Chief Human Resources Officer

Please Note: The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the starting salary range of $175,000 - $195,000 annually.  Please note that there is career salary growth beyond this starting range for the successful candidate.  This recruitment will remain open until filled and the hiring manager may make a hiring decision at any time.

Hybrid: Our physical office is in Olympia, WA.  We offer flexible work schedules and locations. This is a hybrid position that allows teleworking. However, you will need to travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events according to business needs frequently.  

Who we are:

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) serves as the backbone of Washington state government. Our mission is to make our state a better place by connecting people, budgets, policies, data, and systems for state agencies and the Legislature. Our team includes budget advisors, researchers, and other experts, all dedicated public servants working towards an equitable future for every Washingtonian. 

Who you are:

Our core values – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Integrity (DEIB), Innovation, Collaboration and Operational Excellence – speak to you because they’re as human-centered as you are.  You bring a high degree of humility and self-awareness to each task you tackle.

You understand how to create and lead high-performing teams that respect their fellow teammates and peers throughout the organization. You can also lead through ambiguity and be called on to deliver in nuanced and complex environments. You are a strong and efficient collaborator who understands how to maintain key relationships when it’s not possible to satisfy all parties.  A compelling facilitative leader, you can influence and inspire others — even those who you don’t have direct authority over.

You can act quickly with time-sensitive and demanding work and thrive in a fast-paced environment. You know when to dive deeply into strategy, and when to roll up your sleeves to get the job done.

You will use creativity and curiosity to solve problems so that our services are effective and efficient for all state organizations. You can demonstrate how you’ve built strong and productive relationships with labor organizations.

You’ll also be the go-to person for helping the state navigate complex and often competing interests—from labor unions to legislators, from agency heads to advocacy groups. That means thinking strategically, communicating clearly, and acting with integrity.

We're looking for a leader who sees human resources as more than just policies and processes—it’s about people, equity, and impact.  If you’re someone who thrives on solving tough problems, believes in the power of public service, and wants to leave a legacy of innovation—we want to hear from you.

The role:

As our next Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), you’ll guide the strategic direction of human resources for the entire state, ensuring the systems we build serve both our agencies and the communities we support.   

This is a big role with a big purpose. As the state’s top HR official, you will set the overall direction for statewide human resource systems and policies that align with our Governor’s goals. This includes overseeing the civil service system, managing classification and compensation structures, guiding labor relations and collective bargaining strategy, and using workforce analytics to inform decisions.  In addition, you will serve as a key advisor to the Governor, OFM Director and Cabinet on matters affecting state employees, both represented and non-represented, across civil service and exempt positions.

Key Responsibilities:

• You will lead the administration of the Washington General Service, Washington Management Service, Exempt Management Service, and the State Officials Salary Administration (SOSA) program. Your role includes resolving personnel issues, making final determinations on appeals, and ensuring agency compliance with civil service rules and state policies.
• As a steward of data-informed decision-making, you’ll lead efforts to integrate and modernize HR systems, including overseeing the state’s official human capital management platform and future enterprise resource planning efforts.
• You’ll also represent the State of Washington externally—building partnerships with labor organizations, public agencies, national networks, and professional associations. You will promote the state as an employer of choice and help tell the story of public service as a meaningful and impactful career path.
• Additionally, you will serve as a member of the Public Employees Benefits Board, which governs health and insurance benefit programs for state employees.

This role is your opportunity to bring bold ideas to the table, build strong partnerships across sectors, and make people-centered decisions that shape a modern, inclusive, and high-performing public workforce. You’ll work closely with agency leaders and HR professionals to align workforce strategy with state priorities—and you’ll be at the center of that alignment.

This role carries significant influence and responsibility. You’ll make decisions that affect thousands of employees and have lasting financial and policy implications. But you won’t be doing it alone—you’ll be leading a dedicated team, collaborating across agencies, and working with a community of public servants who care deeply about their work.

What we need you to bring--Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated cultural competency and commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in public sector HR practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of enterprise-wide human resource systems, including civil service, classification, compensation, labor relations, and benefits administration.
• Ability to develop and implement HR strategies that align with organizational goals and statewide priorities.
• Skill in interpreting, applying, and developing personnel policies, rules, and labor contracts within a complex regulatory and political environment.
• Ability to lead strategic workforce planning initiatives using data and analytics to inform decisions and address statewide talent challenges.
• Proficiency in guiding cross-agency collaboration and stakeholder engagement to implement enterprise HR policies and practices.
• Understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks related to labor law, collective bargaining, and public sector employment.
• Ability to represent the organization in high-stakes negotiations, public forums, and media interactions with professionalism and clarity.
• Skill in coaching, mentoring, and supporting leaders and HR professionals across the enterprise.
• Experience leading organizational change and process improvement efforts.
• Ability to manage complex, high-impact decisions related to workforce strategy, policy development, and labor relations.
• Inclusive communication skills that foster trust, transparency, and collaboration across diverse employee groups.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, human resources, labor relations, law, organizational leadership, or related field. 
• Senior Human Resources leadership experience in state, local or federal government. 
• Experience supporting union-represented employees. 
• Experience influencing legislative or public policy impacting workforce systems, labor relations, or employment law. 
• Proven experience managing HR operations during organizational transformation, consolidation, or restructuring. 
• Demonstrated innovation in HR technology adoption, including the use of AI, automation, or data visualization tools to improve service delivery. 
• Track record of successful collaboration with elected officials, union leadership, and community stakeholders in high-profile or politically sensitive situations. 
• Experience navigating multijurisdictional HR systems (e.g., tribal, federal, state, local) or large, decentralized organizations. 
• Recognition as a thought leader in human capital strategy, talent development, or public sector workforce trends. 
• Experience leading or participating in national or regional workforce coalitions, advisory groups, or interagency task forces. 
• Demonstrated agility in responding to crises, such as natural disasters, public health emergencies, or economic disruptions, with workforce continuity and care. 
• Fluency in trauma-informed and employee well-being practices in large or high-stress organizations. 
• Understanding of fiscal management related to HR budgeting, workforce cost modeling, or compensation forecasting. 

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don’t let doubts stop you from applying for this position.  If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience relates to them.

What we offer: 

At OFM, we foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.  

Please visit our Recruitment Page for a full list of benefits available to employees. Here’s a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that OFM offers: 

• An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging 
• Tuition reimbursement 
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance 
• 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year 
• State retirement programs 

Application Process: Once you’ve decided to apply for a state government job, you’ll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you submit the application, a real person is going to read it. We do not use AI or other technology that screens your application and rejects it.  So please be sure to provide clear and detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation in applying, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384. 

When completing your application, we encourage you to attach all of the following: 

• Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position 
• Resume: that details your applicable experience and education. 
• References: at least three professional references and their contact information. 

Questions: 
OFM's Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard of hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at TalentAcquisition@ofm.wa.gov.  

 
The Office of Financial Management is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.

This position is exempt from civil service rules.

For more information, please see WAC 357-19-195.