Human Resources Specialist Jobs in Virginia
Human Resources Specialist jobs in Virginia are in strong and consistent demand, concentrated in federal contracting, defense, healthcare, and technology firms, with openings at every level from entry-level HR coordinator through senior specialist. The heaviest hiring is in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads metro, where large employers like Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Inova Health System maintain substantial HR operations. Talent acquisition, benefits administration, and HR compliance are the specialties driving the most consistent openings across the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Why Join Sunrise Senior Living
At Sunrise Senior Living, we believe meaningful work starts with purpose. Our team members are passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of residents every day.
The Senior Manager Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) serves as a strategic advisor and thought partner to Regional Field Leadership, aligning human capital strategies with organizational objectives, supporting our communities and geographically dispersed employees across the U.S. This role leads both regional and enterprise-wide initiatives in talent management, organizational effectiveness and cultural transformation, ensuring that Human Resource (HR) solutions drive business performance and foster a high-performance culture. By leveraging data-driven insights and industry best practices, the Senior Manager HRBP also influences leadership in decision-making processes related to workforce planning, leadership development and change management. Additionally, this position mentors and develops HR team members, specifically community and Area HR personnel, promoting a cohesive and agile HR function that supports the company's mission and values.
Essential Duties
As a part of the Sunrise team, supporting our Mission, Principles of Service and Core Values is a fundamental part of this job. Our foundational belief is the sacred value of human life. The unique responsibilities for this role include but are not limited to the essential functions listed as follows:
- Drive enterprise-wide talent initiatives by partnering with HR Leadership to align workforce planning, organizational design and leadership development with Sunrise’s long-term business goals.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to Portfolio/Regional Field Leadership, offering insight and influence on complex talent decisions, leadership effectiveness and organizational change.
- Review and analyze portfolio/regional level performance metrics, including but not limited to turnover data, Team Member Experience insights, wage analytics, etc. to enable data driven decision making.
- Lead and inspire a high-performing HR team, providing direction, development and coaching to community level HR Generalists in support of operational excellence and optimal employee experience.
- Champion people-centric initiatives across communities and geographically dispersed teams, ensuring equity in engagement, communication and performance management practices.
- Facilitate regional training initiatives and performance management processes.
- Participate in cultural transformation efforts by promoting Sunrise’s mission, values and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) through leadership modeling and scalable engagement strategies.
- Support resolution on complex employee relations matters, focusing on risk mitigation, legal compliance and consistency in policy application, in close collaboration with Employee Relations, Legal and Compliance teams.
- Support implementation of organizational effectiveness solutions, including job design, team structure and workforce optimization, to increase agility, alignment and capability across the organization.
- Advise on critical workforce transitions, including reductions in force, severance planning and adverse impact analyses, balancing business needs with people impact.
- Lead proactive compliance efforts, ensuring adherence to federal, state/province and local employment laws as well as internal policy frameworks while continuously monitoring emerging legislation to translate regulatory shifts into actionable HR policy.
- Assist in the administration of the workers’ compensation program.
- Monitor health and safety incidents and work with Risk Management team for preventative measures.
- Maintain compliance in assigned required training and all training required by state/province or other regulating authorities as applicable to this role to ensure that Sunrise standards are always met.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Core Competencies
- Professional/technical HR knowledge and experience including deep knowledge of federal and multi-state/province labor/labour law, regulatory frameworks and internal policy application, with a record of resolving employee relations matters and proactively advising on legal and reputational risk
- Proven ability to lead, develop and inspire high-performing HR teams while partnering cross-functionally with Legal, Compliance and HR Centers of Excellence to deliver scale, people-centric solutions
- Experienced in coaching and developing others
- Skilled in problem solving and decision making
- Ability to effectively collaborate with others and influence change Strong communication skills for various settings including advanced facilitation.
Experience and Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed throughout this job description are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field required; Master’s degree or advanced HR certification (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR) strongly preferred
- Minimum of five years of progressive Human Resources experience, prior HR Business Partner experience desired
- Preferred experience in multi-site management
- Demonstrated success in partnering with leaders across all levels of the organization to drive enterprise-wide talent strategy, workforce planning and cultural transformation
- Exceptional organizational, analytical and decision-making abilities, with a consistent ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical execution
- Extensive knowledge of federal and multi-state/province employment laws, with a track record of navigating complex employee relations and advising on high-impact organizational decisions
- Strong consultative and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to influence and lead through change at all organizational levels Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience facilitating leadership presentations, strategic planning discussions and critical stakeholder alignment
Pay Range:
124,000.00 - 155,000.00Ready to take the next step and make a bigger impact than you ever imagined? As part of our team, you will help brighten the future for everyone at Sunrise and beyond. That is why we make it a priority to celebrate the unique ways you bring moments of togetherness and joy to everyone you serve. And when combined with the support, benefits, and growth opportunities we offer, the result is a career that PositivelyShines with everything you need to reach your goals – at work and in your life.
We also offer benefits and other compensation that include:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and Disability Plans
Retirement Savings Plans
Employee Assistant Program / Discount Program
Paid time off (PTO), sick time, and holiday pay
myFlexPay offered to get paid within hours of a shift
Tuition Reimbursement
In addition to base compensation, Sunrise may offer discretionary and/or non-discretionary bonuses. The eligibility to receive such a bonus will depend on the employee’s position, plan/program offered by Sunrise at the time, and required performance pursuant to the plan/program.
Some benefits have eligibility requirements
Apply today to learn why Sunrise Senior Living is a certified Great Place to Work®
Equal Opportunity Employer
Sunrise Senior Living is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
See All 113+ Human Resources Specialist Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsHuman Resources Specialist Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Human Resources Specialist Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in human resources specialist jobs across Virginia.
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a closely related field
- PHR or SHRM-CP certification preferred or required by many Virginia employers
- One to three years of HR generalist or specialist experience in a professional setting
- Working knowledge of HRIS platforms such as Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, or ADP
- Familiarity with federal employment law including FMLA, ADA, and Title VII compliance
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for employee relations and policy work
Human Resources Specialist Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a human resources specialist in Virginia?
Virginia does not require a state-issued license to work as a human resources specialist, so the path runs through education and professional certification. Most Virginia employers require a bachelor's degree in human resources, business, or a related field. From there, earning the SHRM-CP through the Society for Human Resource Management or the PHR through HRCI is the credential that consistently separates candidates in competitive markets like Northern Virginia and Richmond.
How much do human resources specialists make in Virginia?
Human resources specialists in Virginia earn a median of about $82,090 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $48,530 for the lowest 10% to over $136,660 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire human resources specialists in Virginia?
Employers hiring human resources specialists in Virginia right now include Amazon, IDEMIA, and Target, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Virginia's dense concentration of federal contractors and large healthcare systems means HR roles appear consistently across both sectors statewide.
Which Virginia cities have the most human resources specialist jobs?
Arlington, Fairfax, and Chesapeake have the most human resources specialist openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia's dominance reflects the region's massive federal contracting industry and corporate headquarters presence, while Richmond's concentration of Fortune 500 firms and state government agencies drives steady hiring, and Hampton Roads sustains demand through its large military and healthcare employer base.
Are there remote human resources specialist jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than many fields, since a significant portion of HR specialist work involving policy, compliance, recruiting, and HRIS administration can be done entirely from a desk. About 50% of human resources specialist openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the role's strong desk-based component. Functions like talent acquisition and benefits coordination tend to have the highest remote availability.
How can I get hired as a human resources specialist in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an HR coordinator or HR assistant role, which Virginia employers in healthcare, federal contracting, and higher education use as pipeline positions. Large Northern Virginia contractors like Booz Allen Hamilton and Leidos run intern-to-hire programs, and Richmond-area hospital systems like VCU Health recruit new graduates into HR support roles. Earning the SHRM student certification before graduating gives candidates a concrete credential that offsets limited work history.
Where can I find and apply to human resources specialist jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to human resources specialist jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings. Find the roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 113+ Human Resources Specialist Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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