Summary

Why This Opportunity May Be Perfect for You: This position is an opportunity to join the leadership team of the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) and help advance King County’s key environmental initiatives, including the Clean Water Healthy Habitat Strategic Plan, the Fish Passage Strategy, the 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan, the Stormwater Investment Strategy, and the 30-year Forest Plan,

Integrated into these initiatives is the goal to eliminate racial inequities and improve environmental outcomes and benefits for all people in the region. The position will manage the Division’s government relations function, provide strategic advice, and play a key role in coordinating the development of environmental policy in collaboration with Water and Land and other King County staff, along with our partners.

Who Are We? The Water and Land Resources Division is at the forefront of King County’s efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 400 supported by an annual budget of ~$250 million. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies for protecting working farms and forests, restoring habitat, protecting water quality, and ensuring people have equitable access to green space. We reduce flood hazards, manage stormwater facilities, and reduce toxic threats. Our Environmental Lab and Science section maintain high-quality data sets used in long term-water quality trend analysis and use Best Available Science to inform decision making. We house three salmon recovery forums and support the Land Conservation Initiative, which will preserve our last, most important natural lands and urban green spaces over the next 30 years. Our forestry and agricultural programs help people protect their lands and support local food production.

Who is Eligible: This position is open to all qualified applicants.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice
As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

To learn more, please visit https://kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx.

Telecommuting Requirement
The work associated with these positions will be performed predominantly by teleworking, complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

Job Duties

• Policy Development: Lead policy development of Divisional priorities, such as updates to County development regulations for streams, wetlands, flood hazard areas, and other critical areas in collaboration with the Permitting Division. Work with program and Division leadership to advance policies related to priority initiatives, including Clean Water Healthy Habitat, Equity and Social Justice, and the Strategic Climate Action Plan.
  
• Code Development: Assist in revisions to County Code to update and streamline processes and remove barriers to achieving environmental and equity outcomes.
  
• Intergovernmental Relations: Serve as lead on city, state, and federal relations to support WLRD programs and DNRP Director’s Office, including forming trusted relationships with city partners and tribal governments in coordination with the DNRP Tribal Liaison.
  
• Strategic Advising: Support the Division’s leadership team by contributing strategic thought to advance priorities and align actions to desired outcomes. Collaborate with leadership to develop recommendations to address emerging policy issues, such as advancing multi-benefit floodplain projects and aligning stormwater management with salmon recovery.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Minimum Qualifications:

• 
  Strong oral presentation and written communications skills.
• Skill in handling multiple competing priorities and politically sensitive issues in a tactful and diplomatic manner.
• Effective meeting facilitation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Experience providing strategic policy advice.
• Experience developing and analyzing public policy and regulations.
• Experience working directly with elected officials.
• Experience working in intergovernmental relations with federal, state and/or local legislative bodies.
• Knowledge and experience with applying equity and social justice principles in analysis and day-to-day interactions.
• Ability to use software that supports the delivery of required work products including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and standard databases.

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal environmental policies and funding programs related to the Water and Land Resource Division’s mission.
• Knowledge of the County’s legislative procedures.
• Knowledge and understanding of the County’s obligations regarding usual and accustomed rights for local Tribes and sensitivity to when Tribes need to be consulted.
• Knowledge of County Code and drafting requirements.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have the Following Competencies:

• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quality, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunity and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Racially Just: Acting in a manner that advances racial equity in everyday interactions and in work outcomes.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• 
  Work Location: Predominantly teleworking and the King Street Center 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle WA 98104.
• Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and it is not overtime eligible. This full-time position works a 40-hour work week.
• Union Membership: This position is not represented by a union.

Application and Selection Process: Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness including online application, cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.

• King County application
• Resume
• Cover Letter detailing your background and what you can bring to this position
• Responses to supplemental questions

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Jamie Jensen-Young
Human Resource Analyst
206-263-8779
jjensenyoung@kingcounty.gov

WHY WORK FOR KING COUNTY?
King County was named "Best-in-State Employer" in the Forbes magazine 2019, ranking 16 on the list of best employers in Washington State - visit Awards given to King County to see more! King County's Investing in YOU initiative is building a workplace where ALL employees can thrive so we can become the nation's Best Run Government. Enjoy a balanced life with benefits that support you!

INTERESTED? CHECK US OUT!
http://kingcounty.gov/audience/employees/careers/why-work-here.aspx

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our " True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles-we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions related to this recruitment process, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.