Remote Social Science Jobs in Renton, WA (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $47.39 - $55.19 Hourly
Location : Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave., Seattle, WA
Job Type: Temporary - Non-Benefit Eligible
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-01043
Department: Seattle Public Utilities
Division: People, Culture & Community
Opening Date: 08/05/2026
Closing Date: 8/18/2026 4:00 PM Pacific
Language Premium: No
Position Description
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has a Temporary or Out-of-Class (OOC) opportunity for a professional to join the Human Resources (HR) Division, as an HR Operations Specialist to assist with Workday system management, including resolving leave and payroll issues, updating organizational assignments, and researching outstanding Workday related tasks.
This Temporary (external)/OOC (internal) opportunity is expected to last approximately 11-12 months and is open to all qualified candidates. External candidates are (initially) non-benefited and will receive premium pay in lieu of benefits.
About Seattle Public Utilities: Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.6 million customers in the region. SPU's work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,400 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations. For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), checkout the following:
SPU commits to and as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.
Job Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities for Temp or OOC HR Operations Specialist:

• Maintain timely processing of Workday tasks, monitor the Workday ticketing inbox, and help reduce backlog to support SPU operational needs.
• Support Benefits, Leaves, ADA, and Workers' Compensation administration, including processing requests, approvals, and compliance documentation.
• Monitor and resolve payroll discrepancies that correlate with leave corrections, collaborate with HR/Payroll teams, and maintain tracking logs.
• Assist with return-to-work processes and ADA accommodations, coordinating documentation and follow-up.
• Provide employee support, responding to inquiries on leave, benefits, and accommodations.
• Support reporting, auditing, and analysis of leave and payroll trends to improve efficiency and compliance.
• Partner with HR leadership and SHR to ensure regulatory compliance, policy adherence, and high-quality employee service.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Qualifications
Experience: Two (2) years of responsible professional personnel administration experience in the public sector is required
Education: Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Human Resource Management, Business Administration, or a related field of study *If no degree, two (2) additional years of qualifying experience is required
Combinations of appropriate education, training, certification, and experience(s) will be evaluated on an individual basis for comparability.
Desired Qualifications:

• Experience related to a variety of HR functions, including benefits and leaves, and payroll administration
• Familiarity with Workday software platform
• Experience providing direct customer service is preferred
• Strong written, oral, and digital communication skills
• Proficiency using Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and Teams.

Additional Information
In addition to fully completing the online application, we requirecandidates to attach a current resume, and cover letter describing your work experience(s) and how that makes you a good candidate for this role.
The full salary range for this position is $47.39 per hour - $55.19 per hour.
*Temporary employees begin at Step 1 of the pay progression, at $47.39 per hour.
Workplace Environment/Expectation: This position allows for the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. City employees will have the option to work remotely two days a week. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.
Who may apply: This position is open to all qualified candidates (internal or external)
The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience. This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at:
If you have any questions, please contact Heather Baldwin-Stewart at
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.
More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at:
01
Please fill out both the application and this questionnaire completely. Any false or incomplete answers (such as "see resume" or "see application") may result in you not being considered. Do you agree to answer each of these questions truthfully, and do you understand that your answers will be compared to the information on your application?

• Yes
• No

02
As indicated in the posting, applicants are encouraged to attach a current resume and cover letter which addresses relevant work experience, education, and training as it relates to this position. Have you done this?

• Yes
• No

03
Do you have experience using an HR Information System (HRIS), such as Workday, PeopleSoft, SAP, Oracle, or a similar system?

• Yes
• No

04
Briefly describe your experience supporting the following HR functions: onboarding, benefits, leaves, payroll, personnel records, employee relations, workers' compensation, or accommodations.

• Yes
• No

Required Question