Salary: $88,920.00 – $112,715.20 Annually
Location: Snoqualmie, WA
Job Type: Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT)
Department: DLS – Dept. of Local Services
Job Number: 2022SS15365
Division: Permitting
Closing: 3/6/2022 11:59 PM Pacific

Learn more about this position and apply today at King County’s Government Jobs page.

Job Description:

This recruitment will be used to fill Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) and/or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) positions. The TLT/SDA is anticipated to last till December 30, 2022 with possible extensions.

In order to hire and maintain a quality workforce that reflects the diversity of the community and works well within our True North values-based organization, the Permitting Division of the Department of Local Services (DLS) is accepting applications for the career-service position of a Senior Subarea Planner (Project/Program Manager III).

The Senior Subarea Planner (Project/Program Manager III) works under the supervision of the Strategic Planning Manager and in partnership with key staff members in several departments and agencies to assist in regular updates and on-going performance monitoring of planning subareas in the unincorporated areas of King County. The Subarea Planner works in a collaborative manner with the public and subject matter experts to generate ideas, perform research and analysis, and to develop recommendations; but on a day-to-day basis works with the Principal Subarea Planner to produce reports, plans, and other products. The Subarea Planner has career experience working directly on high-profile, time-sensitive, politically charged, and/or innovative land use policies and projects. This position requires the incumbent to assist in meaningful, demonstrable experience in crafting forward-thinking land use policies and codes for both Urban and Rural community service areas.

Subarea planning resides in the Department of Local Services, but the work must be closely coordinated with the Permitting Division and the County’s Office of Regional Planning. This position may require evening and weekend meetings and presentations to the public, legislative bodies, hearing bodies, and other agencies. The position may also require coordination with staff within the department to facilitate code reviews and analysis, craft text, and plan for and monitor legislative actions. The incumbent must work constructively with other departments, the King County Council, the Office of the King County Executive, other jurisdictions, and the public.

Job Duties:

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

To be considered for this opportunity, you must at a minimum, demonstrate knowledge, skill, and ability to:

  • Provide assistants in managing the County’s subarea planning process for unincorporated areas; assist in the review, analyze, and potentially refine established subarea planning processes.  
  • Keep abreast of land use activities, trends, and key issues in the unincorporated areas.  
  • Coordinate closely with Principal Subarea Planners.  
  • Provide technical analysis based upon demographic, financial, and/or geographic information system data.  
  • Author documents or portions of documents that are clear, accurate, and economical.  
  • Manage individual work time to meet deadlines and accommodate a fluctuating workload.  
  • Serve as a technical resource for others in the organization about subarea planning generally and also the content of specific plans.  
  • Assist in developing code and plan amendments that bring greater relevance or improve departmental processes or systems, support ad hoc long-range planning assignments.  
  • Work with department staff to craft and review new or amending legislation for codes, ordinances, policies, and documents.  
  • Work with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and County Council staff to help resolve legal issues and questions that arise from proposed legislation.  
  • Help ensure compliance and consistency between the policies in the Comprehensive Plan and regulations in related documents; assist with Comprehensive Plan updates as directed.  
  • As assigned by the Director, provide staff support to interdepartmental or inter jurisdictional teams; provide staff support to community outreach efforts.  
  • Work cooperatively with others in the department or in other agencies to resolve project- and process-related issues.  
  • Exhibit and support a culture of superior customer service.  
  • Communicate on the job in ways that reflect well upon King County, the County Executive, the department, and the incumbent.  
  • Scrupulously honor commitments made to customers and others.  
  • Respond to citizen inquiries.  
  • Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills:

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in planning, urban studies, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Professional long-range planning experience.  
  • Ability to read and interpret plans, policies, and regulations; knowing when to reach out for assistance from supervisor or other professionals.  
  • Demonstrable experience assisting in developing long-range plans and completing project management assignments.  Experience with building and land use policy and regulation.  
  • Experience developing, amending, interpreting, and recommending building and land use regulations and documents concerning urban, rural, and resource issues.  
  • Experienced working with people from diverse backgrounds including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans.  
  • Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships and partnerships across boundaries and with different interests.  
  • Familiarity with land use legal theory and principles; knowing when to reach out to other professionals.  
  • Superior technical and non-technical writing skills; advanced skill in adjusting written communication for varying audiences.  
  • Clear and effective communication skills: ability to listen, provide feedback, and negotiate outcomes as needed; ability to provide accurate and concise oral presentations.  
  • Familiarity with growth management legislation and laws pertaining to comprehensive planning.  
  • Skill in problem solving with effective solutions.

Desirable Qualifications: 

  • Demonstrable track record of success with complex, high-profile, and/or time-sensitive projects.  
  • Professional long-range planning experience in a rural context.  
  • Experience in making presentations to legislative bodies, jurisdictional partners, and the public.  
  • American Institute of Certified Planners accreditation.

Supplemental Information:

Those applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to interview on March 18, 2022. 

If you are selected as a finalist you will be asked to come back on March 25, 2022 for a second interview.

Who May Apply:

This position is open to all qualified candidates.
 
This recruitment may be used to fill vacancies for up to 6 months.  Including special duty assignments, STT and TLT opportunities.
       
Work Schedule:

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. The position is paid on a bi-weekly schedule, every other Thursday, comprising a 40-hour work week. The work week is normally 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The position may be required to work extended and/or flex scheduled work hours to respond to service needs.
   
Forms and Materials:

A completed King County Application is required. We highly recommend that you also provide a cover letter and resume.
   
Election Process:

Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews.  Skype options are available for out-of-state candidates.  Reference checks and record reviews will also be conducted.
 
Union Membership:

This position is represented by PROTEC17

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: 

      Sonali Sharma
      Human Resources Analyst
      206-477-7282
      sosharma@kingcounty.gov  

Teleworking Requirement:

The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly by teleworking; complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington 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, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
 
About the Department:

King County is the local service provider for the roughly quarter-million people who live in the unincorporated areas of the county. Taken together, the population in unincorporated King County would be the second-largest city in the state. The Department of Local Services includes a Director’s Office and the Road Services and Permitting Divisions. The Director’s Office includes a robust Community Service Area group focused on identifying and responding to the needs of urban and rural unincorporated King County residents and businesses. The department provides a single executive point of accountability for delivery of local services to all the unincorporated areas.    

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 that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department’s hybrid environment.  

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:

King County Executive Branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are the successful candidate for the position you applied for, the County will send you a conditional offer letter.

As a condition of employment, prior to a final offer of employment, you will be required to:

  • Submit proof of vaccination, or
  • Have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

People are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving the final dose of a vaccination approved by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Executive Branch includes employees in the Executive branch, the Assessor’s Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Executive Office.

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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement.