HR Business Partner

The Position

Job Appointment: Full Time, Regular. Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm. Alternate schedule may be available after probationary period. Work Location: Hybrid. In-person work to be conducted at The Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Avenue. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington. Benefits: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position. Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland's online portal. You will need to attach a cover letter and resume. About the Position: As a Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) at the City of Portland, you'll be a champion of the City's culture, partnering with bureau leaders to help them build their organizations and improve the quality of their people decisions. Whether coaching clients on how to better lead their teams, navigating and resolving employee and labor relations issues, or providing guidance on the most complex and sensitive people problems, you are exceptionally focused on enabling organizational and employee success at the City. The HRBP is a senior-level human resources role within our bureau. HRBPs provide consultation by providing direct client support services to senior-level bureau management and performing a wide variety of difficult and complex human resource generalist responsibilities in support of the City's human resource management programs. Responsibilities are carried out independently and with awareness of human resource services issues and sensitivities. What you'll get to do:

• Provide training and coaching to Bureau/Office management regarding assessing, coaching, counseling, and developing employees; providing guidance to managers and supervisors on recognizing and rewarding performance; coaching and counseling managers, supervisors, and employees on resolving workplace issues; providing information about career development opportunities.
• Conduct a variety of investigations on confidential and sensitive HR matters; reviewing complaints and determining appropriate investigative approaches and methodologies; performing fact-finding activities, developing interview questions; writing reports; presenting findings to management.
• Advise assigned Bureau/Office management and making recommendations on HR issues, employee relations practices, discipline and corrective action; providing advice and guidance to ensure Bureaus/Offices comply with federal and state employment laws, rules, and policies, City code, policies, procedures, requirements, and goals.
• Guide management and employees on the interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements; providing input into labor/management issues for collective bargaining purposes; participating in negotiations; participating in grievance resolution processes on behalf of Bureau/Office management; consulting with labor relations staff on interpretation and intent of collective bargaining contract language.

About the Bureau: The Bureau of Human Resources is dedicated to working collaboratively with our City partners to maximize the potential of our greatest asset – our employees. We embrace change and the opportunity it brings. We are focused on delivering quality customer service and are committed to recruiting, developing, rewarding and retaining our workforce.

Questions? Jamaal Anthony, Recruitment Supervisor Bureau of Human Resources View email address on click.appcast.io

To Qualify

Applicants must demonstrate how their education, training, and experience meet each of the minimum qualifications listed below:

1. Experience applying the principles of Human Resources administration. Examples could include labor and employee relations, training, employee discipline and performance management, organizational development and workforce planning, recruitment and selection, classification, compensation, EEO/affirmative action.
2. Experience applying federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to areas of assigned responsibilities.
3. Experience communicating effectively orally and in writing, including preparing clear, concise, accurate and persuasive reports, correspondence, analytical studies and other written materials, presenting proposals and recommendations clearly and logically and providing employee training.
4. Experience understanding, interpreting, and applying administrative rules, laws, regulations and labor agreements.
5. Experience in change management, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.

The Recruitment Process

STEP 1: Apply online between August 10, 2026 to August 24, 2026 Required Application Materials:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
  • Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Answer to three (3) Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• Veteran documents to request for Veteran Preference (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.)
• Update: As of March 3, 2025, if you have already submitted veteran documents and qualified for preference, you do not need to resubmit them for future recruitments.
• To update or remove veteran preference for this recruitment or from your profile, contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips:

• Your cover letter should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your resume should support the details described in your cover letter.
• Salary Range/Equity Pay Analysis: Please note per the Oregon State Pay Equity Law your salary is determined based on the experience and education listed in your resume/application. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all directly related and equivalent experience.
• Do not attach materials not requested.
• All completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting; instead, use AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of August 24, 2026

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and cover letter, weighted 100%.
• Your resume and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of August 31, 2026

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

Step 4: Selection (Interview): September 2026

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview.

Step 5: Offer of Employment: Late September/ Early October 2026

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change*

Additional Information

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
• Work Status

Equal Employment Opportunity

A Career with the City of Portland offers many Employee Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to:

• Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)
• Carrot Fertility
• Wellness Benefits
• Life Insurance
• Long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement
• Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), including contributions to the PERS IAP plan paid by employer
• Family Medical Leave
• City Paid Parental Leave