Complex Human Resources Manager Jobs in Seattle, WA

Salary : $126,922.02 - $160,880.93 Annually
Location : King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service (Exec)
Job Number: 2026KA27741
Department: MTD - Metro Transit
Division: Enterprise Employee Services
Opening Date: 08/11/2026
Closing Date: 8/25/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Summary
Metro Transit's Talent Acquisition team is seeking a hands-on, collaborative Talent HR Manager with a strong passion for recruitment and workforce development. This role provides leadership to support the development and retention of a highly skilled workforce while delivering high-quality, customer-focused HR services. A strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, transparency, and employee engagement is essential.
This position supports department-wide recruitment efforts and works closely with Division and Department leaders to strengthen organizational health and labor practices.
Role Overview
The Talent HR Manager reports to the Metro Transit Human Resource Manager II and supports the division by identifying best practices, establishing and following standard procedures, and continuously improving HR recruitment services. Success in this role requires strong interpersonal skills, the ability to build effective teams and partnerships, and the capacity to influence change and solve complex problems.
In addition to managing a team of 10-15 Talent Acquisition and HR professionals, you will actively support employee relations across the division, interpret and apply employment law, and ensure HR policies and practices are followed. The goal is to provide reliable, efficient, and consistent HR services while minimizing organizational risk.
Position Information
This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Career Service Talent HR Manager (HR Manager I classification) position. The selection process may also be used to create an eligibility list for future Career Service (CS), Special Duty Assignment (SDA), or Term Limited Temporary (TLT) opportunities in this classification. The eligibility list may be used for up to 12 months at the discretion of the hiring authority.
We welcome applications from all interested candidates, including current King County employees and the general public. Please refer to the "Supplemental Information" section of this job bulletin for the required application materials.
Job Duties
Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what's Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As a Talent HR Manager, you will:
HR Leadership and Recruitment

• Lead and manage timely, high-quality HR services for Metro Transit.
• Design and implement systems to recruit, develop, and retain a diverse, high-performing workforce.
• Oversee HR data and records management systems.
• Communicate complex HR concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ensure HR practices comply with collective bargaining agreements and applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Team Leadership and Development

• Allocate staff and resources to meet recruitment demands and workload changes.
• Coach, mentor, and develop direct reports; support other managers in developing their teams.
• Set and monitor goals for high-quality, customer-focused service.

Employee Management and Workplace Culture

• Foster continuous learning and skill development.
• Promote accountability for service excellence.
• Create and maintain a welcoming, inclusive work environment.
• Provide performance feedback, manage performance issues, and handle disciplinary actions with compassion and consistency.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Minimum Qualifications

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience, with an emphasis in Talent Acquisition, including at least two (2) years of experience in a recruiting senior, lead, supervisor or manager role.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing Talent Acquisition teams, including coaching, assigning work, providing performance feedback, setting goals, and fostering continuous improvement.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, and improving recruitment strategies, processes, and service delivery models using recruitment metrics and workforce data to improve hiring outcomes.
• Knowledge of essential HR functions, including recruitment, labor relations, classification and compensation, training, and performance management.
• Strong knowledge of recruitment practices in a unionized, high-volume, and complex labor environment, with the ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining excellent customer service.
• Ability to provide legally defensible HR guidance and build productive relationships with applicants, employees, supervisors, managers, and external partners.
• Strong relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent customer service, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to handle sensitive situations professionally, fairly, and respectfully.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through inclusive leadership and equitable employment practices.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience leading or overseeing a Talent Acquisition function in a large, complex public-sector organization, including workforce planning, recruitment strategy, and supervision of multiple employees or teams.
• Experience developing and delivering recruitment training, standard operating procedures (SOPs), onboarding programs, and coaching for recruiters and hiring managers.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership, hiring managers, HR Business Partners, labor relations, and external stakeholders to develop and implement recruitment strategies that meet organizational hiring goals.
• Experience managing recruitment operations in a unionized civil service environment while ensuring compliance with employment laws, policies, collective bargaining agreements, and merit system principles.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide Talent Acquisition initiatives, technology implementations, or business process improvements.

Supplemental Information
Who May Apply
This recruitment is open to King County Employees, and the general public.
To Apply
Applications without the following required materials will not be considered for this position:

1. An online King County application. Updated with accurate contact information, and relevant work history going back at least 10 years (or more, if necessary), with all job duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly.
2. Completed supplemental questions.
3. Please submit a cover letter (two pages or less) that addresses the following:

• What interests you in this Talent HR Manager role, and how has your HR and/or Talent Acquisition leadership experience prepared you to lead a recruitment team in a complex organization? Please also include the size and structure of the recruitment or HR team(s) you oversaw, and your role in relation to them.
• Describe a recruitment initiative, process improvement, or organizational change you led. What was your role, and what were the results?
• Describe how you have coached recruiters and partnered with hiring managers and other stakeholders to improve hiring outcomes while ensuring compliance and excellent customer service.

NOTE: Application materials will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews and possibly other selection process elements. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks and/or a record review.
Work Schedule
This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. Work hours are comprised of a 40-hour work week within core business hours, 7:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Work Location
This position follows a hybrid work schedule requiring a minimum of 3 days per week onsite at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104, to support team collaboration, coaching, and in-person leadership presence. Consistent with King County's hybrid work policy. Remote workdays may be adjusted based on operational or business needs.
Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Union Membership: This position is not represented by a union.
Class Code: 117401/ Human Resources Manager I
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact: Khadija Al-mohanawy,
King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.
King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
01
Have you attached the required cover letter? Applications that are not complete, or do not include all required materials may be rejected as incomplete, and not advanced in the process.

• Yes
• No

02
How many years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience do you have, with an emphasis on Talent Acquisition?

• Less than 5 years
• 5 years to less than 7 years
• 7 years to less than 10 years
• 10 years or more

03
Of the experience above, how many years were in a senior, lead, or supervisory role in HR, Recruiting, or Talent Acquisition?

• None
• Less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years to less than 10 years
• 10 years or more

04
Please select the Human Resources functions in which you have professional working knowledge. (Select all that apply)

• Recruitment, hiring and retention
• Classification and compensation
• Interpreting and applying employment laws, policies and