Sustainability Program Manager

                                                                                                            

                                                                  This opportunity is open to current King County employees. We are not accepting external applications at this time.

Summary

We are searching for an incredibly passionate Sustainability Program Manager to join our Recycling & Environmental Services team. This position would contribute to implementing innovative and creative efforts that will advance construction and demolition, green building, sustainability, climate action and equity and social justice within the Solid Waste Division portfolio of projects. 

These efforts will support meeting our Green Building Ordinance, Strategic Climate Action Plan, and Zero Waste of Resources goals and overall climate reduction goals for the County. This is an opportunity to be part of improving institutional changes to better serve the public and provide greater benefits to our community regarding an equitable, socially just, prosperous, and healthy future. 

We are filling one Career Service position and may use this recruitment to create a list of candidates for any potential vacancies in similar positions in the following 6 months. The classification of this position is Project/Program Manager III.

We also have a new County Executive with dynamic and progressive priorities including: 

• Breaking the Cycle:Addressing homelessness, addiction, and incarceration.
• Building More:Expanding housing, child care, transit, and infrastructure.
• Be in Community:Making King County government more visible, connected, and community-driven.
• Better Government:Delivering a government that is more transparent, efficient, and accountable.

Our program has the ability to connect with each of these areas that provides opportunities for creative and innovative projects.

About this Role:

This position will help maximize sustainability efforts in our division’s capital project portfolio that will implement green building, resource recovery, climate preparedness and equity and social justice priorities that will have long lasting benefits for our community as sound investments from our ratepayers. In addition, we are looking for someone who has experience working with a dynamic project team structure and can collaborate with multiple sections and disciplines.  The Solid Waste Division has a capital portfolio of over $500 million that range from small renovations to large complex new construction recycling and transfer stations. This position will work closely with capital project managers, engineers, construction managers, and other team members to design, renovate and construct capital projects with the latest sustainability requirements. The successful candidate will serve as the Sustainability Subject Matter Expertise on Solid Waste Division project teams to assist in achieving sustainability requirements, complete necessary green building reporting, and highlighting achievements. 

The Solid Waste Division has resource recovery central to all of the work and services moving forward. This position will be responsible for reviewing project development and approve advancement during gate milestones during the life of the project. This individual will have a role in advising strategies for high performance in resource recovery, C&D material diversion, energy and water savings, stormwater and site management, sustainable material selection, renewable energy projection, and other sustainable features. The individual will also take part in maintaining standard operation procedures for implementing green building and sustainability measures. Other tasks include being part of reviewing and developing RFPs, contracts and project specifications, design packages, and construction reports. They will be a member of the division’s Capital Project Review Board where they will keep staff appraised of the latest green building and sustainability requirements. Some technical assistance duties include but not limited to organizing and facilitating project ecocharrettes, guidance on green building rating systems, provide tutorials on sustainability best practices, and research appropriate green building strategies that are applicable to project.  

About the Team:

The candidate will be joining a team of staff that work on additional aspects of green building internally at the county and externally communitywide, along with subject matter experts on equity and social justice and construction and demolition. Together they are members of the Recycling and Environmental Services Section of the Solid Waste Division that collectively is working on a suitable future for King County and consists of units working on climate and sustainability, Re+ in community programs, resource recovery, material collection program management and innovation. The King County Solid Waste Division (KCSWD) is responsible for the public solid waste system that serves the people and communities of unincorporated King County and most cities within King County. KCSWD is the lead King County Agency for delivering Zero Waste of Resources (ZWoR) goal for the region, which will reduce valuable materials sent to the landfill by up to 70%. KCSWD operates the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, ten transfer facilities, nine closed landfills, and many programs to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems.  

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. In this Performance Analyst position, 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 Solid Waste Division of the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks. 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 De Doing:

Qualifications You Bring:

Competencies You Bring:      

It Would be Great if You Also Bring:

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: The Recycling and Environmental Services (RES) Section 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, Seattle, Washington 98104.        

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; Mon – Fri, core hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 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 Teamsters 117 Professional and Technical.

Application and Selection Process: We welcome applications from all qualified 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 a skills test and one or more panel interviews.    

To apply, submit a:

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

Discover More About the Solid Waste Division: Visit our website at our website at Solid Waste Division and check us out at Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube. 

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 Sonali Sharma 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.