Human Resources Manager in MOUNT VERNON, Washington at Youthnet

Youthnet is a nonprofit agency committed to serving children, youth, and families across Western Washington. Our programs focus on supporting youth and families involved with or at risk of involvement in our state foster care system. Ultimately, we are working together to create opportunities for healing from the past and promoting hope for the future.

Mission: Youthnet partners with young people and their families navigating systems of care, providing support that fosters hope, belonging, and the confidence to shape their own future

Vision: Connected families, empowered youth, flourishing communities.

At Youthnet, we value:

• Empowerment We uplift young people and families through collaboration and advocacy.
• Belonging We prioritize relationships, inclusiveness, and community in all of our work. We recognize that every individual needs authentic connection to flourish.
• Hope We know people provided with dignity, respect, and encouragement will create a future they believe in.
• Accountability We create an environment that nurtures integrity, transparency, and ongoing learning for ourselves and those we have the privilege to serve.

Youthnet is seeking a compassionate, people-centered Human Resources Manager to lead our HR function. Reporting to the Director of Finance & Administration and supervising the HR Coordinator, this role balances relational employee support with robust operational HR oversight. The HR Manager serves as a trusted advisor throughout the employee lifecycle while ensuring practices remain consistent, fair, and compliant.

The ideal candidate brings a calm, grounding presence during complex situations, someone who can quickly assess circumstances, triage priorities, and execute clear action plans while knowing when to seek executive guidance or specialized expertise.

Serve as an approachable, confidential, and trusted resource for employees. Provide thoughtful guidance on workplace policies, benefits, leave programs, and workplace processes, including complex leave and benefit-related matters. Help employees understand their options and available resources while resolving employee relations matters with empathy, consistency, and sound judgment.

Lead HRIS administration, benefits, compensation, and personnel records. Partner with Finance on workforce planning and reporting for budgeting and grant billing, while continuously modernizing and automating HR workflows. Supervise, coach, and support the HR Coordinator.

Manage end-to-end recruitment and orientation programs that attract mission-aligned staff. Ensure all hiring, credentialing, and employee records comply with state laws, licensing requirements, and grant contracts.

Coach supervisors on effective leadership, communication, performance documentation, PIPs, and terminations. Design and deliver practical supervisor tools and training to foster consistent leadership across the organization.

Monitor adherence to federal and Washington State labor laws, conduct routine audits of personnel files, and proactively identify employment risks. Escalate complex issues to the Director of Finance & Administration and coordinate with employment legal counsel as needed.

• Trusted Partnership: Staff and supervisors view HR as an accessible, responsive resource that empowers leaders rather than simply enforcing policy.
• Stabilizing Presence: Serves as a calm, reassuring force during moments of change or workplace challenge, maintaining clarity and steady guidance across the organization.
• Mission Alignment: Recruitment, onboarding, and engagement initiatives cultivate a culture of belonging and accountability, attracting and retaining dedicated team members.

• Structured Execution: HR processes and crisis responses are managed through clear, actionable plans that deliver consistent results without creating unnecessary administrative overhead.
• Data & System Integrity: HR systems, employee records, and Paylocity workflows are streamlined, audit-ready, and yield accurate reporting for payroll, grant billing, and budgeting.
• Team Development: The HR Coordinator is effectively coached and empowered, strengthening HR’s overall service delivery.

• Proactive Compliance: Labor law compliance, licensing standards, and contractual requirements are consistently met, with employee relations handled with fairness and discretion.
• Early Triage: Complex workforce issues, compliance risks, or operational bottlenecks are identified early, bringing in executive leadership or legal counsel before issues escalate.

This is a hybrid position involving both office-based and remote work, with travel between organizational locations as needed. The role requires the ability to lift and move computer equipment weighing up to 40 pounds and perform routine equipment setup as well as event set-up and breakdown.

Youthnet offers a professional, caring, and fun work environment where our team members feel supported and inspired. Our culture values collaboration, personal growth, and the meaningful impact of our work. Whether you're in the field or behind the scenes, you'll be part of a team that’s passionate about making a difference and enjoys doing it together. We provide the following benefits to ensure our employees can thrive:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance options for 30 hour+/week employees and their dependents
• Employee Assistance Program for benefit-eligible employees and a partnership with WorkLife to support all team members and their families
• Generous time off policies beginning at 27 days per year of PTO and 12 paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement with 3% match after eligibility
• Career development opportunities
• A supportive mission-aligned team environment

Youthnet provides equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other basis protected by state or federal law.

• Experience: 5+ years of progressive HR experience, including supervisory support and employee relations.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Technical Skills: Strong proficiency in Washington employment laws, HRIS management, and Google Workspace / MS Office.

• High emotional intelligence, active listening, confidentiality, and the ability to balance employee advocacy with organizational accountability.
• Composure & Crisis Navigation: Demonstrated ability to remain steady and steady others in challenging or fast-moving moments, approaching problems with a clear, solution-oriented mindset.
• Triage & Execution: Skilled at assessing complex situations, setting realistic priorities, building structured action plans, and driving them through to resolution.
• Self-Awareness & Judgment: Recognizes personal and operational limits; knows precisely when to escalate issues, consult with executive leadership or legal counsel, and leverage external expertise to achieve the best outcome.

• Hands-on experience administering or working extensively in Paylocity.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
• Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, behavioral health, or other highly regulated environments.
• Experience supporting organizations with state contracts or grant-funded programs.
• Experience leading HR process improvement initiatives and organizational change.
• Experience developing supervisor training and employee development programs.