Advisor; SA , Exempt L21

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is seeking an Employee Experience Advisor (SA
2) to design and execute strategic workforce initiatives for 1,400+ employees delivering essential services to Seattle and 1.5 million regional customers.

This isn’t just an HR role— it’s a chance to shape how public service organizations create thriving, inclusive workplaces that attract top talent and deliver exceptional community impact.

SPU is a community‑centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses, including drinking water, wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. Over 1,400 employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations.

• Department‑Wide Engagement Strategy – Develop and implement a comprehensive multi‑year employee engagement roadmap aligning strategic workforce initiatives with culture transformation goals.
• Onboarding & Offboarding Transformation – Redesign employee transition processes to create meaningful, modernized experiences that foster inclusion, build connections, and accelerate learning from day one through departure.
• Employee Engagement Survey & Analytics – Lead the complete lifecycle of SPU’s employee engagement survey, from design and administration to action planning and implementation, including ongoing pulse checks.
• Recognition Program Development – Partner with the Employee Recognition Committee to build and launch an inclusive recognition strategy that celebrates achievements, reinforces departmental values, and motivates employees through both meaningful acknowledgment and tangible rewards.
• Employee Experience Dashboard – Collaborate with Workday and analytics teams to create a dynamic, real‑time dashboard providing actionable insights for decision‑making while promoting transparency in workforce equity metrics and engagement trends.

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Organizational Development, Communications, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Five years of progressive experience in employee engagement, organizational development, human resources, or communications, with proven success designing and implementing comprehensive engagement strategies that integrate organizational systems, people management, and culture transformation.
• Hands‑on experience with employee survey tools, digital communications platforms, and analytics dashboards to measure organizational effectiveness.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills with demonstrated ability to lead groups, drive consensus, and manage relationships across all organizational levels.

• Professional experience in unionized or public sector environments, cross‑functional team leadership and matrix organization experience, change management or organizational transformation projects, and budget management for employee programs are highly valued.
• Experience with survey platforms such as Qualtrics, Culture Amp, or Survey Monkey, HRIS systems like Workday or SAP Success Factors, data visualization tools including Tableau or Power BI, and learning management systems is preferred.
• Strong experience in DEI strategy implementation, labor relations and collective bargaining, human capital reporting frameworks, and public sector procurement processes.
• Track record of improved employee engagement scores, successful employee program launches, reduced turnover/improved retention, and multi‑level stakeholder management.
• HR certifications, change management training, or project management credentials (SHRM‑CP, PROSCI, HRCI, ATD) are preferred but not required.

Diverse perspectives and life experiences, cultural competency and commitment to equity, ability to work effectively across different communities, and experience supporting underrepresented groups in workplace settings.

• Hybrid schedule with remote work flexibility (minimum 3 days/week in‑office). Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their…