HR Consultant

Human Resources Generalist

Industry: Higher Education (Public Sector experience also considered)

Location (City, State): Shoreline, Washington

Assignment Type: Contract

Pay: $40 - $50/hr

Work Schedule: Monday–Friday | Standard Business Hours 8:00am - 5:00pm | Fully Onsite

Benefits: This position is eligible for medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

About Our Client:

Addison Group is partnering with our client to identify an experienced Human Resources Generalist to support a dynamic, unionized workforce. This is a highly consultative HR role responsible for advising leadership, managing complex employee relations matters, supporting faculty recruitment, and ensuring compliance with employment laws and collective bargaining agreements. This opportunity is ideal for an experienced HR professional who enjoys solving complex workplace challenges, partnering with leadership, and operating as a trusted advisor within a collaborative environment.

Job Description:

The Human Resources Consultant serves as a strategic HR partner to leadership while independently managing sophisticated employee relations matters, faculty recruitment, workplace investigations, and labor relations activities. This individual will provide guidance on employment policies, labor agreements, organizational risk, and workforce planning while ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant HR practices.

This position requires excellent judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to independently navigate sensitive workplace issues involving faculty and other employee populations.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic HR Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to department leaders and management on a wide range of human resources matters.
• Provide strategic guidance on employee performance, workplace conduct, organizational effectiveness, and workforce planning.
• Partner with leadership to develop practical HR solutions that support business objectives while minimizing organizational risk.
• Promote consistent application of HR policies, procedures, and employment practices.

Faculty & Professional Recruitment

• Manage multiple concurrent faculty and professional-level recruitment efforts from intake through offer acceptance.
• Partner with hiring leaders to develop recruitment strategies, candidate evaluation criteria, and hiring timelines.
• Coordinate candidate selection activities while ensuring an equitable and compliant hiring process.
• Maintain accurate recruitment documentation within the organization's HR systems.

Employee Relations & Workplace Investigations

• Independently manage complex employee relations matters involving performance, attendance, conduct, workplace conflict, and policy interpretation.
• Conduct workplace investigations by gathering documentation, interviewing involved parties, evaluating facts, and preparing objective recommendations.
• Provide coaching to managers on corrective action, disciplinary processes, and conflict resolution.
• Assess organizational risk and recommend legally compliant solutions to complex employment issues.

Labor Relations & Compliance

• Interpret collective bargaining agreements and advise leaders on contract administration.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws as well as institutional policies.
• Support grievance processes and labor-related matters as appropriate.
• Assist with leave administration, accommodations, and other employee support matters.

HR Operations

• Maintain employee records and HR documentation within HRIS and Applicant Tracking Systems.
• Support continuous process improvements across HR operations.
• Mentor junior HR team members and provide guidance on complex HR situations.
• Participate in special HR initiatives and cross-functional projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Labor Relations, or a related field preferred.
• 5–7+ years of progressive Human Resources experience.
• Experience supporting higher education strongly preferred.
• Public sector, government, or K-12 education experience will also be considered.
• Demonstrated experience managing full-cycle recruitment for professional and faculty-level positions.
• Ability to successfully manage multiple active requisitions simultaneously.
• Strong employee relations and workplace investigation experience.
• Extensive experience advising managers and senior leaders on complex HR matters.
• Experience supporting unionized workforces and interpreting collective bargaining agreements.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Experience utilizing HRIS and Applicant Tracking Systems (PeopleSoft, ctcLink, or NEOGOV experience is preferred but not required).

Addison Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Addison Group provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Addison Group complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities, upon request.