HR Analyst - Safety and Compliance in Oak Harbor, Washington at City of Oak Harbor

Perform professional senior level human resources work and provide expert analytic advice on a variety of sensitive and complex human resources issues including recruitment, selection, classification, wage and salary administration, workers’ compensation, employee relations, labor negotiations, training, and related functions. Provide information and assistance to employees and management on all HR functions and personnel matters. Plan, coordinate and perform a variety of professional and administrative tasks in support of the Human Resources Director and assigned areas of responsibility. Duties require a high degree of confidentiality, diplomacy and tact, and ability to work independently or jointly.
Work activities involve multiple skills and may include, but are not limited to, any of the following depending on area of assignment, business needs, emergency services, special projects, and seasonal factors:

• Aid with employee relations issues; provide information and assistance to departmental personnel regarding employee evaluations, disciplinary actions, and other employee relations issues. Assist HR Director in conducting workplace investigations, resolve workplace problems and prevent recurrences.
• Perform wage and benefit surveys; complete surveys (i.e., AWC annual survey, state surveys, etc.); research classification and compensation; compile information for collective bargaining negotiations.
• Complete special assignments/projects (i.e., research, writing) as required. Research and compile data from varied sources to prepare reports, job descriptions, special City departments’ projects (i.e., spreadsheets, flyers, brochures). Prepare or process confidential information as required.
• Manage recruitment and selection process (for both Civil Service and Non-civil service positions) including creating/proofing correspondence, documents, letters, reports, advertising, collating applicant packets, screening, mailing, tallying data, and filing. Conduct criminal background and reference checks on employee candidates.
• Work with departments and Human Resources Director to design recruitment strategies. Assist department supervisors in revising job descriptions and interview questions. Compose and place job advertisements and announcements.
• Review and evaluate candidate submittals for minimum requirements, recommend suitable candidates to hiring manager. Schedule candidate interviews. Conduct criminal background and reference checks on employee candidates.
• Conduct new employee orientations and exit interviews.
• Create and manage master personnel records, including information and retention tracking. Maintain confidential personnel and medical files.
• Manage Labor and Industries workers’ compensation records and claims. Provide information to Third Party Administrator by case. Assist in preparing necessary reports including annual DOSH report. Advise City departments of claim status as needed. Process first-aid/near miss reports.
• Administer and track FMLA Leave.
• Establish, design, and maintain office files, spreadsheets, data bases, logs, and records systems. Input, retrieve, monitor, verify, transfer and purge manual and computer data/records/files/logs in accordance with archiving requirements and practices. Formulate/prepare correspondence, reports, charts and other documents from notes and draft materials. Coordinate and assist in the design of documents and records. Proofread and edit a variety of documents.
• Update and maintain the HR department website and intranet folders (input, edit, and update information and format).
• Maintain human resource information system records and compiles reports from the database.
• Provide training to agency management about HR matters to ensure compliance with applicable employment and labor relations laws and best practice.
• Assist with employee benefits and open enrollment.
• Coordinate training (set up location, ensure required equipment is available, prepare certificates, track employee attendance). Provide recommendations on training needs and programs, problem areas and opportunities.
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, City officials, other city departments and the public using good judgment, tact, and courtesy.
• Respond to inquiries in a courteous manner; provide information within area of responsibility. Direct inquiries to other department personnel as appropriate.
• Serve as a member of internal, City-related committees (as directed).
• Maintain absolute confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Serve as the Secretary / Examiner to the Civil Service Commission.

Program Assignments
While the core responsibilities of the HR Analyst position remain the same, each Analyst will be assigned specific program areas of focus. This opening will focus on safety and compliance.

Program Assignment – Safety & Compliance.
This HR Analyst will serve as the primary lead for:

• Safety program coordination
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Ethics Programs
• Workers’ compensation administration
• Labor and Industry (L&I) reporting and compliance
• Safety Program Manager responsibilities
• Recruitment Support

Both HR Analysts will collaborate, develop Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) documentation, and cross train to ensure consistent service delivery and continuity across all HR programs.

Associated Job Functions:

• Attend and participate in professional group meetings, various workshops, continuing education meetings, seminars, and conferences.
• Perform portions of the work of lower or higher classified positions, as assigned.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Supervisory Responsibility:
No direct supervisory responsibilities.

Performance Requirements (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with or without reasonable accommodation

Knowledge of:

• Multiple human resource disciplines as well as current trends and practices of public human resources administration.
• Federal and state employment and benefit law.
• Civil Service laws.
• HRIS in government software.
• Record keeping methods and procedures.
• English, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation.

Skill in:

• Gathering, interpreting, and presenting data clearly and concisely in reports.
• Using a personal computer and a broad variety of associated software and other standard office equipment.
• Flexible and efficient time management and workload organization and prioritization.
• Conducting research via the internet and other resources.

Ability to:

• Quickly learn general personnel policies and procedures applicable to the City.
• Be approachable and nonjudgmental when discussing employee concerns.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Collect, compile and input (word process) information and data for a variety of reports.
• Learn and stay apprised of new trends and innovations in the human resources field.

An equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential job functions may be considered.

• Minimum two (2) or more years of progressively responsible experience in human resources with labor relations, personnel classification, and compensation; and a familiarity with recruitment, promotion, testing, evaluation, personnel policy and procedures, and benefits administration.
• Excellent computer operation skills and experience with a variety of software programs including Microsoft Office applications, database programs, and internet research tools. Strong MS Excel and MS Word skills required.
• Valid state driver's license and ability to provide a driver’s abstract showing a good driving record.
• Complete a comprehensive criminal background screening prior to hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in human resources, business, public administration, psychology, or a related field is preferred.
• Certified Labor Relations Professional (CLRP) preferred or similar association or designation.
• Multi-lingual ability highly desirable.

The physical demands and characteristics of the work environment described here are representative of those occurring in the performance of the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed in an office environment with some travel to other City buildings. Work requires reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, the ability to communicate information and ideas so others understand, ability to observe details at a close range, ability to operate a personal computer, telephone, and other equipment, as well as the ability to remain stationary for extended periods of time and access all areas of the facility including stairs, and occasionally moving items more than twenty-five (25) pounds.

Safety Statement:
We expect employees to ensure compliance with all applicable safety practices and policies, including those established by OSHA/DOSH regulations and the City’s Accident Prevention Program (APP). This includes, but is not limited to, actively identifying, and correcting potential hazards that may affect employee and public safety, including those identified by co-workers. Leading by example to promote a positive culture of workplace safety through everyday action, emphasizing safe completion of work throughout all aspects of developing and carrying out work plans.