This position, located on the Policy and Planning Team within the River and Floodplain Management Section (RFMS) of the Water and Land Resource Division, is primarily responsible for planning and coordination duties associated with three key bodies of work: coordinating King County’s enterprise-wide actions to ensure National Flood Insurance (NFIP) compliance, supporting King County and King County city participation in the NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS), and coordinating strategic planning related to the King County Flood Hazard Management Plan (FHMP).

For the next two years, the top priority for the successful candidate will be response and follow through of process improvements resulting from an audit by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The second priority will be providing policy and planning support for an update to the FHMP, working closely with the FHMP Project Manager and RFMS Policy and Planning Supervisor. Following completion of the FHMP update, this position will provide ongoing support for FHMP implementation, NFIP Compliance and CRS. The position will require expertise in federal standards associated with the NFIP, Federal Emergency Management approaches for risk assessment and mitigation, and interagency and intergovernmental collaboration.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing complex programs and projects using independent judgement with limited supervision, leading and participating in interagency and intergovernmental collaboration, interpreting floodplain management code, conducting process mapping and improvement, and working with multidisciplinary teams to represent floodplain management principles and strategies in integrated watershed management programs.

Who is Eligible: This position is open to the public.

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 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.

• Build relationships through effective communication to promote the development and implementation of policies and programs that support sustainable watersheds and integrated floodplain management.
• Provide subject matter expertise regarding floodplain management standards as outlined in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Revised Code of Washington and King County Code; includes technical support and interdepartmental collaboration toward improved outcomes.
• Proactively manage King County’s participation in the NFIP and the Community Rating System (CRS), including audits, annual recertifications, and three-year verification reviews; includes coordinating with federal, state and local agencies; mapping decision making processes; and working with cities in King County to identify opportunities to partner and coordinate toward improved flood risk reduction outcomes.
• Provide subject matter expertise regarding the King County Flood Hazard Management Plan and support or coordinate a regional update every five years.
• Represent the River and Floodplain Management Section on floodplain related planning efforts, such as King County’s Comprehensive Plan, Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, Strategic Climate Action Plan, Clean Water Plan and Stormwater Management Plan, ensuring appropriate linkages to the King County Flood Hazard Management Plan.
• Conduct research and analysis to develop policies, strategies, issue papers and recommendations in collaboration with others; may include establishing and coordinating ad hoc work groups.
• Review data, reports and technical documents and prepare and present summary information to technical staff, elected officials, management, and the public.
• Develop and oversee consultant contracts that relate to floodplain management planning and risk mitigation work.
• Participate in flood warning and emergency response programs and activities.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have The Following Competencies:

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

Required Qualifications:

• Relevant lived experience: Lived 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.
• Project manager: Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects with diverse project teams, including defining goals and objectives, developing and communicating expectations about tasks, responsibilities, and schedules, and the ability to anticipate and adjust for problems.
• Collaborator: Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Ability to deal tactfully, work collaboratively, and build consensus with diverse groups and individuals that might include elected officials, residents, representatives of other county, city, state and federal agencies, the public, community groups, and organizational colleagues.
• Effective communicator: Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, on technical and policy issues with varied levels of staff, consultants, business and professional groups, residents and property owners.

The Most Competitive Candidates May Also Have:

• Familiarity with regulations: Familiarity with King County (or equivalent), state and/or federal floodplain management codes, regulations and principles, and associated disaster preparedness, mitigation and recovery programs.
• NFIP knowledge: Working knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program, its minimum standards, principles and programs.
• Relevant professional certifications: Certified Floodplain Management (CFM), American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP) or other related professional certification is a plus. King County will support the candidate to acquire their CFM within 1 year of being hired. Annual training budget can support further professional education and accreditation.
• Regional and/or local floodplain manager: Experience with and knowledge of floodplain management issues in the Puget Sound Region or King County itself.
• Regional and/or local watershed planner: Experience with and knowledge of salmon habitat recovery planning efforts and other land use and natural resource management issues in King County.
• Environmental planning experience: Minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible experience in project management of complex natural resource projects.
• Facilitator: Facilitation skills with demonstrated ability to run and facilitate meetings, including public meetings.
• Strategic planner: Proven success working in complex, multi-party natural resource planning efforts with a demonstrated knowledge of interjurisdictional governance, public planning processes and resource management.
• Knowledge of equity and social justice principles: Considers equity and social justice principles in the workplace and in the execution of work, and approaches relationships in a culturally appropriate manner.

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 letter of interest detailing your background and describing how your lived experiences meets the qualifications of this position and has prepared you to perform the duties of the job. At the least, all required qualifications should be addressed.
• Responses to four supplemental questions.
• King County online application form.
• An optional resume, only if you wish to detail additional experience relevant to the position.

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:
Deena Prasad, Senior Human Resources Analyst
deprasad@kingcounty.gov
206-263-0101

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.

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.