Description
This role is primarily in office however some work from home may be available.
Summary Why It's a Great Opportunity: This is an opportunity to take on a visible HR leadership role supporting Pierce County's Superior and Juvenile Courts, with an initial focus on Juvenile Court. You will work closely with court leadership to provide strategic HR guidance, address organizational needs, and shape how human resources services support the Courts and their workforce. You will play an important role in connecting County resources and expertise with the unique needs of the judicial environment. Your work will span the full range of human resources, including recruitment and talent acquisition, employee and labor relations, workforce planning, classification and compensation, and leadership support. You will have the opportunity to influence organizational decisions, advise and coach managers and supervisors, and bring forward thoughtful, contemporary approaches to attracting and retaining talent. Working across organizational boundaries, you will help translate complex HR issues into practical solutions that support both employees and the operational needs of the Courts. If you enjoy variety, solving complex problems, building strong partnerships, and having a meaningful influence on an organization, this role offers an opportunity to put your HR experience to work in a distinctive public-service environment. Why It’s a Great Department: Pierce County Juvenile Court plays an important role in serving young people and families in our community. Its work involves a broad network of professionals and community partners across areas such as education, child welfare, mental health, substance-use treatment, and other services that influence the lives of young people and their families. Working in Juvenile Court means being part of an organization where public service, collaboration, and meaningful community impact are central to the work. Employees bring a variety of professional backgrounds and perspectives, working across disciplines to carry out the responsibilities of the Court and serve the community. The Court values relationships, diverse perspectives, continuous learning, and a willingness to engage with challenging work. Its guiding principles emphasize gratitude, valuing differences, maintaining a growth mindset, choosing courage over comfort, and practicing authenticity. For an HR leader, this presents an opportunity to support a diverse workforce and partner with leaders across different areas of the organization. Your work will help ensure managers and employees have the HR guidance, resources, and support they need to contribute to the Court's important public-service mission. Learn more About Juvenile Court here. How to Be Successful in the Role: Success in this role requires an experienced HR professional with a broad understanding of human resources and the ability to apply that knowledge in a complex organizational environment. You will serve as a trusted advisor to court leadership, managers, and supervisors, providing guidance across a wide range of HR matters while balancing employee needs, organizational priorities, policies, and applicable employment laws. Building trust and strong working relationships will be essential. You should be comfortable coaching and mentoring supervisors, navigating difficult employee relations matters, interpreting labor agreements, and providing thoughtful guidance on sensitive issues. The ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and communicate clearly is critical. You will need to be analytical, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused. Not every situation will have an obvious answer, so the ability to think critically, consider different perspectives, assess risk, and develop practical solutions will serve you well. Adaptability and collaboration are equally important. You will work across the Courts and centralized County HR, navigating distinct organizational structures and priorities. A willingness to learn the judicial environment, bring forward new ideas, and find constructive ways to move work forward will contribute to your success. Your Future in this Role: A career with Pierce County means joining an organization invested in your growth. Through leadership development, robust online learning, and a variety of training opportunities, we provide continuous professional development at every stage. This commitment empowers you to contribute meaningfully while advancing your skills and supporting resilient communities, reliable infrastructure, and equitable outcomes for all.
Core Daily Responsibilities:
- Serve as the primary human resources advisor to Superior Court and Juvenile Court leadership, including the Court Executive Officer, Deputy Court Executive Officers, Court managers, and supervisors, providing guidance on complex and sensitive human resource matters.
- Partner with Court leadership to identify workforce needs, organizational challenges, employee relations concerns, and human resources priorities and develop appropriate strategies and solutions.
- Oversee and coordinate the delivery of day-to-day HR services for Superior Court and Juvenile Court, ensuring services are timely, accurate, consistent, and responsive to Court operational needs.
- Coordinate recruitment and selection processes, including development of recruitment strategies, position reviews, screening processes, interviews, selection processes, background requirements, and onboarding.
- Coordinate classification and compensation reviews and proposals and assist Court leadership in evaluating organizational structures, staffing models, job responsibilities, and appropriate classifications.
- Advise management regarding position development, organizational design, staffing needs, succession planning, and workforce planning.
- Serve as a primary advisor to Court managers and supervisors regarding employee relations matters, including performance management, conduct, corrective action, discipline, workplace conflict, attendance, and other employment concerns.
- Conduct or coordinate workplace investigations involving Court employees, as appropriate, in consultation with centralized Human Resources and other appropriate County resources.
- Assist Court management in interpreting and applying collective bargaining agreements, personnel rules, Court policies, County policies, and applicable employment laws, in consultation with County HR as appropriate.
- Monitor changes in applicable employment laws, regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, and Court rules and advise Court leadership regarding their impact on human resources practices and Court operations.
A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here. Minimum Qualifications
- Post-secondary education may substitute for up to four (4) years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
- Eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional human resources experience, including experience providing HR consultation to managers and supervisors.
- Two (2) years of experience in a lead, supervisory, management, or other progressively responsible HR role preferred.
- Court, governmental, public-sector, labor relations, or other highly regulated organizational experience preferred.
- Attach a resume and a cover letter. Applications without these attachments may not be considered.
As a condition of employment, you will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration. Supplemental Information
How to Apply:
- Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting “APPLY” above or visiting www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
- Attach a resume and a cover letter, applications without these attachments may not be considered.
- If you have questions about this opportunity, email the Recruitment Team atPCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and include the job number and title.
- Individuals who need accommodation in the application or interview process may contact Human Resources at (253) 798-7480 at least two days prior to the need.
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.
Our Recruitment Practices: This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use Al tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing skills. During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on Al-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation. Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews. Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity. Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment: Pierce County is committed to creating a welcoming environment with broad access to opportunities at every stage of employment. We aim to recruit, develop, and retain a workforce with a wide range of experiences and perspectives, all dedicated to serving our community. County employees make a visible impact across Pierce County. Join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.
Benefits
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our Leadership Training Program, and a County Book Club.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Our benefits:
Vacation (Annual Leave) Employees begin accruing vacation leave as soon as they start earning it and can use their accrued leave right away. We value your experience and recognize your service by increasing vacation accrual rates the longer you work with us. Full-time employees accrue vacation leave every two weeks at the following rates:
Vacation Accruals:
During years 1-3, 12 Days During years 4-7, 16 Days During years 8-13, 20 Days During years 14-18, 23 Days During years 19, 24 Days During years 20, 25 Days During years 21, 26 Days During years 22, 27 Days During years 23, 28 Days During years 24, 29 Days During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days
A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next. Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.
Military Leave:
Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.
Holidays:
Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:
New Year's Day - January 1 Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday - Third Monday in January President's Day - Third Monday in February Memorial Day - Last Monday in May Juneteenth - June 19 Independence Day - July 4 Labor Day - First Monday in September Veteran's Day - November 11 Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after Christmas Day - December 25
Personal Holidays:
Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.
Furlough:
Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.
Sick Leave:
Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.
Insurance Benefits:
Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the Pierce County Health Benefits website.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation:
Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washington's Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment will be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plan. This is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security:
All Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
ORCA Passport Program Pierce County employees may participate in the County's ORCA (One Regional Card for All) Passport program.Your Pierce County issued ORCA card is loaded with an annual Passport pass. The pass automatically renews every year. The pass will provide you with free transportation on regularly scheduled service on several public transit systems.
Miscellaneous Benefits:
Please visit Pierce County's Benefits website for more information.
Telework/Remote Options:
Some departments allow for telework or work-from-home options dependent on the body of work. Learn more about our telework policy here. **All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
