Deputy Division Director - Water and Land Resources

Summary

CALLING ALL ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS!

Be the heartbeat of King County's green future!

Lead 400+ passionate stewards in protecting our breathtaking land and water.

About the Role:

As Deputy Division Director - Water and Land Resources , you'll:

• Safeguard water quality
  
• Preserve nature's beauty
  
• Restore salmon habitat
  
• Champion climate resilience
  

Ideal for visionaries who:

• Solve creatively across disciplines
  
• Communicate complex ideas simply
  
• Embrace equity in environmental work
  
• Thrive on innovation and collaboration
  

Join us in shaping a cleaner, healthier King County for all!

About the Team:

The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) 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 of climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 400 supported by an annual budget of ~$250 million. The division’s strategic framework is driven by three primary plans: Clean Water Healthy Habitat , WLRD’s Equity Action Plan , and the Strategic Climate Action Plan .

WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to steward working farms and forests, restore habitat, improve water quality, reduce toxic threats, and provide county residents equitable access to green space. We plan, design, and build habitat projects as well as levees and stormwater facilities that help protect people and infrastructure while also enhancing habitat and providing other community benefits. Our Environmental Lab and Science sections maintain high-quality data sets used for long term water quality trend analysis and use Best Available Science to inform decision making about community and the environment.

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 a Deputy Division Director, 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 Water and Land Resources 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:

• Jointly lead organization’s vision and culture consistent with division mission and County’s True North values . Specific duties include partnering on Management Team facilitation, enhancing employee engagement through routine communications and all-staff meetings, and facilitating leadership development across the division with a focus on competencies and values.
  
  
• Provide leadership on government relations with King County Council and the King County Flood Control District, including supervision of policy leads, briefing Councilmembers and Supervisors, facilitating inter-agency work groups, coordination with departmental relations, and working with division’s programs to guide development of county legislation and reports.
  
  
• Lead efforts on Best Run Government to make WLRD’s programs more efficient, effective, and equitable, including continuous improvement of key performance indicators. Oversee the division’s equity and data teams to deliver on Action Plan commitments and apply data to improve services to all County residents. Duties also include serving on several cross-department teams related to operational issues such as procurement, continuity of operations, remote work, safety, etc.
  
  
• Collaborate on division’s financing strategy to build awareness and support for budget as well as implementing actions to increase funding sources that help advance clean water and healthy habitat outcomes.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, political science, or closely related field and seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience in environmental policy OR a combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the work.
  
  
• Skill in handling multiple competing priorities and politically sensitive issues in a tactful and diplomatic manner.
  
  
• Skills and experience as a people leader, including managing, coaching, and supporting professional development of employees.
  
  
• Demonstrated experience developing and analyzing public policy and regulations and framing policy choices for decision-makers.
  
  
• Knowledge and experience with applying equity and social justice principles in hiring, employee engagement, and development of programs and policies.
  
  
• Demonstrated success working with all levels of government, and in partnership with community organizations and private sector businesses to develop and implement projects and strategies.
  
  
• Skills and experience in convening and facilitating cross-disciplinary teams with frontline staff and managers to develop and implement strategic plans.
  
  
• Strong writing, presentation, and facilitation skills and experience.

Competencies You Bring:

• Manages Complexity : Making sense of complex, high-quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Strategic Mindset : Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Decision Quality : Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Racially Just : Acting in a manner that advances racial equity in everyday interactions and in work outcomes.
• Instills Trust : Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Courage : Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
  
  

It Would Be Nice if You Also Bring:

• Experience managing regional legislative processes as well as knowledge of federal and state environmental policies and funding programs related to WLRD’s mission.
  
  
• Experience working with sovereign Tribal governments and an understanding of consultation protocol.
  
  
• Experience integrating equity into workforce, operations, and services.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically one (1) day per week. 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 .

• Remote Work Location 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 full-time position works a 40-hour work week. 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 not represented by a union.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. 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
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Jamie Jensen-Young at 206-263-8779 or jjensenyoung@kingcounty.gov.

Discover More About the Water and Land Resources Division: Visit our website .

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our 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.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 9/1/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

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