Human Resources Director

Are you excited by the idea of leading, developing and implementing Human Resources policies to keep an environmental nonprofit running smoothly while building an antiracist and equitable workplace? Would supervising another Human Resources team member, who is part of a larger team of Administrative staff be meaningful work for you?

Using an equity and antiracist lens, the Human Resources (HR) Director manages the full cycle of HR functions to attract and retain a diverse and talented staff. The role requires coordination as well as leading, developing and implementing best practices. The Human Resources Director is responsible for upholding the commitments of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and commitments to non-union staff, all while maintaining positive communication and information sharing standards. This position is a member of the Senior Management Team and the Budget Team and helps both teams to provide strategic and financial oversight of the organization. The Human Resources Director reports to the VP of Administration and supervises another HR staff person. This is a hybrid position requiring 40% of the time in the downtown Seattle office for in-office work.

Washington Conservation Action is a statewide environmental advocacy organization that advances environmental policies and pushes for actions that equitably address climate pollution, restore Puget Sound, sustain our state’s forests, and protect our democracy. For Washington to remain a national leader on environmental issues, we need environmental champions in elected office and to hold our leaders accountable. To keep our environment protected, healthy, and vibrant, we are committed to supporting Native American candidates, candidates of color, and environmental leaders seeking election.

In January 2023, Washington Conservation Voters and Washington Environmental council unified under a shared brand—Washington Conservation Action. This evolution as organizations builds on our 50 years of work and history of bringing people together to solve Washington’s most critical environmental issues. We develop, advocate, and defend policies that ensure environmental progress and justice by centering and amplifying the voices of the most impacted communities. Washington Conservation Action is our 501(c4) organization and Washington Conservation Action Education Fund is our 501(c3) organization. Together, we advance a shared vision for a Washington state where nature and people live in balance for the flourishing of all.

Washington Conservation Action is based in downtown Seattle. Our team of nearly 50 works in a flexible hybrid model, with staff in the office two days a week for collaboration and celebration. All staff members have access to tools and systems to support hybrid work. We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to make a difference. We are committed to a diverse, socially just, and welcoming work environment. People of color, people with varying abilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are especially encouraged to apply. We continue to advance the application of a racial equity lens to our work and are led by a CEO who is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon.

Responsibilities

Human Resources Duties (90%)

• Coordinate responsibility with HR team member and VP of Administration for organizational benefits packages including health and dental insurance, retirement, transportation, flexible spending account, and other offerings
• Supervise HR support staff position, which the HR Director will help shape and hire. This support position helps with organizational hiring, workload and goal setting, annual reviews, discipline and other responsibilities described in organizational procedures.
• Field benefits questions from staff and ensure that requested changes to benefits take place.
• Support organizational expectation that all staff receive racial equity training and professional development opportunities
• Maintain up-to-date personnel files using appropriate rules of confidentiality and appropriate legal measures
• Lead responsibility for implementing personnel policies and guidelines and addressing staff questions
• Coordinated responsibility with VP of Administration to maintain an Open-Door policy
• Oversee hiring processes and ensure hiring is done in accord with both CBA and organizational protocols
• Onboard new employees and coach supervisors to ensure the best possible outcomes
• Track end of tenure tasks and conduct exit interviews
• Support annual review processes including education and tracking
• Maintain HR metrics such as turnover, demographics, professional development, and hiring to develop an annual report of activities
• Review and update personnel policies and associated guidelines with executive staff and consultants (on a 2–3-year basis)
• Investigate performance or behavior issues in the workplace
• Human Resources Racial Equity team support, special projects, and assistance to the VP of Administration as needed.
• Support staff retention and engagement efforts by working with consultants and executive staff to develop staff benefit and salary benchmarks. Provide data to support these efforts.
• Assist with annual salary surveys, and compensation benchmarking projects
• Oversee workflow for raises and growth promotions
• Participate in union-related tasks, such as Labor Management Committee, requests for information, research, implementing agreements, legal issues, and negotiations
• Continuing education and support for supervisors of Collective Bargaining Agreement commitments
• Investigate inquiries from staff regarding personnel policy issues, CBA related issues, behavior or performance issues
• Main point of contact with governmental officials regarding work authorization status and staff-identified safety concerns

Financial Duties (5%)

• Contribute to budget development and decision making
• Assist with audit preparation for HR related requests as needed
• Assist with raise authorizations for payroll updates

Administrative (5%)

• Adhere to organizational administrative procedures such as timely submission of reimbursements, entering time tracking in Rippling HRIS, travel planning, and submitting credit card receipts from the organization’s credit card within 48 hours of the charge
• Assist with organizational fundraising, which might include attending events, promoting to your networks, assistance prior to and during events as needed,
• Recommend and coordinate HR Racial Equity Team projects, such as review of annual performance documents and other guidelines

Required Skills

• Five or more years of direct human resources experience in a diverse workplace
• Experience tracking multiple long- and short-term projects to completion
• Demonstrated supervisory skills including providing support, coaching, and direction to team staff, overseeing work planning and outcomes on an ongoing basis
• Collaborative approach to development of policies and decision making
• Commitment to environmental protection and principles of tribal sovereignty and racial, social, and economic justice
• Commitment to principles of equity in hiring and benefits selection, including in regard to LGBQTIA+ staff
• Experience coaching and supporting both staff and supervisors to do their best work
• Ability to communicate and to uphold policies and procedures, including leading by example
• Maintaining appropriate confidentiality of sensitive information
• Understanding of applicable employment standards, including local, state and federal laws

Desirable Skills

• Previous experience developing compensation packages, processes and practices
• Previous experience working at a nonprofit
• Ability to investigate and distill HR data for a wider audience, such as annual HR summary report
• Ability to tailor presentations to educate supervisors and staff members on HR activities and procedures
• Labor relations experience leading to positive outcomes
• Experience working with HR consultants and managing projects for HR processes, like completing policy updates
• Budget development experience
• Experience with tools such as Slack, Salesforce, Asana, Rippling, SurveyMonkey, SignUpGenius, Microsoft Office, LinkedIn

Location Information

This position is hybrid with a minimum of 40% of time in the Seattle office. A hybrid remote agreement is required.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

This job requires frequent sitting. Must be able to conduct work projects in English, though fluency in other languages is welcomed. For remote work, employees must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work during scheduled work hours. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform functions essential to the duties of the position. Some staff at WCA are members of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), Local 7800, excluding supervisors and certain other categories. This position is supervisory and confidential and is not in the union.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and a resume here. No phone calls or mailed applications please. This position is open until filled.

WCAEF is an equal opportunity employers committed to dismantling structural racism and creating a welcoming work environment. WCAEF does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. People of color, people with disabilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are especially encouraged to apply.