Chief Human Resource Officer (EMS 3)

At the Department of Commerce, we’re reimagining what’s possible in government. We’re builders, thinkers, and change-makers, working at the intersection of innovation, community, and impact. From unlocking critical funding to fueling inclusive economic growth, we’re turning big ideas into real-world solutions that uplift people and places. Our agency’s strength lies in the diversity of our work force and the breadth of the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work. We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is reflected in how we design programs, engage communities, and deliver outcomes. We foster a workplace culture where curiosity is encouraged, bold thinking is welcomed, and collaboration drives our impact. Let’s build what’s next, together.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer within the Office of Operations, the Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) is a member of the agency’s Executive Leadership Team and has direct oversight of the Human Resources Division (HRD) that puts people first by fostering a human-centered employee lifecycle that supports growth, strengthens leadership, and helps Commerce employees navigate change with trust and confidence. This position is responsible for developing and advancing the agency's long-term human resource strategy and policies, and for clearly understanding the unique operations and strategic business needs by crafting strategies that support the agency's administrations and divisions, which each provide crucial support and services to communities across Washington State. This role can be based in Olympia or Seattle, with hybrid work flexibility.

Duties

The CHRO provides executive leadership, overall direction, and strategic vision for HRD and is accountable for the highest-risk HR functions under the agency’s oversight when no precedent exists. This position develops and executes the HR long-term strategic plans, goals, and objectives, ensuring they align with the agency’s overall strategic goals, and directs HR operations to achieve agency goals and statewide uniformity in workforce management.

As an appointing authority, this position, through subordinate managers, is independently responsible for a diverse set of programs that require effective leadership, communication, and approaches that leverage HRD resources. Programs and areas the CHRO has direct oversight for include:

• Classification and Compensation: Provides visionary leadership in the formulation and execution of the agency’s comprehensive compensation strategy, ensuring a cohesive and robust framework for classification and compensation activities.
• Talent Acquisition and Recruitment: Provides strategic oversight of the agency’s recruitment operations, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws, executive directives, policies, and the CBA.
• People, Culture, and Employee Experience: Provides oversight for developing and implementing inclusive initiatives throughout the employee lifecycle at Commerce.
• Training, Learning, and Development: Provides strategic executive oversight for the implementation of all training, learning, and development initiatives.
• Workforce Planning and Analytics: Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for agency-wide workforce planning and analytics initiatives.
• Labor Relations: Provides strategic oversight of the agency's employee and labor relations initiatives.
• Performance Management, Personnel Investigations, and Corrective Action: Provides high-level oversight and long-term strategic direction to mitigate risk across all personnel matters.
• Agency HR Policy Development and Management: Provides visionary oversight and direction for the comprehensive development, implementation, and stewardship of more than 80 departmental policies.
• Protected Leave, Reasonable Accommodation, and Leave Management: Provides strategic oversight of Personal Family Medical Leave, Family Medical Leave, Reasonable Accommodation, Shared Leave, and L&I claims.
• Wellness: Provides strategic leadership in the development, execution, and continuous enhancement of the agency’s holistic wellness initiatives.
• HR Business Services: Provides strategic oversight of HR business operations supporting agency divisions.
• HR Public Records and Records Retention: Provides oversight of the establishment and strategic direction of HR public records and records retention.

Qualifications

Required Education, and Experience:

Any combination of 10 total years of experience. This could be achieved through a combination of relevant education beyond high school equivalency and/or professional-level human resources experience. A minimum of 10 years of experience must include substantial professional human resource experience in the following:

• Five years of leading and managing professional staff, including performance management.
• Experience and in-depth knowledge of best practices in major human resource systems and functions.
• Experience working effectively and fairly with labor and management representatives.
• Experience and familiarity working with federal statutes and knowledge of state statutes affecting personnel administration.
• Managing complex HR projects and facilitating initiatives utilizing employee data to make organizational impacts.
• Experience in policy development.

Required Position Competencies:

• Excellent communication and negotiating skills.
• Ability to critically analyze, plan, and think strategically.
• Work with diverse and competing interests.
• Ability to participate, manage, and/or lead organizational change.

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies:

Master’s degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Public Administration or related field: SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP preferred PHR or SPHR preferred.

To be considered for this position, the following are needed:

• A complete and detailed online application.
• A resume and cover letter (add attachments online).
• At least three professional references (enter online).

For questions about this recruitment, please contact the Recruitment team via email: comrecruitment@commerce.wa.gov — please reference the job number in your message.

Supplemental Information

Work from Anywhere in Washington State. This position may be located anywhere within Washington State though occasional travel to a Commerce office building or in-state travel to attend events or meetings may be required. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction. Many Commerce employees work remotely or have a hybrid schedule. This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity

The Washington State Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Persons needing accommodation in the application, testing, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Human.Resources@commerce.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

The Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14-25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits.