Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has an exciting opportunity for a Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Projects Lead in its Drainage and Wastewater (DWW) Planning and Program Management Division. GSI utilizes nature-based processes to lower the impact of polluted runoff on our environment, reduce flooding, and build resilience in our system while maximizing community benefits and value for our customers. This position will be leading a team that is responsible for defining and advancing GSI projects and programs that meet DWW needs while centering racial equity and aligning with community priorities. DWW needs include sewer and stormwater capacity challenges, flooding, building climate resiliency, improving water quality, and protecting public health. Community priorities include equity, anti-displacement, improved open space, mobility, as well as other co-benefits.

About Seattle Public Utilities:  Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a Community Centered Utility working to make Seattle the best place to live for everyone. We deliver high quality, vital services, across four major lines of business: providing water, solid waste, drainage and wastewater services for Seattle residents and businesses. In addition, SPU provides drinking water for 1.5 million regional customers in Seattle and other municipalities. Our customers depend on us to deliver high quality, reliable, and cost-conscious utility services and to achieve the highest benefits possible for every investment we make.

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We support and hold ourselves accountable to this commitment by eliminating barriers to access and providing employees with equitable opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

• Define and oversee approximately $180 million of GSI capital investments over the next 6 years (2021-2026)
• Lead and supervise a multi-disciplinary team of landscape architects, engineers and urban planners responsible for defining and advancing GSI projects and programs.
• Ensure racial equity is embedded as a core value in determining what, where and how nature-based infrastructure solutions are implemented.
• Be responsible for completion of SPU’s Natural Drainage Systems (NDS) Capital Program, a Consent Decree driven program aimed at reducing pollutants in Seattle creek basins by 2025.
• Develop and define future nature-based projects and programs through coordination with Shape Our Water, SPU’s plan for the next 50 years of resilient drainage and wastewater systems.
• Collaborate with the SPU DWW Grow GSI Initiative Manager to expand our approaches and resource new GSI programs.
• Lead strategic efforts to partner with other City departments and King County to advance nature-based solutions to create integrated solutions and expanded community benefits.
• Collaborate with other teams in the Planning and Program Division to develop innovative nature-based solutions to DWW’s various problems.
• Direct and manage ongoing consultant support services contract(s).

Special Conditions: Due to COVID 19, this position will work remotely until a safe return to the downtown Seattle office is permitted.

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Environmental Studies, Natural Resource Management, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture or related field  OR  two (2) additional years of relevant experience.

Experience: 

A minimum of  five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in one of the following areas: Green/Blue Stormwater Infrastructure planning or design, urban planning, or resiliency/climate adaptation with at least three (3) years of supervisory experience.

The ideal Candidate: will have some of the following qualifications and a strong desire to learn the other qualifications. SPU recognizes that not every candidate will have all the following desired qualifications.

• Understanding of race and social justice principles and potential impacts of systemic racism on communities served by SPU.
• Experienced with collaboration and partnering across multiple organizations.
• Experience in managing programs for organizations whose size and mission is similar to SPU.
• Strong sense of self-direction balanced with highly effective collaboration, facilitation, communications skills.
• Ability, satisfaction, and enjoyment from public problem solving and impactful innovation especially in bring nature-based drainage solutions into dense urban environments.
• Experience working with consultants, including leading procurement processes, negotiating contracts, leading consultant teams, and managing consultant scope, schedule, and budget.
• Ability to synthesize and clearly articulate verbally and in writing complex technical issues to department directors and council/mayoral staff.
• Master’s degree in engineering, Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture or related field.

How to apply:  Please attach your cover letter and resume to your on-line application. In your cover letter please at a minimum address the following two questions:

1. How does your experience meet the qualifications of the position?
2. In your opinion what does success look like in the first 3 job responsibilities (please see below) for this position listed above?

• Define and oversee approximately $180 million of GSI capital investments over the next 6 years (2021-2026)
• Lead and supervise a multi-disciplinary team of landscape architects, engineers and urban planners responsible for defining and advancing GSI projects and programs.
• Ensure racial equity is embedded as a core value in determining what, where and how nature-based infrastructure solutions are implemented.