On December 9, 2026, Interim City Manager Hyun Kim announced the selection of Linnaea Jablonski as the City of Tacoma's new Human Resources Director, following City Council approval. With nearly twenty years guiding public sector labor relations, Director Jablonski offers deep expertise in workforce management and organizational strategy.

Bringing this appointment is extensive experience from Fairfax County, Virginia, where she led HR operations for over 90 professionals and managed a $1.3 billion annual payroll across the entire county. Her tenure there established her reputation for effective personnel administration and contract negotiations.

This move represents a homecoming for Director Jablonski, who previously held similar responsibilities in Olympia, successfully negotiating all eight of the city's labor agreements while overseeing full HR functions. "We're delighted to have Director Jablonski join us," shared Interim City Manager Kim. "Her proven track record in Washington state alongside her Fairfax County achievements positions her perfectly to strengthen our HR department and support both staff and community needs."

Additional experience includes directing human resources for the Washington State Department of Transportation-Ferries Division, managing HR for 2,000 employees through fourteen distinct labor agreements, plus prior work at the Washington State Department of Corrections. "I'm eager to contribute to Tacoma's success," Director Jablonski stated. "Returning to Washington, I'm committed to building positive workplace environments and driving impactful initiatives that benefit everyone involved."

Educational credentials include a Master of Arts in Negotiations & Conflict Resolution from California State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economics & Race Relations from The Evergreen State College. The official start date for her new position will be February 9, 2026.

Strong connections to local governance remain through these departments: City Council, City Manager's Office, and Human Resources.

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