People and Culture Partner

The mission of Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) is to radically improve how Washington residents secure health insurance through innovative and practical solutions, an easy-to-use customer experience, our values of integrity, respect, equity and transparency, and by providing undeniable value to the health care community.

The Exchange is a public-private partnership that operates Washington Healthplanfinder, the eligibility and enrollment portal used by one in four Washington residents to obtain health and dental coverage. Through this platform, and with support from a Customer Support Center and statewide network of in-person navigators and brokers, individuals and families can shop, compare and enroll in private, qualified health plans (as defined in the Affordable Care Act) or enroll in Washington Apple Health, the state Medicaid program.

The Exchange embraces the following equity statement adopted by our Board of Directors:

Equity is fundamental to the mission of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. The process of advancing toward equity and becoming anti-racist is disruptive and demands vigilance to dismantle deeply entrenched systems of privilege and oppression. While systemic racism is a root cause of many societal inequities, we must also use an intersectional approach to address all forms of bias and oppression, which interact with and often exacerbate racial inequities. To be successful, we must recognize the socioeconomic drivers of health and focus on people and places where needs are greatest. As we listen to community, we must hold ourselves accountable to responding to recommendations to remedy inequitable policies, systems, or practices within the Exchange’s area of influence. Our goal is that all Washingtonians have full and equal access to opportunities, power and resources to achieve their full potential.

SUMMARY

The People & Culture (P&C) Partner is a key contributor in developing and implementing P&C strategies that support WAHBE’s mission and vision. This position partners with the People and Culture Manager in implementing and evaluating P&C initiatives processes and systems that support management and employees in achieving organizational and people goals.  

This position anticipates people’s needs and works proactively with management from assigned departments to develop solutions. This position develops and maintains partnerships to deliver value-added services to management and employees that reflect WAHBE’s strategist objectives and business goals.  

This position provides professional and tactical service delivery in multiple functional areas which include: HRMS administration, benefits and leave administration (including health and wellness), compensation, staffing, classification, development, performance management and employee relations. The incumbent provides key information in crafting an overall strategy that helps support the organization’s people and culture objectives and is expected to develop subject matter expert-level competency in their assigned functional areas. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Workforce Planning

•    Works with managers to align WAHBE’s priorities with its workforce, by identifying current and future organizational structures and performing gap analysis.  

•    Identifies strategies to transition the workforce from current to future state that are aligned with the diversity initiative and comply with legal requirements and maximize existing people programs and systems.  

•    Updates org charts, tracks vacancies and reports out 

•    Recommends new, or suggests improvements to existing people initiatives and systems.  

Classification/Compensation

•    In partnership with managers, conducts job analysis of newly established and updated position descriptions.  

•    Performs internal job evaluation of new and updated position descriptions for alignment with WAHBE’s classification/position structure.  

•    Determines pay ranges for reviewed position descriptions and submits proposal to the People and Culture Manager.  

•    Conducts periodic evaluation and assessment of classification/compensation policies, structures and practices to make sure they align with organizational objectives and comply with legal requirements. Makes recommendations as needed.  

•    Answers classification/compensation-related questions from managers and employees.  

 Recruitment

•    Develops a comprehensive recruiting strategy based on the Diversity and Hiring Toolkit which includes, but is not limited to: consultation with hiring managers, reviewing job descriptions, creation and placement of job announcements, screening application materials, participating in the interview process, negotiating employment offers, assisting with on-boarding, initiating background checks, and all other general recruiting activities.  

•    Develops recruitment processes that are consistent with business needs, diversity considerations, and legal requirements.  

•    Evaluates recruiting processes and makes recommendations as needed.  

•    Processes  onboarding by completing items in the new hire checklist which include drafting offer letters, preparing new hire paperwork, payroll processing activities, and initiating required notifications.  

Benefits

•    Participates in developing and managing benefits best practices.  

•    Administers benefits which include: FMLA, reasonable accommodation, insurance, retirement, leave, reports, and professional development requests.  

•    Helps ensure that WAHBE’s benefits policies and practices align with organizational goals and comply with legal requirements.

•    Processes the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) semi-monthly transmittal reports.  

Performance Management/Training and Development 

•    Designs development plans with hiring managers that maximize people potential and align with organizational objectives.  

•    Assists with development plan elements, which may include training needs analysis, coaching, mentoring, etc.  

•    Designs, develops, implements and evaluates training programs to address organizational needs. May lead efforts to look for outside vendors to conduct organization wide training.  

•    Provides guidance and support in the performance review process, including working with managers and/or leading group sessions to identify team and individual goals that support department objectives.  

•    Provides guidance to managers in addressing performance and behavior-related employee issues. May conduct fact-finding and draft/review performance documentation as needed.  

QUALIFICATIONS

Required: 

•    Seven years of progressively responsible HR Generalist experience, which includes classification, and other relevant HR systems.  

•    Experience performing job evaluations with clear understanding of how size, scope and decision-making authority impacts the role.  

•    Understanding of PEBB Enrollment policies and procedures.  

•    Working knowledge of relevant federal and state HR laws.  

•    Keeps up with current legal trends and compliance.  

•    Demonstrated understanding and experience consulting through a DEI lens.  

•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills.  

•    Ability to follow-up on detailed tasks. 

•    Flexibility and adaptability to change.  

Desired:

•    A bachelor’s degree with emphasis in human resources management may substitute for two years of the experience requirement.  

•    Proficient computer skills and intermediate proficiency in relevant software such as MS Office Suite (especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) 

•    Experience implementing HR systems, initiatives and solutions to support department and organizational goals.

•    Experience consulting with and directing managers and stakeholders on human resources related issues.  

•    Basic project management skills.  

•    Intermediate level analytical skills 

•    Strong interpersonal skills; works effectively with all levels of internal management and staff, as well as candidates, vendors and diverse populations.  

•    Well organized, flexible, proactive, resourceful, and efficient with a strong attention to detail.  

•    Maintain confidentiality.  

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

This position will be open until we find a suitable number of candidates to review. If interested, please submit an application with a cover letter as soon as possible. The Exchange reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time. 

SALARY INFORMATION

Full Salary Range: $81,690.00 to $122,535.00 annually, with midpoint at $102,113.00. 

Hiring Range: $93,944.00 and $102,113.00 annually. This is an estimate of where a qualified candidate can expect to receive an offer. 

The actual salary offer will consider candidate experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and the market.  Our compensation policy reserves the salary range above the midpoint for employees who are meeting and exceeding expectations and for growth and development, up to the maximum. 

BENEFITS

Take a peek at our benefits package. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

Core business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. There are times where irregular hours will be required.  The preferred duty station is our Olympia, Washington headquarters. The nature of this role relies heavily on remote and in-person collaboration.  While a hybrid remote and on-site schedule may be considered, the position will require flexibility to allow for in-office availability as business needs dictate. Travel requirements will be limited, however there may be occasions where an employee is required to travel and work irregular hours to attend meetings or trainings. Duties of this position require the use of standard office furniture and equipment, including setup for remote work. The employee is responsible for providing and maintaining a safe, ergonomic, and secure workspace at their remote location.   

The working conditions and physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

A criminal background screen will be conducted for candidates under final consideration, and if hired, every five years of employment where highly sensitive data is processed or maintained by the position. The incumbent in this role will also be required to complete a federal fingerprint background check. The results of these background screens must meet the Exchange’s eligibility standards. 

OTHER INFORMATION

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and levels of work being performed.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills of personnel so classified.

This is not an employment agreement or contract.  Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

We participate in E-Verify. You can view the Department of Justice's Right to Work poster here.