Accomplished leader who believes an organization’s greatest strength is its people tapped to lead King County’s Department of Human Resources
King County, WA – King County Executive Girmay Zahilay appointed Matt Smith to serve as the Director of the King County Department of Human Resources (DHR), pending Council confirmation. Smith will lead the department which supports King County’s workforce of more than 18,000 employees.
“Matt Smith is an accomplished leader who shares my belief that an organization’s greatest strength lies in its people,” said Executive Zahilay. “He has a deep understanding of human resources strategy, leadership, and labor and employment law. I look forward to Matt’s leadership to advance King County’s priorities and to support our talented, innovative, diverse, and inclusive workforce that aims to make a difference in their communities and the lives of the people they serve.”
“I am grateful for this opportunity to serve King County. My career has focused on building fair, effective, and responsive workplace practices across labor relations, employee relations, total rewards, and organizational strategy,” said Matt Smith. “I am excited to join this DHR team, bring that experience to this role, and work alongside colleagues to support employees, strengthen the workplace, and serve the needs of the County and our community.”
Matt joins King County from the City of Bellevue where he served in executive human resources leadership responsible for enterprise HR strategy and delivery in compensation, benefits, employee and labor relations, policy and investigations, and workforce analytics for one of Washington’s largest cities. Before joining Bellevue in 2018, Matt practiced labor and employment law for eight years, representing and advising employers across a variety of industries on labor and employment matters, risk and legal compliance, and workplace investigations. He began his career in human resources as a compensation analyst and consultant in the private sector.
Matt earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law and holds bachelor’s degrees in Human Resources Management, Marketing, and Psychology.
The King County Department of Human Resources provides human resource services that support the health, well-being, and safety of the County’s more than 18,000 employees. DHR strives to recruit the best talent and grow and reward our people; offers competitive and equitable wages, benefits, and leave packages; and provides equitable opportunities for advancement and the tools and resources employees need to succeed.
Smith’s appointment is subject to approval by the King County Council.