Technical Human Resource Consultant (Human Resource Consultant 2)

Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Human Resources Office (HRO) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Technical Human Resource Consultant (Human Resource Consultant 2) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
 
In this role, your work environment is fast paced, detail oriented and timeline driven. You will have a chance to exhibit your excellent communication and customer service skills. Your ability to display your high level of organization and accountability will serve you well in this position. As part of a high functioning technical unit, you have the opportunity to collaborate with peers to achieve unit goals. In addition, you will possess a commitment to continuous improvement – both identifying opportunities for improvement and participating in improvement efforts.
 
Agency Mission:  Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment and to promote the wise management of our air, land, and water for the benefit of current and future generations.
 
Program Mission: The mission of the Human Resources Office (HRO) is to develop successful employees, promote healthy and productive relationships, ensure a safe work environment and recruit great talent to achieve Ecology's Mission.
 
During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. This position eligible to telework up to 80% of the time and is expected to work in the office at least one day, or two half-days, per week. You will also be required to be in the office for in-person training during the first month in this position. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. Looking ahead, Ecology has recently updated the agency policies on telework and flexible and compressed work schedules. Applicants with questions about position location options, telework, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.”
 
Application Timeline: The positions will remain open until filled, the next screening date will be on November 4, 2022. In order to be considered for the next screening, please submit an application on or before of November 3, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

About the Department of Ecology

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people.
Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions. 

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive. 

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work. 

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement. 

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

Duties

What makes this role unique?

The Technical Human Resource Consultant position is part of the HR Technical Unit. This position independently performs professional human resource functions for assigned programs, and provides professional support and assistance to the HR Business Partners assigned to specific programs as determined by the Tech Team Supervisor.  This team is a close knit, hardworking team, who finds ways to have fun with their busy roles. 

What you will do:

A typical workday for the Technical Consultant will be interpreting federal and state laws, civil service rules, collective bargaining agreements and agency policies in order to:

• In collaboration with Payroll and Environmental/Administrative Programs, complete full cycle personnel actions by processing appointment letters, creating personnel action forms and keying entries into the Human Resource Management System. 
• Administer Family Medical Leave Act and State’s Shared Leave Program. Consult with employees’ on Paid Family and Medical Leave; process their intent of applying for the benefit and coordinate it with other paid and unpaid leaves. 
• Serve as the first point of contact for many HR inquiries and provide high quality customer service to Ecology staff, leaders and members of the public by completing employment history requests, verifications of employment, salary inquires and much more. 
• Maintain confidential records per retention guidelines and assist Public Disclosure Coordinator with fulfillment of public disclosure requests.  

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational, volunteer and lived-experience. See below for how you may qualify.

Option 1: 
Five years of combined education and experience: 

• Education: With a focus on business, human resources, social or organizational behavioral sciences, or related field.
• Experience: Broad-based professional human resources experience, including advising and consulting on human resource issues. 

Option 2: 

• A Bachelor's degree with a focus on business, human resources, social or organizational behavioral sciences, or related field. 
• One year of broad-based professional human resource experience, including advising and consulting on human resource issues. 

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:
 
Possible Combinations | College credit hours or degree – as listed above. | Years of required experience – as listed above.

Combination 1 | No college credit hours or degree | 5 years of experience

Combination 2 | 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits | 4 years of experience

Combination 3 | 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree) | 3 years of experience

Combination 4 | 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits | 2 years of experience

Combination 5 | A Bachelor's Degree or above | 1 year of experience 
 
Desired Qualifications: 
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.  

• One year experience using Human Resource Management System (HRMS) in personnel office setting.
• Six months of experience working with FMLA.
• Six months of experience interpreting collective bargaining agreements and WAC’s and applying them to human resource issues.
• PHR, SPHR, CLRP, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.
 

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

Application Instructions:

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• Three professional references.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:
 
Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation: 

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Michele Gillis at Michele.Gillis@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Michele to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology 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, military spouses 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 process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. 

Technical Human Resource Consultant (Human Resource Consultant 2)