WQPPM IV - O&M Strategic Planning

This opportunity is open to current King County employees. External applicants are not being considered.

Are you an experienced program manager with a passion for protecting public health and the environment? The Wastewater Treatment Division’s (WTD) Operations and Maintenance section is seeking a Water Quality Planner/Project Manager IV to lead complex operational, regulatory, and strategic initiatives that support one of the largest wastewater treatment systems in the Pacific Northwest.

This position offers the opportunity to work with senior leadership, operations and maintenance staff, engineers, planning teams, communications staff, and external stakeholders to develop and implement programs that ensure reliable wastewater treatment, regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, and continuous improvement. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping long-term operational strategies while managing high-profile projects and programs that directly impact water quality and the communities we serve.

About the Role:

The Water Quality Planner/Project Manager IV serves as a senior-level program manager within the Operations and Maintenance Section and is responsible for leading multiple complex projects and programs that support wastewater treatment operations, operational excellence, and strategic business objectives.

This position provides leadership and oversight for cross-functional initiatives involving treatment plant operations, maintenance, environmental planning, asset management, workforce development, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement efforts. The position works closely with Section leadership to establish priorities, develop implementation strategies, monitor performance, and ensure programs align with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Strategic program and project management

• Operational performance improvement initiatives

• Stakeholder and regulatory agency coordination

• Workforce and organizational development initiatives

• Capital project coordination and operational readiness

• Performance measurement and reporting

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

About the Team:

The Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Section of the Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) is tasked with ensuring safe and reliable treatment of the region’s wastewater; serving 34 wholesale customers and approximately 1.9 million residents. The Section includes five treatment facilities, 48 pump stations, 400 miles of conveyance piping and treats an average of 185MGD of wastewater. With a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and reliability, we play a vital role in supporting communities and businesses across the region. 

WTD is 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. WTD strives to provide equitable services to residents and businesses across King County.

Join our team dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With over 1000 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment.

We partner with regulatory agencies 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. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Wastewater Quality Project/Program Manager IV, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

What You Will Be Doing: 

• Program and Project Management - Lead multiple complex operational, environmental, and regulatory projects  and programs supporting wastewater treatment facilities, conveyance systems, and maintenance operations. Develop project and program objectives, work plans, schedules, budgets, and performance measures.
• Strategic Planning and Organizational Improvement - Partner with section leadership to identify operational challenges, evaluate alternatives, and develop long-term strategies that improve reliability, efficiency, safety, environmental performance, and service delivery.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination - Serve as a liaison between Operations and Maintenance, Director’s Office, Engineering, Finance, external agencies, and other stakeholders. Facilitate collaboration across programs and lead efforts requiring alignment among multiple business units.
•  Program Oversight, Performance Management, and Resource Stewardship.  Develop and monitor program outcomes. Prepare reports, recommendations, and presentations for senior leadership. Ensure effective use of resources and continuous improvement of assigned programs.

• A bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing or a related discipline, or the equivalent combination of education and experience
  
• 5 years of increasingly responsible project or program management and work experience
• Experience developing strategic plans, business processes, policies, or operational improvement initiatives. Strategic communication experience, including crisis communications
• Experience working within wastewater treatment, water quality management, or utility operations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in digital communication tools and platforms.

• Business Insight: Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization’s goals.
• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Plans and Aligns: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Racially Just: Identify and replace racists systems and structures with anti-racists and pro-equity approaches.

• Experience working in wastewater treatment, water quality management, environmental compliance, utility operations, public works, or a related field.

• Knowledge of wastewater treatment processes, NPDES permit requirements, Clean Water Act requirements, environmental permitting, or utility regulatory frameworks.

• Experience leading cross-functional organizational improvement initiatives.

• Experience supporting executive leadership through strategic planning, policy development, or business operations management.

• Experience managing consultant contracts, scopes of work, budgets, and project performance.

• Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean, Continuous Improvement, Asset Management, or related professional certification.

•Proven experience in marketing and internal communications, preferably in an industrial or utility environment.

•Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

•Strong project management and organizational skills.

•Proficiency in digital communication tools and platforms.

•Creative thinking and the ability to develop engaging content.

•Experience with employee engagement programs is a plus.

•Familiarity with industrial utility industry trends is an advantage.

Working Conditions:

Work Location: The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is South Treatment Plant - 1200 Monster Road SW, Renton WA, 98057 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 works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.            

Union Representation: This position is represented by  Technical Employees’ Association (TEA) - Wastewater Treatment Division

Application Instructions:

We welcome applications from all qualified King County applicants. 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.   

Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment: 

• Technical Presentation: Onsite week of xx

• Panel interviews: Online/onsite week of xx

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

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

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and our WTD Blog.

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 Mark Workinger 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.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

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.