Capital Equity Program Manager

This position is open to current KING COUNTY EMPLOYEE ONLY.

King County's Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) is seeking an enthusiastic, motivated, and collaborative individual to serve as the Capital Equity Program Manager in the capital Project Planning and Delivery (PPD) section at King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD). WTD’s growing capital program is one of the largest in the region and touches many communities in King County. The Capital Equity Program Manager will collaborate with Capital Division staff and management, WTD’s ESJ (Equity and Social Justice) Committee, community partners, vendors, and other interested parties within King County who are responsible for delivering capital programs for their respective organizations.

About The Role

The Capital Equity Program Manager will serve as WTD’s lead equity expert for staff involved in the planning, design, and delivery of the division’s Capital Program. In this role, the manager will ensure that capital teams have the tools, resources, and guidance needed to incorporate equity into project development and to use capital investments to positively influence the Determinants of Equity identified by King County as fundamental to the wellbeing of all communities. Key responsibilities include helping design and refine tools, systems, and procedures that embed equitable practices and outcomes throughout the Capital Program. This position plays a central role in integrating ESJ policies into WTD’s capital processes, ensuring that infrastructure decisions reflect both countywide goals and community priorities.

The role will provide strategic advice and practical support to advance ESJ at the capital portfolio, program, and project levels. This work includes gathering data, monitoring progress, and reporting on compliance with the DNRP and WTD Strategic Plans and support outcomes in the WTD 3-year Strategic Equity Plan. It must also support outcomes for the Sustainable & Resilient Frontline Communities section of the Strategic Climate Action Plan. Particular focus will be given to addressing the needs of historically underserved communities, including residents with limited English proficiency.

In addition, the Capital Equity Program Manager will serve as a policy advisor to the Division Leadership Team and a resource to the division Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Manager and capital program - especially Capital Project Managers.. They will help staff apply a pro-equity lens to decision-making and develop processes to prioritize, measure, and track how the Wastewater Treatment Division’s Capital Improvement Program advances equitable practices, outcomes, and benefits throughout the capital lifecycle

About The Team
Our regional wastewater treatment system has a big job to do. Not only does it operate around the clock to sustain a healthy environment, but this vital infrastructure also supports economic development that enables our region to thrive. You will have the unique opportunity to work across all wastewater workgroups and lines of business to help shape how we as a utility adapt and respond to changing regulations and build infrastructure for future generations. You will be a key part of one of King County’s largest, most complex capital programs with a variety of interesting, challenging, and critical projects. You will be supporting the growth and strategic development of the largest capital program in King County with projects and programs stretching across 2,200 square miles. 

To our agency, success means providing clean water safely and reliably for the next generation. It also means being accountable to our ratepayers and operating a well-managed agency. We are committed to the principles of ESJ. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. Our primary mission is to provide high-quality wastewater treatment collected from local sewer agencies. We also partner with regulatory agencies to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. 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.

About WTD
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. 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 a 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:

• Provide strategic guidance and operational assistance in developing and advancing ESJ within the WTD Capital Program at the capital portfolio, program, and project level.
• Develop, communicate, organize, and maintain program documents, tools and resources (including workflows, talking points, protocols, toolkits, and policies) relevant to the work of the capital program.
• Collaborate with internal staff and external partners to gather information and build a strong understanding of local community and stakeholder concerns related to capital portfolio, program, and project decisions. 
• In alignment with the community workforce agreements and the DNRP and WTD Strategic Plans, use data that identifies under-represented and marginalized communities to work with internal project teams and external consultants, contractors and suppliers to improve the Determinants of Equity within these communities. 
• Assist with needs assessments to identify individual, group, team, divisional, departmental, and organizational ESJ training opportunities; collaborate on training delivery.
• Stay current on emerging best practices and innovations in advancing equity through capital programs and use that knowledge to continually strengthen and improve the Capital Equity Program.
• Be a champion for ESJ. Understand that systematic racism and its long-term effects are pervasive in our society. Be comfortable having candid and sincere conversations with all employees about race and equity in the workplace and how we can advance equity across our capital programs and in the communities we serve.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, project management, engineering, architecture, urban planning, or a related social or technical field.
• 5 years or more of experience building and managing community development programs, monitoring performance results, or providing technical assistance to diverse organizations.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes, with strong understanding of systemic inequities affecting historically underserved communities.
• Understanding of capital project management budgeting, contracting processes, schedule control, and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent written, verbal, public speaking, and stakeholder facilitation skills to build trusting relationships with internal and external partners.

Competencies You Bring:

• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Racially Just: Identify and replace racists systems and structures with anti-racists and pro-equity approaches.

Required Licenses- A valid Washington State Driver’s License or an alternate ability to get to meetings and other King County sites not served by transit at varying times of day. 

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, project management, engineering, architecture, urban planning, or a related social or technical field.
• 10 years or more of experience building and managing community development programs, monitoring performance results, or providing technical assistance in the public sector.

Work Location: The 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 the Collaboration space at 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. 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 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: (subject to change)

• Technical Screening - (tentative) 11/4 - 11/5
• Interviews -  11/10, 11/12 & 11/13

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• 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.

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerlyTwitter), 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 Helen David 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.