This position is open only to King County Employees. 


The Department of Natural Resources and Parks is seeking an energetic and motivated candidate to provide high level guidance and manage the daily operations of the Environmental and Community Services (ECS) Section within the King County Wastewater Treatment Division. The ECS Section manager is a member and active participant of the Division Leadership Team which sets organizational vision and strategy, supports the success of our workforce, and champions strategic execution of critical operations and functions. This position reports to the division director.
 
The ECS Section has over 110 employees supporting King County's largest capital program, education and engagement, and managing the King County pretreatment program. The Section is organized into five units: Industrial Waste, Regulatory Compliance and Land Acquisition, Environmental Planning, Community Services, and Education and Engagement.
 
Industrial Waste 
Ensures the quality of influent in our system through our industrial waste permitting and inspection programs
Regulatory Compliance and Land Acquisition 
Provides property negotiations and acquisition and other real estate services to WTD and completes all construction permitting and land use approvals for our capital projects.
Environmental Planning 
Initiates SEPA/NEPA and EIS work, coordinates WTD's NPDES permits and other regulatory responsibilities across the division, provides environmental monitoring and maintenance activities for mitigation sites and other real property assets.
Community Services
Provides critical public relations and community outreach services for capital projects and during emergency response. Provides strategic guidance for community relations and represents King County at community events.
Education and Engagement
Provides outreach on our wastewater services and benefits to the region of clean water and conducts public education programs at our treatment plant facilities and throughout our service area. Oversees an environmental grant program that distributes over $2 million annually.
 
The Section also coordinates King County's participation in the CERCLA (Superfund) cleanups of contaminated sediments in the Lower Duwamish and East Waterways with external partners and oversight agencies.
 
The ECS section advances the values of King County and the Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) by protecting public health and the environment and providing equitable, inclusive services to residents and businesses across King County. To our agency, success means providing clean water safely and reliably to the next generation. It also means being accountable to our ratepayers and operating a well-managed agency. We are committed to the principles of equity and social justice. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.

About the Role:
This SDA is a great way for you to gain valuable managerial experience in a large organization and insight into the functions and role of the position, network with the Division Leadership Team, and gain knowledge and experience to improve your competitiveness for the permanent ECS Section manager position to be hired in early to mid-2025.
 
In this position, you will have the opportunity to bolster our region's public health and environment protection every day. You will ensure strong service and coordination among ECSS work units in support of WTD's Capital Improvement Program. You will also manage the work group's efforts to support WTD Operations staff in their work running one of our region's most complex and important infrastructure systems. This position requires cooperation and collaboration with many different work units, and external partners and regulatory agencies. To be successful, you must be able to facilitate open dialog with a wide variety of contributors, sometimes balancing conflicting interests or opinions.

About the Division:
WTD 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.

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 an King County Employee, 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.

What You Will Be Doing:  

• Manage the daily operations of section programs, providing technical assistance to staff and internal and external clients.
• Oversee and coordinate analyses and implementation of new and expanding regulatory mandates.  Work collaboratively with other government and regulatory agencies or King County departments to address environmental policies and issues.   Represent King County on technical issues to other agencies, including regulatory agencies.
• Provide high-level technical expertise. Manage applicable operations and processes, ensuring methodologies and technical systems meet regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Conduct complex negotiations and manage environmental cleanup work programs in partnership with public and private entities and with federal oversight.
• Manage grantmaking programs and associated budget development; manage public education programs and the Christie True Environmental Education Center and City Soil Farm.
• Manage unit managers and program supervisors within the section.  Manage section staff, including hiring, performance, job progression, training, coaching, and discipline. Assure regular and timely communication of program issues to section staff.

Qualifications You Bring: 

• Knowledge of theory and practice of applicable discipline (environmental planning and/or engineering, biology, chemistry and/or microbiology, energy, industrial waste, real property, community relations, etc.).
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements such as environmental compliance regulations (i.e., NEPA/SEPA, DOE, and ESA), safety regulations (OSHA/WISHA), and Washington State Department of Health and Ecology permit and accreditation requirements.
• Knowledge of operating and capital budgeting procedures and processes.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision, leadership, and human resources management.
• Knowledge of general management principles and business needs of the environmental and wastewater industries, including technology and regulatory trends.
• Knowledge of marketing and communications principles and practices.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of public administration, including public finance, development and analysis of public policy, organization, and contract management.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of wastewater operations, capital project delivery, and environmental compliance management.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of customer service and continuous quality improvement.
• Critical thinking and strategic planning skills, including long- and short-term goal-setting.
• Conflict resolution and negotiation skills.

• Decision Quality - Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Builds Effective Teams - Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Ensures Accountability - Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Drives Engagement - Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
• Strategic Mindset - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Drives Vision and Purpose- Painting a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.

• Advanced knowledge of supervisory techniques and principles and the application of this knowledge in a highly technical and political environment.
• Advanced knowledge of business management techniques including organization development and change management, financial forecasting, strategy execution, and business value realization.
• Knowledge of strategic planning techniques and principles. Knowledge of portfolio, program and project management, construction, project control, asset management and contract administration techniques and principles. 
• Knowledge of public utility finance and budgeting techniques and principles.
• Knowledge of wastewater treatment systems and operations.

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role will primarily be working at a remote home location. 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.  
• Remote Work Location 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 full-time position works a 40-hour work week with flexible schedules. This position is not covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. 
• Duration: This is a 3 to 6 month special duty assignment.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Local 117

• Complete King County Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter