Summary
This opportunity is open to current King County employees. We are not accepting external applications at this time. About the Role: The King County Wastewater Treatment Division is seeking an enthusiastic, strategic-thinking, agile, and collaborative leader to manage the delivery of our capital programs and projects. We need a proven leader who will leverage their project management expertise and experience to strategically resolve challenges and effectively deliver combined sewage and stormwater infrastructure projects that are as technically complex as they are critical to the quality of life of the communities we serve.
The Environmental Community Services Section (ECSS) advances the values of King County and the Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) by protecting public health and the environment and providing equitable, inclusive services to residents and businesses across King County. To our agency, success means providing clean water safely and reliably to the next generation. It also means being accountable to our ratepayers and operating a well-managed agency. We are committed to the principles of equity and social justice. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.
In this position, you will have the opportunity bolster our region's public health and the environment protections every day. You will ensure strong service and coordination among ECSS work units in support of WTD's Capital Improvement Program. You will also manage the work group's efforts to support WTD Operations staff in their work running one of our region's most complex and important infrastructure systems.
This position requires cooperation and collaboration with many different work units, and external partners and regulatory agencies. To be successful, you must be able to facilitate open dialog with a wide variety of contributors, sometimes balancing conflicting interests or opinions.
- You must navigate achieving results from people who do not report to you while maintaining consistently good working relationships with colleagues.
- Like most public infrastructure today, we must navigate immediate aging system needs, with limited funds while trying to hire new people to help us deliver the projects we must build. Attracting and retaining new people, and coaching, mentoring, and teaching them will be vital to our success.
- Continuous improvement of existing business processes that are responsive to meeting infrastructure needs with limited resources.
The successful candidate will collaborate with all business sections of our utility, other King County departments and leadership, regulatory agencies, regional partner agencies, elected officials, councils, tribal governments, and community-based organizations.
- Our regional wastewater treatment system has a big job to do. It operates around the clock to sustain a healthy environment and enables our region to thrive by supporting equitable economic development.
- You will work with teams from across all wastewater workgroups and lines of business to help shape how we as a utility adapt and respond to changing regulations and build infrastructure for future generations.
- You will manage a workgroup supporting one of King County's largest, most complex capital programs with a variety of interesting, challenging, and critical projects.
About the Team:The Environmental and Community Services Section ensures WTD's projects and programs proceed efficiently and successfully. In this position you will manage teams obligated to advance strategic priorities such as King County's Equity and Social Justice ordinance, Strategic Climate Action Plan, Best-run Government priority area, and the Clean Water/Healthy Habitat initiative in supporting WTD's Capital Improvement Program and WTD Operations. These teams provide services required by state and federal law, King County Code, and local ordinances. You will be expected to manage work unit activities to meet or exceed all established standards for regulatory compliance and service to ratepayers.
Our primary mission is to provide high-quality treatment to wastewater collected from local sewer agencies. With a workforce of about 800 employees and multiple facilities, we serve a population of 2 million people. Our goal is to ensure clean water for the present and future generations, preserving the natural beauty of our environment. We are committed to accountability, both to our ratepayers and to operating as a well-managed agency.
We enforce regulations to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that services over 2.3 million King County residents . Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to safeguard our precious water resources.
Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As an ECSS Unit Manager , you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at
http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.
Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities. Job Duties
What You Will Be Doing: Effectively lead and manage work in the Environmental and Community Service Section (ECSS) managing the daily operation of a work unit responsible and accountable for directing and supervising the work of supervisors, professional, technical, and administrative staff in a specific functional area, specifically supporting WTD's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) including the delivery of all capital programs and projects, and the integration of capital delivery functions and work processes.
The ECSS functional areas include:
- Environmental Services
- Community Services
- Regulatory Compliance and Real Estate Acquisition Services Units
- Management of WTD's Industrial Waste Pretreatment Unit
- WTD's Education and Engagement Unit
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Qualifications You Bring: - A minimum of six (6) years of recent and verifiable experience at the supervisory level in the management or direct oversight of ECSS support services to large wastewater design and construction of capital projects, industrial waste pretreatment programs or education and engagement programs with a minimum of five (5) years of experience directly supervising personnel. Experience must include full oversight of personnel assigned to one of the following work disciplines serving capital improvement programs: community services; environmental planning; regulatory compliance and land acquisition; industrial waste pretreatment; or education and engagement.
- Demonstrated commitment to environmental stewardship, public health, regulatory compliance and service equity in the planning and delivery of projects and programs. Knowledge and skill in the principles and practices of successful supervision, employee coaching and performance management.
- Skill in applying strategic planning techniques to establish the direction and make decisions regarding multiple competing internal and external programs or projects. Skill in evaluating information to make decisions within and outside established guidelines with limited documentation.
- Established reputation as a strong leader who develops mutually respectful relationships, achieves consensus among competing interests and fosters a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
- Demonstrated experience and skill in working with elected officials and the general public to initiate programs and/or systems to enhance the use of existing and future resources. Skill in negotiating and identifying solutions that balance the division's and County's interests and those of the negotiating partner(s) within the financial capacity and staffing constraints.
- Substantial experience managing teams and overseeing consultants in the delivery of large programs and projects.
Ability to provide an empowering leadership style and foster a productive and supportive work environment that attracts and retains quality employees, promotes teamwork, and challenges and develops employees.
Ability to supervise staff at multiple locations while still fostering a team environment and maintaining consistency in deliverables and work product. - Established ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Competencies You Bring : - Manages Complexity - Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
- Decision Quality - Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
- Builds Effective Teams - Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
- Ensures Accountability - Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
- Drives Engagement - Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:- Advanced knowledge of supervisory techniques and principles and the application of this knowledge in a highly technical and political environment.
- Advanced knowledge of business management techniques including organization development and change management, financial forecasting, strategy execution, and business value realization.
- Knowledge of strategic planning techniques and principles. Knowledge of portfolio, program and project management, construction, project control, asset management and contract administration techniques and principles. Knowledge of public utility finance and budgeting techniques and principles.
- Knowledge of wastewater treatment systems and operations
Supplemental Information
Working Conditions:
- Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements 4 - 10 times a month. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department's vision of Green Where We Work.
- Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
- Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
- Union Representation: This position is represented by the Teamster, Local 117. Pursuant to Article 12.1 Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust $2.00 per hour from the base wage will be submitted to the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust Fund.
Application and Selection Process:We welcome applications from all qualified
internal King County employees only. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.
To apply, submit a:
- Complete Application
- Optional Resume ( will be reviewed if submitted)
- Optional Cover Letter (will be reviewed if submitted)
- Responses to the supplemental questions
Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.
W ho to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Diana Eberly at
diana.eberly@kingcounty.gov Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our
website and check us out at
Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and the
WTD Blog.Discover More About DNRP: Visit our DNRP website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News. Sign up for
Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the
Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.
Forbes 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, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
Closing Date/Time:
