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NEOGOV · 5 months ago

Chief Human Resources Officer

Thurston County – Olympia, WA

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

$175K/yr - $195K/yr

NEOGOV is the Office of Financial Management for the State of Washington, dedicated to enhancing public service through effective resource management. They are seeking a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) to lead the strategic direction of human resources statewide, overseeing systems and policies that align with the Governor's goals and serve both agencies and communities.

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Responsibilities

You will lead the administration of the Washington General Service, Washington Management Service, Exempt Management Service, and the State Officials Salary Administration (SOSA) program. Your role includes resolving personnel issues, making final determinations on appeals, and ensuring agency compliance with civil service rules and state policies

As a steward of data-informed decision-making, you’ll lead efforts to integrate and modernize HR systems, including overseeing the state’s official human capital management platform and future enterprise resource planning efforts

You’ll also represent the State of Washington externally—building partnerships with labor organizations, public agencies, national networks, and professional associations. You will promote the state as an employer of choice and help tell the story of public service as a meaningful and impactful career path

Additionally, you will serve as a member of the Public Employees Benefits Board, which governs health and insurance benefit programs for state employees

This role is your opportunity to bring bold ideas to the table, build strong partnerships across sectors, and make people-centered decisions that shape a modern, inclusive, and high-performing public workforce. You’ll work closely with agency leaders and HR professionals to align workforce strategy with state priorities—and you’ll be at the center of that alignment

This role carries significant influence and responsibility. You’ll make decisions that affect thousands of employees and have lasting financial and policy implications. But you won’t be doing it alone—you’ll be leading a dedicated team, collaborating across agencies, and working with a community of public servants who care deeply about their work

Qualification

Cultural competencyHuman resource systemsWorkforce analyticsLabor relationsHR strategy developmentStakeholder engagementLegal frameworksCoachingOrganizational changeMentoringInclusive communicationCollaborationProblem-solving

Required

Demonstrated cultural competency and commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in public sector HR practices

Demonstrated knowledge of enterprise-wide human resource systems, including civil service, classification, compensation, labor relations, and benefits administration

Ability to develop and implement HR strategies that align with organizational goals and statewide priorities

Skill in interpreting, applying, and developing personnel policies, rules, and labor contracts within a complex regulatory and political environment

Ability to lead strategic workforce planning initiatives using data and analytics to inform decisions and address statewide talent challenges

Proficiency in guiding cross-agency collaboration and stakeholder engagement to implement enterprise HR policies and practices

Understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks related to labor law, collective bargaining, and public sector employment

Ability to represent the organization in high-stakes negotiations, public forums, and media interactions with professionalism and clarity

Skill in coaching, mentoring, and supporting leaders and HR professionals across the enterprise

Experience leading organizational change and process improvement efforts

Ability to manage complex, high-impact decisions related to workforce strategy, policy development, and labor relations

Inclusive communication skills that foster trust, transparency, and collaboration across diverse employee groups

Preferred

Bachelor's degree in public administration, human resources, labor relations, law, organizational leadership, or related field

Senior Human Resources leadership experience in state, local or federal government

Experience supporting union-represented employees

Experience influencing legislative or public policy impacting workforce systems, labor relations, or employment law

Proven experience managing HR operations during organizational transformation, consolidation, or restructuring

Demonstrated innovation in HR technology adoption, including the use of AI, automation, or data visualization tools to improve service delivery

Track record of successful collaboration with elected officials, union leadership, and community stakeholders in high-profile or politically sensitive situations

Experience navigating multijurisdictional HR systems (e.g., tribal, federal, state, local) or large, decentralized organizations

Recognition as a thought leader in human capital strategy, talent development, or public sector workforce trends

Experience leading or participating in national or regional workforce coalitions, advisory groups, or interagency task forces

Demonstrated agility in responding to crises, such as natural disasters, public health emergencies, or economic disruptions, with workforce continuity and care

Fluency in trauma-informed and employee well-being practices in large or high-stress organizations

Understanding of fiscal management related to HR budgeting, workforce cost modeling, or compensation forecasting