Personnel Investigator (Human Resource Consultant 4)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Human Resources Office within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Personnel Investigator (Human Resource Consultant 4) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Join Ecology’s Human Resources team in this role focused on conducting administrative investigations. You will be responsible for establishing and improving policies and procedures related to investigations and discipline, while also infusing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) principles into our policies, procedures, and best practices. If you have an interest in investigations, you will find this opportunity especially rewarding as it allows you to specialize and focus on this work, gain experience in the variety of investigations conducted at Ecology, and collaborate closely with the Information Technology Services Office to interpret computer use data. 

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations.  

Program Mission: The mission of the Human Resources Office is to develop successful employees, promote healthy and productive relationships, ensure a safe work environment and recruit great talent to achieve Ecology’s mission. 

Telework options for this position: This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint. This position requires working in the office for parts of the investigative process, including investigatory interviews that are best conducted in person, and in-person staff and team meetings.

Applicants with questions about position location options, telework, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on October 1, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before September 30, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

Please Note: We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information 
 

About the Department of Ecology

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan. 

 

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.

 
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.
 

Duties

What makes this role unique?

This position, within Ecology’s HR office, is dedicated exclusively to conducting administrative investigations. In addition to updating and establishing policies and procedures and enhancing existing practices, you will incorporate feedback from various resources, including the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) Organizational Assessment, into the agency’s investigative processes. You will also have the opportunity to coach and mentor HR staff who assist with conducting investigations.

What you will do: 

• Conduct effective, timely, and thorough administrative investigations into allegations of employee misconduct and/or policy violations.
• Collaborate with members of the Information Technology Services Office to ensure effective and efficient transfer of forensic data, for use in applicable administrative investigations. Translate and utilize forensic data in a manner that will be credible, easily comprehended by a diverse audience, and withstand scrutiny through the appeal process. 
• Review feedback from multiple sources, including the DEIR Organizational Assessment and employee listening venues, to ensure investigatory procedures are clear and transparent, and that individuals involved in the process feel heard and respected. 
• Review and respond to complaints filed through the Washington State Human Rights commission and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 
• Coach and mentor other HR team members in investigation best practices and processes.
• Research, recommend, and consult on policy updates and processes/best practices to ensure compliance with applicable rules. Assist with updating existing policies or new policies related to personnel investigations and discipline. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:
 

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent 

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

A total of seven (7) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience: in broad-based professional human resources, including advising and consulting on human resource issues (professional development, organizational development, performance management, classification, investigations, reasonable accommodations, discipline/just cause, generalist functions). 
  Experience must include:
  • Three (3) years in investigating various types of alleged employee misconduct on behalf of a Human Resource Office, developing and maintaining relationships with management and employees, managing and drafting responses to WA State Human Rights Commission and/or U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint filings. 
     
• Education: involving a major study in business administration, public administration, human resources, social or organizational behavioral sciences, or related field.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:
 

Possible Combinations: College credits or degree – as listed above: Years of required experience – as listed above 

Combination 1; No college credits or degree; 7 years of experience

Combination 2; 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits; 6 years of experience

Combination 3; 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (AA degree); 5 years of experience

Combination 4; 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits; 4 years of experience

Combination 5; A Bachelor's Degree or higher; 3 years of experience

Additional Required Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret, and apply laws, rules, policy, procedures, and (preferably) collective bargaining agreements. 
• Advanced knowledge of just cause standards and due process steps, investigations, evidence and reporting, and computer forensics. 
• Expert skill in investigative interviewing techniques and methodologies. 

 
Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or other related certification. 
• Expert knowledge of current state and federal statutes, regulations, and case law regarding labor, personnel, civil rights, and ethics. 
• Experience interpreting and applying labor contracts, rules, and statues. 

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
 
Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?
 

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.  

Application Instructions:
 
It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.
 

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• A list of three professional references.

Note: References will only be contacted during the final steps of the recruitment process for candidates selected as finalists. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s formal authorization.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
  
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):
 

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc.
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded.

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:
Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.
 
Application Attestation:
 
The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.
 
Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Mollie Clinton at: Mollie.Clinton@ecy.wa.gov Please do not contact Mollie to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?
 
As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.
 
Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.
 
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology 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, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency.