The Water and Land Resources Division has an opportunity for a 2.5 to 3-year term-limited temporary position that will serve as Project Manager for the update to King County’s nationally-recognized 2006 Flood Hazard Management Plan. This position will be part of an interdisciplinary team of policy makers, engineers, planners and ecologists working to advance integrated, multi-benefit floodplain management strategies consistent with the King County Clean Water Healthy Habitat Strategic Plan, and flood resiliency recommendations in the 2020 King County Strategic Climate Action Plan. The Flood Hazard Management Plan update will require close coordination between King County and the King County Flood Control District. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing a complex regional planning process to assess flood-associated risks in King County’s watersheds, update a vision for the future of integrated floodplain management with regional input that enhances habitat, recreational, and other values; and identify an action plan of programmatic and capital actions supported by a funding strategy. This position will be co-located in the Water and Land Resources Division Director’s Office and River and Floodplain Management Section.

Commitment to Equity and Social Justice:
As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation’s history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts. To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity

The selected candidate will integrate King County’s Equity and Social Justice principles and the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Equity Policy into the daily functions of this position.

Who is Eligible: This position is open to all King County employees and the general public. If the successful applicant is a King County career service employee, this position will be offered as a Special Duty Assignment. Employees must have their current supervisor’s approval to accept a Special Duty Assignment.

Telecommuting Requirement
The work associated with this position will be performed remotely on a full-time basis. Employees will also have access to shared workspaces at King Street Center at 201 S. Jackson Street in Downtown Seattle. Subject to COVID-19 safety requirements, this position will be required to report periodically in person (approximately once a week) to work locations in downtown Seattle and across King County for public meetings, site visits, training, and team meetings. 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. Workplace safety is a priority.  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.

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.  Projects may occasionally require evening, weekend, or holiday work.

• Serve as project manager for the County’s Integrated Floodplain Management Plan, working closely with County and Flood Control District leadership to establish a work program and project management plan, establish and support advisory teams, and lead work of subject matter experts and consultants to draft the updated plan.
• Identify and frame major policy issues and key decision points for the Plan and scope analyses and information gathering needed to support decision-making.
• Collaborate with subject manager experts in engineering, ecology, habitat restoration, floodplain management requirements and standards, comprehensive planning to co-create, prepare, review and present analyses and technical and policy information to technical staff, elected officials, management, and the public.
• Engage with elected officials, King County Flood Control District leadership, agency representatives, city and Tribal government staff, and community members with a wide range of perspectives to develop a shared vision for floodplain management in King County and develop policies and recommendations to support this vision.
• Develop and oversee professional services consultant contracts to support Integrated Floodplain Management Plan development.
• Clearly present policy and technical information about flood hazard management and integrated floodplain management both verbally and in writing.
• Represent WLRD in other planning forums (e.g., King County Comprehensive Plan Update) and identify opportunities to meet multiple benefits for flood risk reduction, habitat restoration, recreation, water quality and agriculture.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have the Following Competencies:

• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Situational Adaptability: Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations
• Manages Ambiguity: Operates effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.
• Instills trust: Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

Required Qualifications:

• Professional and academic experience in floodplain management, environmental sciences, strategic planning, water resources or related fields and approximately 5 or more years of relevant work experience.
• Minimum of three of progressively responsible experience in program or project management of complex natural resource projects.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and manage complex projects with diverse project teams, including defining goals and objectives, identifying, and framing key decision points, developing, and communicating expectations about tasks, responsibilities, and schedules, and anticipating and adjusting for problems.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives, interests, and outcomes. Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Experience in applying equity and social justice principles in the workplace to program and project development.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, on technical and policy issues with consultants, business and professional groups, residents, and property owners in a way that meets the needs of different audiences.
• Demonstrated experience working in complex, multi-party natural resource planning efforts with a demonstrated knowledge and experience with government relations, public planning processes and resource management.
• Facilitation skills with demonstrated ability to run and facilitate meetings, including public meetings.
• Working knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and local government comprehensive planning and development regulation frameworks.

Necessary Special Requirements:

• Valid Washington State driver’s license or the ability to travel throughout the County in a timely manner.

Desired Qualifications

• Certified Floodplain Management (CFM), American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP), Project Management Institute (PMI) or other related professional certification is a plus.
• Experience with and knowledge of local floodplain management and salmon recovery issues in King County and the Puget Sound Region.
• Experience in applying developing integrated floodplain management plans, projects, or programs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project and Microsoft Teams.

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:

• A completed King County application
• Resume
• Letter of interest detailing your background and describing how your education and experience meets the qualifications and has prepared you to perform the essential functions of the job
• Responses to supplemental questions

Union Representation:  Positions in this classification are represented by International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 117 Professional & Technical.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Pamela Johnson
Human Resources Manager
206-477-4717
pamela.johnson@kingcounty.gov

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.

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.