Human Resources Associate

Reporting to the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) Human Resources Manager, incumbent will perform a wide variety of human resources/administrative functions in support of a department of over 900 employees in five DAJD Divisions (Seattle and Kent Detention Facilities, Juvenile Detention, Community Corrections and Administration), including positions represented by eleven bargaining units, in a quasi-military structure, hierarchal (chain-of-command) environment. 
 
The DAJD Human Resources (HR) Unit consists of a six-member team which includes the HR Manager, two Senior HR Analysts, two HR Analysts and the HR Associate position, which we are filling at this time.  While assigned to the Administrative Division, this position will, on occasion, need to access offices within the secure perimeter of the detention facilities with potential inmate contact.
 
DAJD is a professional and nationally recognized organization that supports safe, vibrant, and healthy communities in partnership with other criminal justice and human service agencies. DAJD  operates the largest county jail in the State of Washington, housing an average daily population of more than 1800 inmates.

DAJD's mission is to contribute to the public safety of the citizens of King County and Washington State by operating safe, secure, and humane detention facilities and community corrections programs, in an innovative and cost-effective manner.

DAJD is committed to upholding and promoting equal opportunity in employment. DAJD encourages people of all backgrounds, cultures and religions to apply, including veterans, people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities. DAJD values diversity and is committed to making appropriate accommodations as needed to support diversity as we believe that a diverse workforce is a strong workforce. 
 
SCOPE OF JOB DUTIES:
 

• Provide quality customer service by ensuring accurate information, defensible advice and thorough consultation with applicants, employees, supervisors and managers on a variety of human resources issues in a highly unionized environment.
•  Serve as the subject matter expert on the recruitment process for Corrections Officers.  Facilitate and oversee the recruitment process for the Corrections Officers position.  Including participating in recruitment events, selection, conducting reference checks, backgrounding, and onboarding of newly hired Corrections Officers.
• Assist with the coordination/completion of background investigations for both new hires and external department employees who require access to our secure detention facilities (including DAJD staff and non-DAJD access request)
• Process Jail ID cards for both DAJD staff and non-DAJD staff who require access to our secure detention facilities.
• Support and contribute to the continuous process improvement of HR practices and processes.
• Provide support on litigation and internal investigations including, conducting research and preparation of documents.
• Support the HR Analysts on active recruitments as workload permits.
• Perform other duties as assigned within scope of classification.

 
The HR Associate duties will encompass the following skills:  HR technical skills, customer service, collaboration/team work, and professional judgment. Technical skills will include various aspects of human resource operations including recruitment, records management, position management, leave administration, and coordination of background investigation process for staff (DAJD and non-DAJD) requiring facility access.  Responsibilities will include utilizing Human Capital Management (HCM), PeopleSoft (PS), online hiring (NeoGov or other similar applicant tracking system), and other related database and programs.  Work is in a high volume, multi-focused, fast paced environment, following established processes and procedures. 
 
Desirable candidates will possess:
 

• One (1) year of human resource experience working with complex processes in high quantity recruitment, customer service and administrative functions; or three (3) years as a paraprofessional to include one year working in support of human resources.
• A working knowledge of human resources practices and processes, federal, state and local employment laws.
• Demonstrated ability maintaining a professional demeanor and providing timely and reliable customer service.
• Strong organization skills and demonstrated ability to manage quickly changing priorities and quickly changing information.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining confidentiality, personal integrity and dependability.
• Skilled oral and written communicator to a diverse audience.
• Experience in problem solving, analyzing and assessing information.
• Strong demonstrated commitment to providing excellent customer service to applicants,  current employees, supervisors and managers.
• Possess the skills necessary to effectively work as a part of a team, as well as  independently, as a self-starter with the ability to prioritize and manage own work.
• Able to develop strong and effective working relationships with colleagues within all levels of the department and external stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Intermediate level of skills in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point; use of general office equipment, including sufficient knowledge to scan, copy, and fax.

 
Highly desirable candidates will also have:
 

• A Bachelor's Degree in human resources, business, public administration, or closely related field and or an equivalent combination of education and current experience.
• Prior experience facilitating human resources processes in a unionized environment.
• One year of experience working with an applicant program such as NeoGov or similar applicant tracking system to conduct and track recruitments.
• One year experience performing data entry utilizing PeopleSoft, or similar Human Resources Information System for tracking employee information.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Outlook and Word.

 
Details regarding the position:
 
This position is open to everyone for application. This is a 40-hour work week, overtime eligible position. Scheduled to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The work space for this position will be located in the King County Courthouse (Downtown Seattle).
 
Only the top selected candidates will be invited to interview. It is a hiring requirement that all staff employed by DAJD successfully pass a thorough background investigations process, which includes fingerprinting, criminal history check, a polygraph examination, reference checks, and other tests as deemed necessary.
 
This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117, Professional, Technical and Administration (P/T/A) bargaining unit.  Our successful candidate will be required to join this union within 30 calendar days after beginning employment. Also, first consideration will be given to current, eligible Local 117 P/T/A bargaining unit members. 
 
If you'd like to learn more about this position or working for DAJD, please contact Wilena Montgomery, DAJD Senior Human Resources Analyst, at (206) 447-2361 or via email at wilena.montgomery@kingcounty.gov.
 
Application Submission Information:
If you are interested in applying for this position and becoming a member of the DAJD team, you will need to submit the entire King County application and required supplemental questionnaire. Resumes or letters of interest alone will not substitute for the full application. Online applications are preferred and can be submitted via the King County Jobs Website (http://www.kingcounty.gov/jobs).
 
For assistance with the online application process, please contact NEOGov Customer Support toll free at: 1-877-204-4442 (Governmentjobs.com customer support).
 
PLEASE NOTE: Translation services are available to applicants. If needed, please contact Wilena Montgomery for assistance at (206) 477-2361 or via email at Wilena.Montgomery@kingcounty.gov. 
 
PREA Notification:
The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) follows and maintains federal and state requirements standards including, but not limited to, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards which apply to all public and private institutions that house adult or juvenile offenders. PREA standards preclude the department from hiring or promoting anyone who has engaged in, or been convicted of any conduct which would violate PREA standards related to sexual assault including:
 

• Sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution;
• Convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or,
• Has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above.

Additionally, PREA standards require that the department consider any incidents of sexual harassment involving an inmate or detainee in determining whether or not to hire or promote anyone.

The above is in compliance with PREA and its implementing regulations, 28 C.F.R. Part 115, Subpart A, Section 115.17, Hiring and Promotion Decisions.

Applicants requesting Veteran's Preference must provide a copy of their DD-214, a scanned copy (pdf format) will suffice for this purpose. 

Finalist selected for this position must successfully complete a thorough background investigation process, including fingerprinting, police checks, a polygraph examination and reference checks.