Program Representative II

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Program Representative II to join our team at Yakima County. This role will provide direct liaison and human resource support to management of assigned departments, analyzing current organizational needs and making personnel program recommendations to ensure effective interaction of Human Resources with the department in meeting the department's goals and business objectives.

• Provides direct liaison and human resource support to management of assigned departments
• Analyzes current organizational needs and makes personnel program recommendations
• Responds to inquiries regarding labor contract issues and interpretation, labor law and County personnel policies and procedures
• Serves as a knowledgeable resource to assigned departments regarding policies and procedures as it relates to employment, employee benefits, management rights and any other topics pertaining to workforce management from an HR perspective
• Troubleshoots problems and responds to sensitive claims, inquiries and complaints for programs such as Health Insurance and other voluntary benefit programs
• Provides recruitment services to assigned departments, coordinating and managing the full life-cycle recruitment process
• Develops, validates and administers pre-employment processes and examinations; reviews, interprets and evaluates results
• Monitors staffing levels and maintains hiring and other eligibility lists or recruitment records; coordinates hiring with department management
• Screens applications for minimum qualifications and works with the department regarding interview and selection processes
• Ensures recruitment advertising and posting strategies are current and position descriptions are reviewed and validated prior to recruitment
• Coordinates and purchases advertising, reconciles advertising invoices for processing and payment by department
• Performs background investigation checks as requested; monitors and maintains background records and processes authorization to departments for payment of background check fees
• Verifies candidate selection meets EEOC and county employment standards; processes job file for closure
• Coordinates, prepares and participates in virtual and in-person job fairs to promote employment at Yakima County
• Provides direct liaison and human resource support to employees of assigned departments, retirees and applicants
• Facilitates/Conducts orientation to new employees, explaining applicable rules, policies, responsibilities, benefits and organizational structure
• Coordinates new employee orientation sessions, verifies eligibility with Department of Retirement Systems, monitors completion of required hiring documents and informs new employees of their rights and obligations as employees
• Conducts standard, retiree, and military Exit Interviews with employees to educate employee on the final status of benefits and compensation and to retrieve data relevant in making recommendations to departments in regard to recruitment
• Serves as knowledgeable resource to employees, retirees, job applicants and the general public by receiving and responding to a variety of information requests involving employment records, job applications, and other Human Resources matters, and which are governed by strict laws, rules and regulations, and those requiring confidentiality
• Responds to employee requests and answers questions regarding employment, employee rights, and benefits and assists in reviewing / obtaining benefit materials and forms
• Works with HR professional staff to ensure timely notification to and from the employees regarding employee benefit claims and requests including worker's compensation claims, FMLA leave requests, reclassification requests, ADA accommodation, and access to HR assistance in matters of employee concern
• Monitors Policy Compliance, monitoring hours worked for compliance with Yakima County's Extra Help Policy, retirement (DRS), and health (ACA) benefit eligibility status of assigned Extra Help employees
• Ensures compliance with Yakima County Policy regarding Layoff rules and regulations according to the bargaining unit contract and labor law
• Contacts departments and coordinates/assists the Senior Management in obtaining additional information needed for sensitive inquiries such as investigations, grievances, unemployment, and disciplinary issues
• Provides interpretations regarding Collective Bargaining language and applicable County policies not addressed in the bargaining agreement
• Performs configuration and data entry into a Human Resource Information System (HRIS) and other employment related software and websites
• Verifies employment eligibility (I-9 Verification) on new employees
• Configures and maintains business processes in the HRIS system
• Enters (including integration or EIB), updates, and verifies personnel records in an automated human resource/financial management system (Workday) and pertinent websites to ensure personnel actions are implemented
• Processes Workday personnel data entry for new hires, transfers, promotions, reclassifications, and terminations
• Verifies data entry for any employee changes / updates
• Coordinates input and documentation of payroll with Yakima County Auditor Payroll staff, Departmental Timekeepers and HR staff as it pertains to accurate recording of leaves and employee self-payment of benefits
• Notifies parties of employee status, benefit payments and continued entitlement
• Operates Workday, HR websites (DRS, PEBB, vChoice, Public Safety Testing (for civil service) and advertising websites (Indeed, Craigslist, GovernmentJobs) for employment verification, job applicant tracking, recruitment and other information requests
• Provides written and verbal employment verifications under departmental guidelines and County policy
• Provides support and service to employees regarding payroll processing of benefits and compensation and payment of benefits for those unpaid leave of absence
• Prepares, generates and monitors complex reports, preparing salary and benefit projections for budget preparation using different pay models and percentages to provide options to the Director and other managers in financial forecasting
• Prepares Action Memos and salary worksheets on position changes in FTE status or job classification for consideration and signature for the Board of County Commissioners
• Gathers, summarizes, and analyzes data; makes recommendations and prepares related reports (Union Seniority List) to ensure compliance with legal obligations and policy
• Creates, generates, analyzes, and balances Payroll reports from Access and Workday system
• Other duties as required, establishing and maintaining control to ensure confidentiality of personnel documents, records and site

• Associate degree or two-year technical certificate: Type of degree/certificate: Human Resources, Business Administration, Sociology, Psychology, Social Work or a related field plus three years professional level experience related to the Human Resource function; OR any combination of experience and training which provides knowledge, skills and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job
• Valid WA State Driver's License and proof of insurance, if requested
• Proficiency in Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel and Outlook
• Travel will be required in this position for training and committee issues
• Must be able to travel between the central HR location and satellite offices of assigned departments
• May be required to work outside of standard business hours to attend meetings/ trainings as needed
• Successful completion of a general employment background verification; may be subject to additional background investigations contingent on work assignment

• Preferred proficiency in Microsoft Access
• Experience using HRIS/Financial Management Systems
• Five years of experience in human resources functions such as full life-cycle recruitment onboarding and offboarding, benefit administration; payroll processing/verification;
• Experience using an Applicant Tracking System
• HR Certification: HR Certification Institute Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional (CP), Senior Certified Professional (SCP)

• Principles and practices of human resource administration
• Basics of payroll administration
• Working knowledge of RCW's and WAC's
• Terminology, laws, rules, and regulations governing public administration of human resources
• Project management theories, practices and principles
• Customer service techniques and team building concepts

This position is rated at Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

This position requires a valid WA State Driver's License and proof of insurance, if requested. Travel will be required in this position for training and committee issues. Must be able to travel between the central HR location and satellite offices of assigned departments. May be required to work outside of standard business hours to attend meetings/ trainings as needed.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person's age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.

Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to or contact your federal loan servicer.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.