Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Manager Position

Recruitment is now open for a new position within the Human Resources Department! Apply by June 21, 2026. Under the direction of the Human Resources (HR) Director, the HR Manager plans, coordinates, and oversees the daily operations of key human resources functions to ensure efficient, equitable, and consistent services across the City. This position leads professional HR staff, administers core operational programs, ensures compliance with laws and policies, and advances the City's mission, values, and HR strategic priorities. The HR Manager exercises a high degree of professional judgment; interprets policies and labor agreements; guides City leadership on complex HR matters; and leads modernization and continuous improvement efforts aligned with departmental goals for efficient systems, engaged employees, learning and development, safe operations, and a sustainable talent pipeline.

About the City of Lake Stevens:

Lake Stevens is a vibrant and growing community with a population of over 40,000, making it the 4th largest city in the county. Lake Stevens is generally a residential community with access to numerous commercial, retail, and recreational opportunities. Of course, the crown jewel of the community is the lake itself, which boasts some of the greatest water recreational opportunities in the county. Lake Stevens is also uniquely situated, being close to the lake, ocean, and Cascade mountains, to take advantage of many outdoor activities. The Lake Stevens Schools are excellent and coupled with a city priority of parks and increased walkability, makes Lake Stevens an ideal place to raise a family. The City of Lake Stevens operates under the mayor-council system. The city's motto, "One Community Around the Lake", embodies our quality of life, top-ranked school district, and the City Council's commitment to providing excellent services and amenities for its residents.

Why City of Lake Stevens?

• Work-life balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individual's lifestyle.
• Work where you live!

The City of Lake Stevens offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Retirement - through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.
• Deferred Compensation - with city match.
• Excellent healthcare options - including medical, dental, vision insurance, city-paid life insurance and long-term disability, health savings accounts (HSA), and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA/VEBA).
• Paid leave - including paid sick leave, paid vacation, flexible holidays, paid holidays, and bereavement leave.

Why join the HR Team?

The Human Resources Department supports City of Lake Stevens employees by providing clear policies, reliable guidance, and efficient services that help the organization operate effectively and deliver high-quality service to the community. We focus on fair and consistent practices, responsive problem-solving, and maintaining a safe, inclusive workplace where employees can succeed.

Our work is guided by a clear set of principles and long-term priorities that shape how we serve employees, departments, and the community. Our Guiding Principles outline the expectations for how we approach problem-solving, communication, service, and collaboration across the organization. Our Strategic Plan sets the direction for improving systems, strengthening workplace culture, and supporting employee growth and readiness. These tools help us stay aligned, transparent, and focused on delivering consistent and high-quality service.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plans, coordinates, and oversees daily operations of HR functional areas to ensure consistent, timely, and compliant service delivery.
• Develops and maintains efficient, streamlined HR processes, procedures, and workflows that meet department goals.
• Manages or oversees key department programs, committees, initiatives and commissions as assigned.
• Develops and recommends policy updates to ensure clarity, equity, and alignment with City values and departmental strategic priorities.
• Prepares department metrics, reports, and analyses for leadership and Council use.
• Supervises professional and technical HR staff, including hiring, training, work direction, coaching, performance evaluation, and corrective action.
• Models and reinforces City values and department guiding principles in daily work.
• Promotes a culture of teamwork, collaborative problem-solving, and people-focused service.
• Advises employees and leadership on interpretation of policies, procedures, labor agreements, and employment laws.
• Develops labor strategies and supports collective bargaining processes through analysis, research, costing, and administrative support.
• Manages department technology systems; ensures accuracy, workflow efficiency, reporting capability, and data integrity; analyzes data to support planning, compliance, and decision-making.
• Assists and supports the administration of the department budget; develops and researches budget proposals, tracks and approves expenditures.
• Monitors and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, regulations, and retention requirements.
• Collaborates and supports risk, safety, and emergency management division by promoting a culture of safety, risk awareness, and organizational readiness initiatives.
• Helps design and deliver training programs that foster a strong learning environment, encourage skill building, and promote leadership development.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance.

Peripheral Duties:

• Serves as the city's lead negotiator as assigned and/or in the absence of the Director.
• Attends City Council meetings as necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described below and in the job description 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 is performed in a typical office environment subject to working outside of normal working hours to meet critical timelines or to provide support in department emergency response events. Must be able to drive a city vehicle in order to travel to multiple city buildings to meet with employees (currently 3 separate buildings within 10 min drive apart). Evening or variable hours to attend meetings is required. Occasional travel for conferences and meetings. Uses standard office equipment and modern software tools, including cloud-based platforms, workflow automation tools, and AI-enabled applications.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Organizational Development, Leadership, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field; and Experience: Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in Human Resources in multiple functional areas and two (2) years of supervisory or lead experience; experience in the public sector and Civil Service system is preferred. Or: Any combination of education and experience, which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the job, may be substituted for these qualifications. Examples include: Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and techniques of public sector human resource administration.
• Laws and regulations related to employment, labor, benefits, safety, and public records.
• HRIS platforms, data management, and reporting practices.
• Classification, compensation, benefits, and leave administration.
• Records management standards and Public Records Act requirements.
• Civil service systems, rules, and testing procedures.
• Website content management and employee communications.
• Principles of supervision, leadership, and organizational development.

• Effective recruitment, outreach, testing and selection practices.
• Lean Management System or Six Sigma principles.

Skilled in:

• Effective, professional and positive interactions with difficult individuals.
• Interpersonal behavior, using tact, patience and courtesy.
• Embracing change and providing strategic advice to leadership regarding change management.
• Leading teams with clarity, empathy, integrity, and professionalism.
• Attention to detail, being organized and managing multiple priorities while meeting deadlines.
• Conducting investigations and handling sensitive personnel matters.
• Developing and delivering clear written and verbal communications.
• Providing technical information and assistance to others concerning employment policies and personnel transactions.
• Analyzing personnel situations accurately and adopting an effective course of action.
• Being organized, detail orientated and efficient with daily work.
• Preparing and proofreading professional correspondence with proper grammar, spelling and tone.
• Using research and analytical methods, practices, and procedures to compile information, define and resolve issues, and recommend solutions.
• Facilitating effective conflict resolution and collaborative problem-solving strategies.
• Using MS Office products including Outlook, Word, Excel, and SharePoint.