Workforce Project/Program Manager III

Summary

About the Role:

The Department of Natural Resources and Parks' Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) is seeking an energetic and motivated candidate to provide support and leadership to the Workforce Development Program.

The Program provides recruitment, mentorship, training, placement, and retention services for entry-level candidates who are ready to build their skillset or are new to the wastewater sector. Candidates receive extensive onboarding, participate in tours and site visits, and are provided with challenging assignments allowing exploration and collaboration with many WTD work groups.

The Project/Program Manager III will assist cohort members in determining their professional passion, place in our agency, and plan for continued career growth. They will assist the Workforce Development Program Supervisor in cohort recruitment, onboarding, assignment generation, and job placement. They will build relationships with and coordinate guest speakers from our planning, engineering, project management, project control, and construction management units. They will also collaborate across the agency and with consultants to provide tours of our treatment plants and other facilities, career development workshops, and lessons learned workshops that lead to continuous improvement.

The Project/Program Manager III will work independently, take initiative, and serve as a workforce development resource, technical expert, and lead for this multi-disciplinary and complex program. Responsibilities include analysis, research, planning, policy development, systems development, technology implementation, and program development and/or coordination.

Ideal candidates will have workforce development expertise, a passion for people leadership, and strong communication and public speaking skills. Competitive candidates will also be strategic and skillful problem-solvers who value equity and environmental justice. This is a hybrid position with frequent in-person expectations. The candidate must have the ability to report to in-person activities throughout the County as often as needed. Candidates who are proven people leaders with skills to measure, monitor, and communicate processes, progress, and results will be high value to the program.

About the Team:

Join our team dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With over 900 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment.

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.

We are stewards of The Clean Water Act and are charged with protecting the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of Puget Sound waterways. Rapid population growth, climate change which includes more severe storms and floods, and a high cost of living put a strain on our already aging regional wastewater treatment system. We need creative staff to help us address project backlogs, find efficiencies, and seek innovative solutions to challenging problems including a changing regulatory environment.

In this position you will also learn about WTD's commitment to recovering and reusing products and resources from the wastewater treatment process. Recycling the treated water and nutrient-rich biosolids and recovering energy from heat and waste gases increases the efficiency of our wastewater treatment plants, conserves resources, protects the environment, and saves money.

At WTD, you will be part of a diverse team of talented interdisciplinary professionals and together you will make social and environment change.

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 Workforce Project/Program Manager III, 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:

• Serve as program lead. Handle internal and external information inquiries, including sensitive topics.
• Manage complex contracts and grants independently; provide technical analysis; make/modify recommendations for changing scopes of work.
• Develop program/policy recommendations and issue papers. Evaluate program and write reports.
• Manage data gathering for program partner needs, cohort experience, and lessons learned.
• Lead and coordinate program activities and events with partner organizations.
• Develop and disseminate communication materials; strategize appropriate audience.
• Represent the program during engagement activities with partner organizations and community events.
• Make staff and cohort member hiring recommendations.
• Coordinate work done by team and cohort members. Resolve disputes. Provide leadership to project team.
• Coordinate review/comment processes related to program.
• May assign work to other staff and cohort members; provide performance evaluation information; serve as mentor.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• A bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Three years or more of experience in a project/program management role or closely related field or a combination of experience and education that provides the applicant with the skills, knowledge, and abilities required to perform the work.
• Knowledge of project management and supervisory principles.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse group of individuals and present information in a tactful and diplomatic manner.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Proven ability to prioritize workload, manage logistics, and work on multiple projects with changing priorities and/or conflicting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Success in problem-solving and consensus building among people with different viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds.
• Facilitation, negotiation, statistical analysis, quantitative, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong software skills that support the delivery of work products as well as gathering, manipulating and using data, such as Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint, and database management programs.

Competencies You Bring:

Strategic Mindset- Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.

Action Oriented- Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.

Interpersonal Savvy- Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.

Develops Talent- Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization's goals.

Instills Trust- Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

Situational Adaptability- Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

Required Licenses:

• Washington State Driver's License.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Master's Degree in a related field.
• Five years of experience that demonstrates a high level of workforce development knowledge as well as knowledge of planning, design, engineering, project management, project control, and/or construction management principles.
• Skills in program evaluation, advocacy, marketing, and promotion.
• Public speaking, presentation preparation, event planning, budget and policy analysis expertise.
• Experience developing and maintaining SharePoint sites.
• Experience in graphic design, including Canva software.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details:Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically 2-4 days 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.
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• 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 Technical Employees' Association (TEA).

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 Emiliya Makaryan at emiliya.makaryan@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.

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.

01

Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? AND Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?

• Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
• No.

02

If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff

03

Please tell us about your program development, implementation, and continuous improvement experience?

Required Question

Agency King County

Address King Street Center

201 South Jackson Street

Seattle, Washington, 98104

Phone 206-477-3404

Website http://www.kingcounty.gov/