Senior Wastewater Utility Planner (WQPPM III)

This opportunity is open to the general public and all King County employees.

Exciting News! WTD's Planning Groups are looking for FIVE career service Senior - Wastewater Utility Planners (WQPPM III) who want to work for an organization that empowers continued learning, values work/life balance, and works to support thriving, resilient neighborhoods, and communities in the Puget Sound region.
About The Role:
These five positions will serve as senior planners for the treatment planning program, the separated conveyance planning program, the combined sewer overflow control planning program, the climate adaptation planning program, and/or the comprehensive sewer system planning program. The work of these programs includes developing long range plans while working with key stakeholders and our local sewer agencies, and developing conceptual projects that progress into project delivery and drive large capital investments in WTD's infrastructure. These programs are all due to update or prepare their long-term plans within the next several years. These positions will work independently at the senior level under a program manager to develop and lead decision making processes, develop technical information, and develop appropriate documentation for key stakeholders and decision makers. These positions will also provide project guidance and work item support to staff within the programs.
This position performs work remotely and onsite.

About The Team:
The Combined System and Utility Planning Group and Treatment and Separated Conveyance Planning Group are the two teams within the Wastewater Treatment Division that develop, update, and track implementation of long-term plans for the regional wastewater system. Key focus areas of the groups are planning for:

• Separated conveyance system capacity and inflow/infiltration control,
• Treatment capacity and increased treatment levels at the treatment plants,
• Combined sewer overflow control,
• Climate adaptation,
• Asset management, and
• Comprehensive sewer system planning.

The planning groups help ensure that WTD is successful in providing sewer services into the future, including in those areas that have been historically underinvested in.
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 WQPPM III, 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:

• Lead or assist in the development of various components of WTD's planning programs including but not limited to Treatment Planning, Conveyance System Improvement Planning, Inflow and Infiltration Planning, Climate Adaptation Planning, Combined Sewer Overflow Planning, and Comprehensive Sewer System Planning.
• Review initiatives, plans, regulations, policies, technical studies, and documents for impacts on the regional conveyance and treatment system and various planning programs.
• Lead, coordinate, develop, and/or execute with various types of planning processes, decision making roadmaps, technical, costing, and policy analyses, such as treatment options, conveyance options, benefit/costs analysis, literature reviews, sustainability analyses, and data statistical analyses to evaluate technical concepts, recommend policies and decisions for various planning programs to inform decision making processes.
• Coordinate with other units within WTD to consider the nexus and context of other system needs, opportunities, and priorities as they relate to various planning programs.
• Lead and prepare written reports, memos, and other documents necessary to support various planning programs and inform decision making processes.
• Negotiate and craft agreements with stakeholders, component agencies and regulators to support planning and project delivery.

Qualifications You Must Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in planning, engineering, environmental science, or closely related field OR the equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience leading planning, environmental review, and/or policy analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for conveying technical information to a wide variety of expert and non-expert audiences, such as the general public, stakeholder groups, other sewer utilities, agency leadership, and elected representatives.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of project management, contract management, team management, and planning techniques, principles, and practices to develop plans and solutions for complex projects.
• Experience working independently with minimal guidance where there may be ambiguity and established procedures and policies may not exist and must be developed to craft solutions and pathways leading to recommendations.
• Demonstrated skill in adapting to changing priorities, needs, and direction.

Competencies You Bring:Interpersonal Savvy - Relates comfortably with people across levels, functions, culture, and geography. Acts with diplomacy and tact. Builds rapport in an open, friendly, and accepting way. Builds constructive relationships with people both similar and different to self. Picks up on interpersonal and group dynamics.
Collaborates - Works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives. Represents own interests while being fair to others and their areas. Partners with others to get work done. Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments. Gains trust and support of others.
Strategic Mindset - Anticipates future trends and implications accurately. Readily poses future scenarios. Articulates credible pictures and visions of possibilities that will create sustainable value. Creates competitive and breakthrough strategies that show a clear connection between vision and action.
Action Oriented - Readily acts on challenges, without unnecessary planning. Identifies and seizes new opportunities. Displays a can-do attitude in good and bad times. Steps up to handle tough issues.

It Would Be Great If You Also Bring:

• Knowledge of wastewater conveyance and treatment methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of King County's regional wastewater conveyance and treatment system.
• Knowledge of environmental regulations, such as federal Clean Water Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), and/or Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit (PSNGP).
• Knowledge of local government processes, public utility issues, and communications.
• Experience using decision making criteria, principles and practices, including identifying issues needing management attention/input.
• Experience effectively presenting to local agencies, elected officials, community groups, and/or the general public.
• Experience leading decision-making processes

Working Conditions:
Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically monthly. 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). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department's vision of Green Where We Work.
Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
Work Location: Remote/Onsite - King Street Center 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
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 The Technical Employees' Association.
Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We value diverse perspectives, 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. Applications without the following required materials will not be considered for this position.
To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening. There will be a written examination prior to interviews.
Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Helen David - Hdavid@kingcounty.gov
Discover More about DNRP: Visit our website, explore aninteractive mapof our recent accomplishments and check us out atFacebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTubeand 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.
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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 team dedicated 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 announcementEmployment Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week