Description
King County is launching an ambitious effort to make government more transparent, accountable, and effective through the King County Delivers plan. To lead this work, we are seeking a strategic, collaborative, innovative, and results-oriented Department Director, Department of Human Resources (DHR).
The DHR Director advances the County’s people strategy through the implementation of a comprehensive and cutting-edge workforce strategic plan that optimizes the employee experience and empowers staff to do their best work. A key member of the Executive’s Cabinet, the DHR Director ensures enterprise-wide alignment of people policies, systems, and programs for 18,000 employees across 12 departments and leads the day-to-day operations of a department of 200 staff. In addition, the Director provides strategic HR support and resources alignment with the separate branches of King County government and departments with separately elected leaders.
Who We Are
The Department of Human Resources’ mission is to provide strategic human resources leadership, modernized systems, customer-focused services, and tools designed to support the management, growth, and development of the King County workforce.
This mission is supported by a set of values that guide how we serve one another and the people of King County:
Serve with Integrity, Humility, and Empathy.
Center Those Most Impacted.
One Team, One Mission.
Be in Community.
Outcomes Over Optics.
Commit to Excellence.
Invest in our People.
Embed Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in our work.
For a full description of the position and to apply, please visit our career site at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs or https://bit.ly/DHRD26860 to be directed to the position. The recruitment will remain open until May 17, 2026.
If you would like to have a confidential discussion about the opportunity, feel free to contact the recruiter for this position, Aimee Higbee, at ahigbee@kingcounty.gov.
Requirements
We are looking for a collaborative leader with a comprehensive vision for human resources in the county who will inspire a high-performing culture within DHR and be a trusted internal service provider to 12 King County departments.
The ideal candidate will have:
Significant experience (10+ years) leading human resources, operations, or strategy in a large, complex organization; public-sector and unionized-environment experience preferred.
Extensive experience overseeing and directing operations, programs, services, and strategic initiatives within a large, complex organization.
Knowledge of emerging HR technologies to enhance HR service delivery is desired.
Proven ability to drive organizational change and implement measurable improvements.
Exceptional communication skills and ability to engage staff at all levels of the organization.
Strategies and ideas to continue to build on King County’s culture of employee engagement, which supports the development, learning, coaching, and team building necessary for the workforce of the future.
