Senior Water Quality Specialist

This is an internal transfer opportunity only. Consideration is only being given to King County PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit employees eligible for a lateral transfer (transferring within the Engineer III classification and having passed probation).

Are you interested in working as part of a mission critical, dynamic team of engineers and water quality scientists? The Stormwater Services Section is hiring for a position that will provide advanced water quality technical support for the County's stormwater management regulations, programs, and planning. This opportunity is for a Senior Water Quality Specialist within the Water Quality Compliance Unit, contributing to the development and implementation of the County’s Surface Water Design Manual. The ideal applicant would have expertise necessary to support various activities required for maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations.

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future career service Engineer III positions throughout the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next six (6) months.

About the Role: 
We are seeking to hire a Senior Water Quality Specialist (Engineer III) to join the County’s Water Quality Compliance Unit. This team is focused on ensuring regulatory compliance with state and federal rules, as well as fostering innovation in research and technology that improves water quality. As a member of the Water Quality Compliance Unit (WQCU), you will be working within the Stormwater Services Section of the Water and Land Resources Division. A large portion of this work is dedicated to refining and updating the Surface Water Design Manual, a critical regulatory document used by many jurisdictions within the region. This is a challenging and rewarding role, allowing you to contribute to the development of stormwater design criteria and research/evaluate new and emerging technology related to stormwater management. This position will also act as a liaison to the Department of Local Services – Permitting Division, providing subject matter expertise to them as needed and work with DLS to develop partnership opportunities with the development community. As Senior Water Quality Specialist, you will be immersed in stormwater treatment media and materials review for use in Surface Water Design Manual facilities. You will also be providing your expertise and insight in developing King County’s annual reports and review of regulatory requirements. This position also participates in as-needed constructability reviews for Stormwater Service’s Asset Management Unit, assisting with special project feedback and contributing to King County code revisions and policy updates. This position requires excellent communication skills (verbal and written); a strong science or engineering background; knowledge of stormwater source control and treatment technologies; and knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations pertaining to stormwater.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About the Team:
King County staff and residents truly care about improving water quality. The hard-working, skilled, and enthusiastic staff within the Stormwater Services Section (SWSS) are ready and willing to work to that end. This position will work closely with co-workers who have a wealth of technical, scientific, and organizational expertise and knowledge, fostering a strong sense of teamwork.  If you enjoy contributing a positive impact to the environment and the community through stormwater management, excel at communicating with the diverse communities and collaborating with others to safeguard water quality, this position would be a perfect opportunity for you.

Who Are We? 
The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is at the forefront of King County’s efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 450 supported by an annual budget of ~$280 million. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to protect working farms and forests, restore habitat, improve water quality, and provide county residents with equitable access to green space. We house the Land Conservation Initiative, which aims to preserve our last, most important lands. Our forestry and agricultural programs help individuals protect their lands and support local food production. We house four salmon recovery forums where we collaborate with scores of partners to plan, design, and build habitat projects. We partner with regional jurisdictions to help residents and businesses reduce the threats posed by production, use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials. We are the primary service provider to the King County Flood Control District, contributing to flood preparedness and constructing and maintaining facilities that restore rivers and reduce risk. Our one true local service to unincorporated King County is stormwater management, protecting water quality, reducing flooding, and building and maintaining facilities. Finally, we provide regional science and laboratory services to an array of customers, maintaining high-quality data sets used to assess water quality and habitat trends, and provide Best Available Science to inform decision making. In two words, we are a watershed utility.


Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resource 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:

The Senior Water Quality Specialist performs several key functions, including:

• Provide technical support and create content for the King County Surface Water Design Manual (SWDM).

• Staying current with new and emerging stormwater regulations, technology and research.

• Updating and facilitating proper application of the County' s stormwater design standards.

• Providing water quality technical expertise to the section and WLRD teams.

• Act as liaison for the SWDM between other King County agencies, assisting with manual interpretation and applicability.

Qualifications You Bring: 

• Experience reviewing drainage plans and leading engineering reviews that apply SWDM to development and/or capital project.
• Advanced policy and code analysis and development.
• Strategic planning skills.
• Negotiation skills.
• Skill in working with county leadership and the general public.

Competencies You Bring:

• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Resourcefulness: Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently.
• Optimizes Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• WA State driver's license.

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: The Water Quality Compliance Unit works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104. 
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position will work a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible. The typical work schedule is 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday– Friday. Work outside the typical work schedule including early mornings, evenings and weekends may be required from time to time.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit.

Application and Selection Process:
We are only accepting applications from current King County PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit employees eligible for a lateral transfer (transferring within the Engineer III classification and having passed probation). We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. 

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Please ensure that your application materials clearly detail how your skills and experience meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this posting.

Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Online Application with response to supplemental questions.
• Resume.
• Cover Letter.

Note:  Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.  

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Isaac Good at (206) 848-0576 or [email protected].

Discover More About the Water Land & Resources Division: Visit our website.

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News. 

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

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.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Isaac Good at [email protected].

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

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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.