Policy Liaison - Hazardous Waste Management Program (PPM III)

Why It's a Great Opportunity:
This position helps fulfil the Hazardous Waste Management Program's mission through upstream systems change to reduce hazardous materials exposure. The Program serves King County's 2.3 million residents and 60,000 businesses, with an annual budget of $21 million and approximately 70 staff. The Program's mission is to protect and enhance public health and environmental quality by helping residents and businesses reduce the threat posed by the production, use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials. The Program provides a range of services including collection and disposal, prevention programs, and policy initiatives. For more information visit www.kingcountyhazwastewa.gov.
The Program is a collaborative effort of several participating agencies. This position will be hired by the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, which is one of the participating agencies. WLRD safeguards King County's water and land resources by providing services that protect public health and yield significant environmental benefits. WLRD provides flood control services, storm water management, and other natural resource management services throughout King County. WLRD's mission is to protect, restore, and manage King County's water and land using the best available science, innovation, and collaborating with partners and the community. For more information about the division, see www.kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wlr.aspx.
About the Role:
This position will serve a key policy development role with the opportunity for hands-on engagement leading highly visible work including: 1) analysis of complex policy, legal, legislative, and social issues, 2) development of upstream policy and legislative strategies to reduce toxic exposures to people and the environment, 3) development and implementation of operational policies, procedures, methods, and standards for the Program's policy and planning work, and 4) a broad range of policy, planning, and project management support services to advance the Program's long-range goals.
This expert-level position requires skill and experience in public sector project planning and management, systems thinking and planning, data and legal analysis, and the ability to pull together high-functioning interagency teams. The ideal candidate will have a track record of producing innovative policy solutions to complex societal problems, broad public sector experience in strategic planning and analysis, developing systems to coordinate work across teams, and will have exceptional project management skills including scheduling, budgeting, project planning, and progress tracking. The position serves as a strategic advisor to the Policy and Planning Manager, the Program Director, and other team members. All activities are conducted using best practices for racial equity. Successful candidates will have experience implementing racially equitable practices throughout their work.
About the Team:
The Hazardous Waste Management Program serving King County WA is one of the leading local government Hazardous Waste and toxic reduction programs in the United States.
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 Policy Liaison, 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 Water and Land Resources Division of King County Department of Natural Resources and 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:

• Lead and develop policy initiatives to reduce human and environmental exposures to hazardous materials.
• Interpret and analyze issues and data to inform strategic direction and develop recommendations for the Policy and Program Planning Manager, the Program Director, and senior Program leadership.
• Manage and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders to achieve Program's objectives and goals.
• Plan, develop, and manage activities related to the Program's legal, structural, and operating policies critical to the authorizing environment, funding and partnership structure, and regional operations.
• Plan and develop strategic directions and recommendations for regional operations and services.
• Participate in collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams.
• Develop, negotiate, and manage agreements with partner agencies for Program operations and services.
• Prepare and deliver presentations on plans, analyses, and policy issues to Program management, partner agencies, elected officials, the public and other key stakeholders.
• Embed equity and social justice into planning, analysis, policy initiatives, agreements, and partner engagement.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in planning, public affairs, public administration, public policy, law or related field; or a combination of education, training, and experience that provides an equivalent background required to perform the work. Demonstrates the ability to perform the job duties of the classification.
• Five (5) years' progressive experience in public sector planning, research, and analysis.
• Three (3) years' experience working directly with senior management, intergovernmental stakeholders, and elected officials to develop and implement plans and/or policy initiative.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in state and local public policy development, legislation, and implementation.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in public policy and research methods.
• Demonstrated ability to clearly and logically frame problems and proposals to support management decisions.
• A strong and proven commitment to the principles of equity and social justice.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience working in an intergovernmental organization and coalition.
• Knowledge and experience applying project management principles and methods.
• Experience solving problems and managing projects characterized by uncertainty, ambiguity, lack of data, resistance to change, contradictory solutions, and unpredictable consequences.
• Demonstrated commitment to race, environmental, and social justice.
• Demonstrated ability to approach challenges as opportunities and think creatively about solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain a professional support network of interagency relationships.
• Demonstrated skills in program evaluation, advocacy, and promotion.

Competencies You Bring:

• Functional/Technical Skills - Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level of accomplishment.
• Strategic Mindset - Anticipates future trends and consequences accurately; readily poses future scenarios; predicts ripple effects of proposed actions; has broad knowledge and perspective.
• Planning - Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks and projects, sets objectives, and goals, breaks down work in the process steps, develops schedules and task assignments, anticipates, and adjusts for problems and roadblocks, measures performance against goals, evaluates results.
• Dealing with Ambiguity - Can effectively cope with change, can shift gears comfortably, can decide and act without having the total picture, isn't upset when things are up in the air, doesn't have to finish things before moving on, can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
• Interpersonal/Organizational Savvy - Relates openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people; communicates clearly and concisely; encourages the open expression of diverse ideas and opinions; maneuvers comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics.
• Builds Networks - Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives; relates openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people; effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.

Working Conditions:
Remote and Onsite Work Details:
Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically 1 time per month. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104).
Remote Work Location Requirements:
Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
Work Location: Primarily teleworking and the King Street Center 201. S. Jackson St. Seattle, WA 98104
Work Schedule: This fulltime position work a 40 hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, but first consideration will be given to King County Council 2, Local 1652R bargaining unit members. This recruitment may also be used to fill future career service, temporary and SDA opportunities. 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.
To apply, submit a:

• King County application
• Resume
• Cover Letter detailing your background and what you bring to the position

Who to Contact: Fort more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Calvin Rivers, Sr. Human Resources Analyst at 206-263-1986 or crivers@kingcounty.gov.
Discover More About the Water and 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, YouTubeand Keeping King County Green News.
Sign up forJob Alertsto be notified of additional career opportunities with KingCounty. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the teamdedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. 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.
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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
Benefits
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided...