Head of Recruiting & HR

Join us in transforming the delivery of public safety services by supporting the work and first responders of Seattle’s Community Assisted Response & Engagement department (CARE). CARE operates the City’s primary 9-1-1 center and the Community Crisis Responder program, unarmed behavioral health professionals responding to 9-1-1 calls in the field. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Human Resources Director will be responsible for establishing essential human resource functions - Talent Acquisition, Onboarding/Offboarding, Compensation/Classification, Employee and Labor Relations, Leave Administration, Workforce Planning, Employee Engagement, Fit for Duty programs, ADA Accommodation, Performance Management, Policy Development and Compliance, and Records Management within the department. This role serves as a member of the Citywide Human Resources Leadership Team (HRLT) and other HR-related groups.

This is a working position where you will serve as a trusted business partner, coach, consultant, and change agent, providing high-level technical, policy, and strategic expertise and guidance on a wide variety of HR matters. This position plays a vital role in developing, implementing, and communicating human resources strategies that align with the goals of the department. You will build strong working relationships with customers at all levels, contribute to and execute special projects. All work will be focused through an equity lens and with the employee experience top of mind.

Provide effective HR services. Foster a high-performing HR team through appropriate staffing, mentorship, professional development, and a focus on continuous improvement, ensuring HR services effectively support the department’s mission. Oversee and provide technical support to HR service delivery functional areas, ensuring that all HR programs are compliant with current state and federal employment laws, including equal employment opportunity, Fair Labor Standards Act, Washington Minimum Wage Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act. Monitor the City’s personnel practices and collaborate with city HR leaders to implement and improve essential HR functions.

Serve as a strategic HR consultant. Provides counsel and expertise to CARE’s strategic plan and department policy decision-making. Creates HR vision and strategic direction to move the department forward and builds the structure to enable implementation. Develops the annual workplan for the HR business unit.

Provide guidance and coaching to managers and employees with the goal of successful work performance and commitment. Receive, assess, and facilitate employee complaints and concerns, working closely with managers, and making recommendations for actions as needed. Conduct intakes to assess and handle employee complaints and concerns, making recommendations for actions as needed. Provide employee and labor relations consultative services. Advise and partner with the City Attorney and senior leadership regarding complex and confidential HR issues. Change Management & Culture Transformation. Build management initiatives to support organizational transformation, including structuring communication, training, and support mechanisms that facilitate smooth transitions and foster a positive culture. Champion the Race & Social Justice Initiative within the department and the city at large, ensuring HR practices and policies promote an inclusive and equitable workplace.

Provide talent acquisition services. Assist in assessment of staffing needs, development of job descriptions, facilitate classification of work, and facilitate full-cycle recruitment services.

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, human resources, or another discipline related to human resources management or a combination of education, training, and experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work described above.

Eight or more years of progressively responsibly human resources management in an organization or comparable scope and size.

Experience in successfully managing change in HR teams.

Expert level technical knowledge as an HR Generalist.

Thorough understanding of City HR practices, systems, and policies.

Ability to communicate at all levels effectively and tactfully, create trusted partnerships and strong relationships.

Project management skills, including the ability to produce, track, and manage multiple deliverables with overlapping deadlines in a high-performing environment.

You take immediate action in response to a challenge, obstacle or opportunity while thinking ahead to address future challenges or opportunities. Hold yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions, decision-making, and promoting high-quality standards.

Identify and implement HR solutions that are aligned with the City’s commitment to equity, citywide HR practices, and business needs.

Model racial equity in relationships with co-workers, colleagues, community, and others.

Facilitate recruitment processes that result in hiring diverse and talented individuals in a public safety environment.

Interact with people with a high level of empathy and emotional intelligence for the parties involved.

Champion of workforce equity and diversity.

Ability to communicate effectively with union representatives, other departments and agencies, employees at all levels and management regarding sensitive or controversial issues.

Demonstrated ability to provide effective leadership in programs, methods, and procedures to ensure employee wellbeing, to improve work effectiveness, to control costs, to ensure ethical practices, and to meet policy and operational needs.

Open, honest, and accessible management style.

Contract negotiation experience.

Completion of on‑going diversity, equity, and including training is an expectation of this position.

Familiarity with the relevant Revised Code of Washington laws and Washington Administrative Code regulations.

Graduate degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Human Resources, or another discipline related to human resources management is desired.

Certified Professional Human Resource Management (PHR) or Senior Professional Human Resource Management (SPHR) by the Hyman Resource Certificate Institute is desired.

This is a full-time (1.0 FTE) regular position with full benefits, is FLSA exempt (not eligible for overtime), and falls under the Manager and Strategic Advisor Pay Program (for additional information please visit

The full salary range for this position is $61.90 - $92.84 per hour. The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long‑term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about the employee benefits is available on the City’s website at:

CARE operations run 24-hours each day, involving multiple work shifts, this assignment will require some work during evenings, weekends and holidays. Most work is performed in a normal City work/office environment. Work is primarily performed on‑site with some flexibility for a hybrid work schedule.

Race and Social Justice Initiative: The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy. The CARE encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

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