Human Resource Business Partner; HRC

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 workforce 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.

The Human Resources Division has several main objectives, to minimize liability of unfair hiring practices for the agency, to assist the agency in supporting and developing a high performing workforce, to ensure the agency maintains agency compliance with federal and state employment laws, HR regulations, policies and practices, and the collective bargaining agreement and to develop and implement human resources practices and processes that promote equity and inclusion in the workplace.

This position is the primary Human Resource Business Partner to assigned divisions and programs within Commerce. This position provides expert professional employee and labour relations guidance to assigned program areas. This is expert level HR consultation to executive management, managing directors, supervisors and employees in the areas of labor and employee relations, corrective and disciplinary action, organisational best practices, classification, compensation, workplace investigations, recruitment and selection, diversity, equity and inclusion, protected and accrued leave, and other personnel administration.

This position assures customer service excellence and timely completion of duties and assignments that meet or exceed customer expectations, in alignment with the HR Service Level Agreement.

• As the expert level professional in human resource management and employee and labour relations, this position is a strategic business partner to the executives, managers and supervisors in assigned divisions for workforce planning, organisational development and employee performance. Provide advice, interpretation, and consultation regarding applicable human resource rules, regulations, policies and procedures in areas such as classification, organisational structure, compensation, performance management, disciplinary action, reasonable accommodation, recruitment and selection, FMLA, and L&I.
  
  Interpret and apply state and federal employment laws, civil service rules (Title 357 WAC), agency policies and procedures, and the WFSE collective bargaining agreement.
• Partners with assigned customer areas for ongoing evaluation of programs’ operational needs and priorities, making strategic and long term recommendations to management.
• Responsibilities as a division HR Business Partner require application of knowledge and expertise to make decisions on complicated issues. These assignments often require proactive intervention and may have agency wide or precedent setting impact. Handle or oversee Commerce’s most sensitive, complex, or critical human resource issues. Maintain confidentiality while in the performance of assigned duties as appropriate.
• Meet with appointing authorities, managers, supervisors and employees to assess human resource needs. Plan, develop and implement strategies to promote…