Climate Action Portfolio Manager

Summary

King County Solid Waste Division is seeking a visionary and results-driven Climate Action Manager to champion our commitment to environmental stewardship and climate resilience. This pivotal role will lead the development and implementation of an agency-wide strategic approach to climate action-ensuring our operations, programs, and partnerships align with the county’s ambitious sustainability goals.

As a key member of our leadership team, the Climate Action Manager will drive cross-functional collaboration, integrate climate priorities into solid waste systems, and help shape a low-carbon future for our region. If you're passionate about climate strategy, systems thinking, and making a tangible impact at scale, we invite you to bring your expertise to a team that’s transforming waste into opportunity.
(Please note: This position was initially posted on Monday, September 22nd, with an incorrect salary, which has been corrected now.)

About the Role:

The position will work internally and externally to coordinate SWD investments on climate action and will work with internal and external partners to plan, implement, and expand climate action. Initially, this will be focused on ensuring SWD has a costed and impact-driven plan and strategy to deliver climate action.

In addition, this position will work to support SWD managers and the workforce in understanding and implementing the SCAP and help division staff be better informed, connected, invested, and inspired about climate work. This role will work to ensure SCAP commitments are integrated into business planning, division workplans and budgets - focusing on the highest impact areas and engaging in projects aligned with climate priorities, especially existing SCAP commitments.

About the Team:

The King County Solid Waste Division (KCSWD) is responsible for the public solid waste system that services the people and communities of unincorporated King County and most cities within King County. KCSWD is the lead King County agency for delivering the Zero Waste of Resources goal for the region, which will reduce valuable materials sent to the landfill by up to 70%. KCSWD operates the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, ten transfer facilities, nine closed landfills, and many programs to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems.

The Recycling and Environmental Services (RES) Section leads the Division’s efforts on climate action, prevention, reuse, recycling, product stewardship/EPR, policy, market development, environmental stewardship, the circular economy, green building, household hazardous waste collection, school education, grant program management, and resource recovery, waste stream integrity and several compliance programs including waste stream compliance and enforcement.

Opportunity to Learn More:

We invite you to join a Microsoft Teams Meeting Open House to learn more about this position. We will take time to describe the work culture and job duties, and there will be an opportunity for participants to ask questions. We will hold this event on Tuesday, September 30, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time. To participate in the meeting, click here . To join by audio-only, please dial 425-653-6586 and use the phone conference ID: 654 449 202#

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. In this role, 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 Solid Waste Division of the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks. 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:

• Establish and maintain a central roadmap/dashboard for all climate-related action (GHG reductions, preparing for climate change, risks) to support prioritization of climate action program goals
• Facilitate inter-agency and departmental engagement of climate action, including coordination with DNRP and ECO
• Establish and maintain a framework integrating climate action impact with ERSJ and Community engagement
• Support King County compliance, reporting, and networking on climate action
• Develop and maintain an interdisciplinary network to support work that includes division project managers, policy specialists, engineers, and scientists
• Help lead SCAP engagement with division and department leadership on SCAP implementation
• Support tracking, reporting, and accountability on SCAP progress for the division
• Represent SWD’s interests on teams and on broader climate issues such as biogas and methane reduction, building decarbonization, and the 2025 SCAP
• Engage and support division-related climate communications, engagement, and events.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Demonstrated skill in providing program management, coordination, and leadership on climate or related environmental areas
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships and partnerships with a variety of partners, stakeholders, and interest groups, including, but not limited to, various county and/or state agencies, organizations, and associations.
• Demonstrated skills in translating technical information, goals and requirements into specific action steps necessary to catalyze changes to be adopted.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and contracts and meet deadlines with high attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and networking skills, including public speaking, writing, group facilitation/presentations, communicating cross-culturally with diverse partners, and interacting with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability working on environmental science or similar areas with a high degree of autonomy to confidently translate technical and scientific knowledge into work plans and objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to work with various project teams to achieve results within specified deadlines.

Competencies You Bring:

• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives, works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives.
• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Plans and Aligns: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Racially Just: Identify and replace racist systems and structures with anti-racists and pro-equity approaches.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically up to four times a month. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. On-site reporting locations may be at various King County worksites, including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104).
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance of King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. Some evenings and weekends will be required. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not overtime-eligible.
• Union Representation: This is a non-represented position.

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. All applicants rated the most competitive will need to pass a 5-year driving record evaluation (required upon request) and then be invited for a skills test and an interview.

Successful candidates will be required to complete a reference check, pass a physical examination, and undergo drug testing prior to employment. This position is defined as safety-sensitive, and once employed, an employee may be required to undergo drug testing as needed.

To apply, submit a:

• Completed Application
• Cover Letter
• Optional Resume

Who To Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Prakash Meloottu at 206-477-5262 or email at prakash.meloot@kingcounty.gov.

Discover More About the Solid Waste Division: Visit our website at Solid Waste Division and check us out at Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube .

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.

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:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• 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: eligible King County employees may 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
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal 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: 10/6/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• King County Wastewater Treatment Division

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