Union Representative Jobs in Bothell, WA (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $118,205.36 - $149,832.18 Annually
Location : Chinook Building, 401 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service (Exec)
Job Number: 2026AL26909
Department: DCHS - Community & Human Srvcs
Division: Comm & Human Svcs Admin
Opening Date: 04/10/2026
Closing Date: 6/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week
Summary
The Department of Community and Human Services values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences.
Join Our HR Team! The has an exciting opportunity! We are seeking Employee and Labor Relations (ELR) Representative who will serve as a trusted advisor and consultant in day-to-day employee and labor relations matters to the managers, supervisors, and staff in positions with the Department of Community and Human Services. As a member of our dynamic HR teams, your primary functions will be coaching and guiding leadership on employee and labor relations, collective bargaining and employment laws; performance management, labor contract administration and conducting investigations. Your work will be responsible for advising on complex employee performance management, union contract interpretation, workplace investigations, disciplinary decisions, and employee workplace complaints.
King County's Department of Community and Human Services provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community. Comprised of five divisions, the Adult Services Division, Behavioral Health & Recovery Division, Children, Youth, and Young Adults Division, Developmental Disabilities and Early Childhood Supports Division, and the Housing, Homelessness, and Community Development Division, DCHS is focused on delivering care and service with equity, empathy, and a commitment to the community we serve.
Job Duties
To be considered minimally qualified applicant must demonstrate a background that provides the knowledge, skills and ability to:

• Conduct and investigate employee complaints and conduct or supervise effective, timely, thorough, and objective investigations.
• Write investigative reports, and present findings and recommendations to management.
• Manage the day-to-day administration and interpretation of labor agreements and facilitate on-going communication and working relationships with employee representative organizations including coordination of joint labor-management committees.
• Manage grievances and provide support in arbitration and/or mediation proceedings.
• Advise managers and supervisors on sensitive labor and employee relations matters, including grievance and arbitration procedures, performance issues and disciplinary actions.
• Serve as the department or division representative at the bargaining table and assist with contract implementations.
• Provide Department Human Resources Manager with regular briefings.
• Establish and maintain on-going, effective relations with supervisors, employees, shop stewards, and union officials to address all types of employee relations issues while ensuring a balance in representing all parties' interests.
• Advise and train on compliance with union contracts, county code, employment law, and other applicable policies and procedures; includes responsibility for designing, developing and delivering trainings, as well as creating training materials, manuals and resources.
• Review, analyze and provide input and enhancements to HR's practices and processes by contributing innovative ideas and recommending efficiencies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and skills that enables successful performance of the job.
• Three years or more of progressively responsible experience with employee and labor relations issues, including conducting employment workplace investigations and writing investigation reports, advising on performance management issues, interpreting and applying federal, state, and local employment rules and regulations, as well as human resources policies and procedures.
• Experience working in a highly unionized environment; public sector experience and experience in large, complex organizations.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively at all organizational levels.
• Comprehensive knowledge of labor law and collective bargaining principles and labor contract interpretation and administration.
• Experience providing recommendations to management on labor negotiations and strategy.
• In-depth knowledge of grievance, arbitration, and mediation proceedings.
• Thorough knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflict, build consensus, and navigate sensitive or potentially litigious situations with discretion and confidentiality.
• Strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• A strong and proven commitment to the principles of equity and social justice.
• Ability to work daily in a fast-paced environment, with multiple competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and sound judgment.
• Proficiency in commonly used MS Office applications.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:

• Knowledge of King County's operations, mission, and policies
• Knowledge of and experience with Equal Opportunity Employment laws and the ability to analyze and evaluate employment discrimination cases.
• Advanced skills in developing strategic recommendations for collective bargaining and advising senior management on labor strategy and negotiation proposals.
• Experience in Labor Management and HR Systems such as Origami Labor Software, People Soft, and NeoGov.

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:

• This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit and the .
• The Department of Community and Human Services team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is Chinook, 401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
• King County has a robust collection of to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime. Typical hours are Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm.
• This position is not represented by a union and follows King County Personnel Guidelines.
• Classification: Employee and Labor Relations

WHO MAY APPLY:
This recruitment is being reopened to ensure a sufficient candidate pool. The posting will remain open through June 5, 2026. Candidates who previously applied are not required to submit a new application, as their application is still under consideration.
This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive. If you have any questions, please contact Alicia Larsen,
Supplemental Information
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.Guided by our , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
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.
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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
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
Are you applying to this position as an eligible Priority Placement Program Participant who is a current or previous King County Employee impacted by layoff? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?

• Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
• No.

02
If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided:1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff
03
Do you have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field to the Employee and Labor Relations Representative position?

• Yes
• No

04
How many years of progressive professional lev...