Social Media Specialist (Communications Specialist III)

King County Metro, the largest transit agency in the northwestern U.S., seeks to hire a Social Media Specialist. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in social media marketing and communications, including running paid advertising campaigns. This position will guide the agency’s numerous social media accounts with more than 170K followers.

Serving a county with a population larger than 15 U.S. states, Metro provides bus, paratransit, vanpool, water taxi, and on-demand services, and operates the Seattle Streetcar, Sound Transit Link light rail and Sound Transit Express bus service. The agency’s national honors include Best Large Transit Agency in North America (American Public Transportation Association, three times–most recently in 2018) and Most Equitable Agency in Tackling Climate Change (Federal Transit Administration, 2022). 

Position Info: This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position in the Communications Specialist III Classification vacancy. This position is expected to last through December 31, 2027, with the possibility of extension. Additionally, the selection process may be used to generate an eligibility pool for future Career Service, TLT, and SDA positions that may occur within this classification within this workgroup. The eligibility pool will be retained for 12 months from the date of posting and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As a Communication Specialist III you will:

• Own the storytelling process: finding stories, capturing content in the field and producing engaging social content.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on social strategy. 
• Plan and manage organic and paid social campaigns. 
• Monitor performance metrics and adjust strategy to optimize results.
• Engage with followers, respond to messages/comments and grow engagement.
• Coordinate social media calendar.

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Three or more years managing social media for a brand, company, or public agency.
• Experience with crisis management within rapidly changing social media engagement
• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills.
• Design and video skills for content creation (which might include Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Capcut, etc.).
• Clear, engaging, and adaptable writing skills.
• Familiarity with social media tools (which might include SproutSocial, Hootsuite, Meltwater, Buffer, etc.).
• Ability to analyze metrics and translate into strategy.
• Knowledge of current social trends, platforms and best practices.

Preferred qualifications. (Please apply even if you do not have these.)

• Experience using SproutSocial.
• Experience using Asana.
• Proficient in a language in addition to English. 

Required Application Materials

• A completed Job Application (go back at least 10years if you have l0 years of employment (more to include all relevant). Resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed job application.
• Resume
• Complete the supplemental questions
• 3-5 samples of social media content that you created. Include a description of the project.  Please submit work as Word or PDF document. 

Selection Process
Applications that do not include all of the required materials listed above will not be considered. Only the materials explicitly requested will be reviewed—additional documents or information will not be evaluated. Application materials will be screened for completeness and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews and possibly other selection process elements. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks and/or a record review.

Who May Apply: This position is open to the Public and King County Employees. Internal employees applying for the SDA must have completed their probationary period in their current Career Service position.

Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay. The work schedule is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Work Location: This is a hybrid position. The team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. Currently the team is required to work 2 days in office each week. 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. 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.

Union Representation/Job Code/Grade
ProTec17/252305/58

Safety Responsibilities for an Employee:

•  Responsible for understanding Metro Transit Safety Policy and their role in safety.
•  Report all safety concerns.
•  Follow safety practices and procedures as necessary to maintain a safe work environment and in conformance with applicable regulations, policies, and training.
•  Report safety and security concerns and ideas to supervisors or anonymously through data collection system.

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.

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: Manal Tirhi, [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.