Chief Policy Officer

Full Job Description

The Metropolitan King County Council oversees the second largest government and the most populous county in Washington State.

As the legislative branch of county government, the Council sets policies, enacts laws, and adopts budgets that guide essential services for 2.3 million King County residents—including housing, health, land use, environmental protection, public safety, transportation, and more.

The King County Council is currently seeking an experienced and strategic Chief Policy Officer to oversee all aspects of the Council’s legislative program.

In addition to managing a 25-person team of nonpartisan legislative analysts and clerks, the Chief Policy Officer is responsible for prioritizing and ensuring the efficacy of the Council’s legislative activity, understanding and advising Councilmembers on complex policy matters, and upholding the highest standards of objective, accurate, and reliable legislative analysis.

This nonpartisan, executive-level role reports directly to the Council’s Chief of Staff but is responsive to all nine councilmembers.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of the King County Council’s legislative activity, including drafting of motions, ordinances, and all supporting reports and materials.
• Provide management support to an approximate 25-member team, with a focus on professional development, coaching, and performance management.
• Prioritize, assign, and monitor the work of legislative support staff, providing technical guidance and feedback to policy analysts on a comprehensive list of subjects. Promote and maintain the objectivity and integrity of analyst work product.
• Work closely with the Council’s legal team, clerk, and code reviser to ensure that all legislation complies with King County Code, Washington State law, Council Rules, and other regulatory requirements.
• Oversee the policy team’s participation in the Council’s biennial budget process, coordinating workflow and facilitating the adoption of a biennial budget.
• Conduct briefings and presentations for staff and councilmembers, both individually and at public Council and committee meetings.
• Anticipate significant policy and political issues affecting King County and provide guidance on a wide range of complex and often politically sensitive strategic, policy, organizational, and management issues.
• In coordination with the Council’s Chief of Staff, represent the Council in discussions with labor partners, including participating in collective bargaining negotiations, ensure adherence to collective bargaining agreements.

Qualifications

Qualifications and Expectations

This position requires a master’s degree in public administration, political science, business, economics, or an equivalent discipline, and at least ten years’ experience performing senior-level analytical, communications, budgeting, and policy work. Other requirements include:

• Advanced knowledge and expertise in public administration, public policy, budgeting, financial planning and analysis, public affairs, or equivalent that can aid legislative analysis and development.
• High-level leadership and management skills, including performance management, teambuilding, negotiation and conflict resolution, change management, and general knowledge of HR best practices.
• Outstanding interpersonal and written communication skills, including the ability to make public presentations and convey complex information to a wide variety of audiences in an accessible, thoughtful manner.
• Demonstrated project management skills and the ability to plan workloads, set priorities, and manage competing deadlines.
• Extensiveknowledgeoflegislativeandpolicydevelopmentprocessesandcounciland committee parliamentary rules and procedures.
• Familiarity with King County Code as well as local, regional, state, and federal laws and regulations as they apply to policymaking.
• Judiciousness and discretion, with a high awareness of politically sensitive issues and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• An understanding of equity and social justice principles and how they apply to both the workplace and to public policy outcomes.

Additional Information

Interested candidates should submit a comprehensive resume and cover letter through King County's online application system no later than 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Emailed, mailed, or faxed applications will not be accepted. Please do not include additional materials.

This recruitment will include a series of three interviews and may include a writing exercise to be scheduled separately. Finalists for the position will be subject to a reference and background check.

Recruitment Timeline (subject to change)

Milestone	Dates
Application Period	Feb 17 - Mar 8, 2026
Application Review	Mar 9 - Mar 20, 2026
Panel Interview 1	Week of Mar 23, 2026
Panel Interview 2	Week of Mar 30, 2026
Panel Interview 3	Week of Apr 6, 2026

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for the Chief Policy Officer position is $181,306 to $243,836, depending upon qualifications.

King County offers an excellent benefits package, including retirement provided through the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), offered through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, insurance options including medical, dental, vision, and life, and paid vacation, sick leave, 12 holidays per year, and two personal holidays.

Work Environment

A standard workweek for most Legislative Branch employees is 35 hours. This position may occasionally require non-traditional work hours and possible travel throughout the King County area.

The King County Council is a hybrid work environment, with a combination of telework and in-person work at the King County Courthouse.

All King County employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance of their King County worksite.

Accessibility and Equal Opportunity

Please contact Deandra Stanley, HR Manager at deandra.stanley@kingcounty.gov 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 would like to have a confidential discussion about this opportunity.

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.

Note: If you are requesting veterans' preference, please be sure to upload a copy of your DD214 and/or Veteran's administration letter stating your disability. Veteran's preference documentation must be submitted by the closing time of this announcement.

Job Classification: 007054 Chief Policy Officer – Council