HR Director

Are you passionate about creating inclusive, high-performing workplaces in the consulting space? Do you bring strategic HR expertise and a desire to support mission-driven teams working to protect shared water resources? If so, this might be your dream role!

GSI Water Solutions, Inc., is hiring an HR Director to join our team in Portland, OR!

Key Details:

• Pay: $110,000 to $135,000
• Schedule: Hybrid (minimum 3 days/week onsite), M – F, 8am – 5pm
• Benefits: Highly competitive health, dental, vision, and life insurance, with alternative care coverage included in medical plans; medical and dependent-care flexible spending account; minimum 6 weeks of PTO along with paid holidays; 401(k) with employer match, along with employee stock ownership as an employee-owned company; potential for annual bonus based on company performance.
• Location: 650 NE Holladay St #900, Portland, OR 97232; with occasional travel to other offices in Bend, Corvallis, Santa Barbara, and Morro Bay

Who We Are: GSI Water Solutions, Inc. (GSI), is a specialized groundwater, environmental, and water resources consulting firm. We help clients protect and manage shared water resources with solutions that are practical, forward thinking, and built on a foundation of sound science.

Since our founding, we have worked with more than 1,300 clients in the public and private sectors, from city governments to international companies. We are experts in hydrogeology, environmental investigation and cleanup, and water resources.

We are an employee-owned S-corporation with more than 75 staff members across five offices in two states.

To learn more, check out our website: https://gsiws.com/

GSI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive atmosphere for all employees.

Who You Are: You’re a strategic HR leader who understands how to align people practices with business priorities. You bring depth in areas like performance management, total rewards, and employee relations, and you know how to apply that expertise in a fast-paced, evolving environment. You’re comfortable operating independently, but you don’t work in isolation: You collaborate closely with senior leadership to shape culture, drive operational excellence, and support long-term growth. You’re pragmatic, solutions-oriented, and ready to build scalable HR systems that support both people and performance.

Other qualifications include:

• At least 6 years’ experience in HR management or leadership role
• Experience in managing HR functions for a small-mid-sized company (under 150 employees)
• Experience in a professional services firm, with hourly billing models
• Strong knowledge of employment laws in OR, CA, and WA
• Confidence in handling HR tasks at both strategic and tactical levels
• Strong communication skills with employees across all levels of an organization
• Collaborative leadership and engagement
• High emotional intelligence
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, or related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered
• Experience working in the architecture/engineering/construction (A/E/C) field preferred
• SHRM or HRCI certification preferred
• Ability to pass a pre-employment background and professional references checks

What You’ll Do: As GSI’s Human Resources Director, you’ll lead a department of one, but you won’t be working alone. You’ll collaborate closely with the leadership team to shape workforce strategy, partner with the Accounting Department on payroll and compensation, and leverage administrative support to keep operations running smoothly. You’ll build and refine HR systems that are compliant, scalable, and aligned with GSI’s values and long-term goals.

A typical day will consist of:

• Partnering with team leads to support staffing needs, workforce planning, recruitment efforts, and employee development across multiple office locations.
• Coaching managers through sensitive employee relations issues with empathy and clarity.
• Reviewing and refining HR policies to ensure compliance across multiple states while keeping people at the center of decision-making.
• Leading initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, inclusion, and retention, whether through training programs, feedback loops, or recognition efforts.
• Collaborating with leadership to align HR strategies with business goals and project demands.
• Managing benefits and compensation programs to ensure they remain competitive, equitable, and well-communicated.
• Traveling occasionally to satellite offices in Bend, Corvallis, Santa Barbara, and Morro Bay to build relationships and support local teams.