See full details at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/kingcounty/jobs/3235515/open-space-program-project-program-manager-iii

Summary

King County Parks and Recreation Division is seeking a Project/Program Manager III to join the Open Space Program and provide general policy support. This position will serve on a team of project/program managers in the Environmental Policy & Initiatives Unit.
This position will assist in two key capacities:

Open Space Program: Open space land acquisition, site planning, site management and stewardship activities. Duties will include developing strategic proposals to acquire open space lands, coordinating natural restoration and recreation amenity development projects, writing grant applications, participating in partnership opportunities and community engagement, researching and writing site management plans, and managing ongoing property issues. This work will be geographically based and is currently expected to cover northeastern areas of the county, including King County Parks’ Bear Creek, Tolt River, and Marymoor districts.

Policy Support: Provide analysis, guidance, and support for regulatory, legislative, and compliance requirements related to the division’s work. Examples will span across many subjects, including (but not limited to) code, policy and guideline development, recreational and environmental planning and regulatory compliance, tracking and analyzing relevant state legislation, open space acquisitions and grant compliance.

Individuals interested in joining our team must be committed to racial, social and economic equality for ALL people in King County. We welcome applications from people who will help us consistently demonstrate the values of equity, respect and partnership.
 
To learn about the King County Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan click here.

About the Division: Be a part of King County Parks! King County Parks has evolved from 150 acres in 1938 to more than 32,000 acres. Today, our system consists of more than 205 parks, 175 miles of regional trails, and 250 miles of backcountry trails. Our mission is to steward, enhance and acquire parks to inspire healthy communities. We seek to cultivate strong relationships with community partners to enhance park amenities for all King County residents to enjoy today and for generations to come. Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/parks.

 
Who is Eligible: This opportunity is open to all eligible applicants. King County and the Parks and Recreation Division values diverse perspectives and life experience and encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, and veterans.
 
Permanent Telecommuting Requirement
The work associated with this position will be performed remotely on a permanent basis.  There will be situations where the employee is required to report to a County worksite. Employees must reside in WA state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. 
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required by the department in alignment with the Public Health Directive from the Seattle & King County Public Health Officer. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
To support employees during this time King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team.

Work Location:  Primarily teleworking and the King Street Center 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle WA 98104

Work Schedule: 
This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. 

Job Duties

Open Space Program

• Assess and pursue open space land acquisition opportunities consistent with the division’s mission and goals.
• Assess, recommend, and/or develop capital improvement needs and restoration opportunities on open space lands.
• Address property-related issues on open space lands (for example, encroachments, illegal activities, access issues).
• Prepare and manage grant applications for land acquisition and park development.
• Manage site level planning processes, including restoration, trail planning, use compatibility, access and development.  
• Coordinate with internal King County staff from other programs (e.g., Operations; Capital Improvement Program; Basin Stewards; Agriculture, Forestry, and Incentives) to work collaboratively on open space conservation and recreational projects, and to resolve technical issues.

Policy Support

• Work across the division to track, coordinate, and support policy needs.
• Support development of King County legislation for work group. 
• Conduct research and analysis to develop policies, guidelines, strategies, issue papers and recommendations in collaboration with regional partners and stakeholders.
• Track State Legislative Session proceedings, analyze potential bills per Parks’ interests, and communicate Parks’ position(s) to King County legislative liaisons per protocol.  
• Work collaboratively with King County DNRP Government Relations Administrators to address Council inquiries, coordinate responses, and provide related support on Parks’ behalf. 

General

• Coordinate and collaborate with diverse interests, including internal teams, elected officials, municipalities, federal and state agencies, Tribes, citizens, and community groups to develop and implement projects, programs, and policies.
• Support budget development consistent with work program priorities and projects.
• Participate in and/or facilitate internal, stakeholder and community meetings.
• Coordinate public outreach processes associated with projects, plans, and policy work. As needed, support development of education materials (web content, news releases and public meeting materials, interpretive signs, etc.). 
• Maintain an understanding of best practices and promising approaches to racial equity and social justice related to open space access and recreational programming.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Required Qualifications: 

• Experience in natural lands conservation and/or acquisition: Working knowledge of, and experience with, principles of planning, environmental and land use regulations, natural resource management principles and concepts, and real estate law.  
• Policy and planning expertise: Experience working on policy issues related to parks, recreation, the environment, or public sector service.
• Effective communication skills: Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences in writing, orally or visually. Experience communicating technical and policy issues with varied levels of staff, consultants, community groups, landowners, and the public. Ability to deal tactfully, patiently, and courteously with diverse individuals (often with opposing perspectives), including government officials, the public, community groups, and organizational colleagues. Ability to listen.
• Demonstrated success leading initiatives or projects to completion: Ability to develop scope, schedule and budget, and manage projects through completion.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have the Following Competencies: 

• Approaches work with a strategic mindset. Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies. 
• Collaborates. Builds partnerships with others to meet shared objectives. 
• Action oriented. Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Plans and prioritizes work. Meets commitments and align with organizational goals. 
• Manages complexity. Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Demonstrates organizationally savvy. Can maneuver comfortably through complex policy, process and people-related organizational dynamics. 
• Demonstrates situational adaptability. Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Calm under pressure.
  

Necessary Special Requirements: Valid Washington State Driver’s License upon hire or ability to travel throughout the County in a timely manner.

Supplemental Information

Application and Selection Process: Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness including online application, cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.  Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position. 

• King County application  
• Resume 
• Cover Letter detailing your background and what you can bring to this position 
• Response to supplemental questions: 

Union Representation:  This position is not represented by a union.  
 
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: 
Shawna Ousse at sousse@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-3536
Delores Venters at dventers@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-1678

Forbes recently 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.

Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement

As of October 18, 2021, most* King County employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination by October 18th. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. Employees may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

This directive applies to employees in the Executive branch*, the Assessor’s Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Executive Office.

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 your recruiter listed on this job announcement.