure HR practices comply with collective bargaining agreements and applicable federal, state, and local laws. Team Leadership and Development Allocate staff and resources to meet recruitment demands and workload changes. Coach, mentor, and develop direct reports; support other managers in developing their teams. Set and monitor goals for high-quality, customer-focused service. Employee Management and Workplace Culture Foster continuous learning and skill development. Promote accountability for service excellence. Create and maintain a welcoming, inclusive work environment. Provide performance feedback, manage performance issues, and handle disciplinary actions with compassion and consistency. Minimum Qualifications Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills Five (5) years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience, with an emphasis in Talent Acquisition, including at least two (2) years of experience in a recruiting senior, lead, supervisor or manager role. Demonstrated success leading and developing Talent Acquisition teams, including coaching, assigning work, providing performance feedback, setting goals, and fostering continuous improvement. Proven experience designing, implementing, and improving recruitment strategies, processes, and service delivery models using recruitment metrics and workforce data to improve hiring outcomes. Knowledge of essential HR functions, including recruitment, labor relations, classification and compensation, training, and performance management. Strong knowledge of recruitment practices in a unionized, high-volume, and complex labor environment, with the ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining excellent customer service. Ability to provide legally defensible HR guidance and build productive relationships with applicants, employees, supervisors, managers, and external partners. Strong relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders. Excellent customer service, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to handle sensitive situations professionally, fairly, and respectfully. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through inclusive leadership and equitable employment practices. Desired Qualifications Experience leading or overseeing a Talent Acquisition function in a large, complex public-sector organization, including workforce planning, recruitment strategy, and supervision of multiple employees or teams. Experience developing and delivering recruitment training, standard operating procedures (SOPs), onboarding programs, and coaching for recruiters and hiring managers. Experience partnering with executive leadership, hiring managers, HR Business Partners, labor relations, and external stakeholders to develop and implement recruitment strategies that meet organizational hiring goals. Experience managing recruitment operations in a unionized civil service environment while ensuring compliance with employment laws, policies, collective bargaining agreements, and merit system principles. Experience leading enterprise-wide Talent Acquisition initiatives, technology implementations, or business process improvements. Supplemental Information Who May Apply This recruitment is open to King County Employees, and the general public. Work Schedule This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. Work hours are comprised of a 40-hour work week within core business hours, 7:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Work Location This position follows a hybrid work schedule requiring a minimum of 3 days per week onsite at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104, to support team collaboration, coaching, and in-person leadership presence. Consistent with King County's hybrid work policy. Remote workdays may be adjusted based on operational or business needs. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. Union Membership: This position is not represented by a union. Class Code: 117401/ Human Resources Manager I King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here . King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation. Benefits King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs: Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan Transportation program and ORCA transit pass 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays Generous vacation and paid sick leave Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves Flexible Spending Account Wellness programs Onsite activity centers Employee Giving Program Employee assistance programs Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position Training and career development programs For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page. This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass. For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting. 01 Yes No 02 Less than 5 years 5 years to less than 7 years 7 years to less than 10 years 10 years or more 03 None Less than 2 years 2 years to less than 5 years 5 years to less than 10 years 10 years or more 04 Recruitment, hiring and retention Classification and compensation Interpreting and applying employment laws, policies and procedures Training and development Performance management Labor relations None of the above 05 Yes No 06 1 - 5 6 - 10 11 - 19 20+ 07 Manager Supervisor Business Partner Recruiter Analyst Generalist Associate / Assistant / Coordinator Not applicable 08 a. Bus Operations Division b. Capital Division c. Employee Services Division d. Facilities Division e. Finance & Administration Division f. General Manager's Office g. Marine Division h. Mobility Division i. Rail Division (including Streetcar) j. Safety, Security & Quality Assurance k. Vehicle Maintenance l. I do not know which Division my relative works in at Metro Transit m. I do not have a relative that works for King County Metro 09 If you have a relative(s) who works for King County Metro Transit, please provide the employee's name, position, and your relationship. Note: A relative is defined as a parent, child, sibling, spouse or domestic partner, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, grandparent, grandchild, in‑laws, children, or relatives of a domestic partner. If you do not have a relative employed by King County Metro, please indicate N/A. 10 Yes No 11 Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one. No 12 If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff 13 Yes No Required Question #J-18808-Ljbffr King County, WA