Summary

This role involves leading the creation and rollout of a language equity program at King County Metro Transit to ensure all communications and services are accessible in multiple languages, especially for immigrant and refugee communities.

The position focuses on developing policies, training staff, and measuring progress to promote fair access to public transit.

It's ideal for someone passionate about equity, with experience in inclusive communication and community outreach.

Key Requirements

Experience applying equity and social justice principles in daily work
Knowledge of language access laws and language equity principles
Commitment to supporting immigrant and refugee communities
Ability to assess current practices, identify gaps, and establish procedures for language access
Skills in educating, training, and orienting staff on language processes and tools
Experience developing plans for in-language community engagement and translation processes
Systems-level thinking to shape policies and track outcomes for equitable communications

Full Job Description

Do you want to be part of an organization that is helping your county?
Have a passion to create change that leads to better lives and healthier communities?
Do you have a strong commitment to equity and inclusion?

King County Metro has an opportunity for a Communications Specialist III, Language Equity Lead, to help build and implement the department’s Language Equity Program and collaborate with teams across Meto to implement.

The Language Equity Program will work collaboratively with teams across Metro to develop Metro’s language equity policy, establish systems and standard practices, provide training and guidance across the department to operationalize the policy and practices, and track and measure outcomes.

This program will support Metro’s strategic policies and values to ensure equitable access to transit, participation in Metro’s community engagement efforts to shape decision making, and meet county, state, and federal policy and direction. This position will also represent Metro in countywide language access and equity efforts.

Successful applicants will have experience that reflects a commitment to immigrant and refugee communities, knowledge of language access laws and language equity principles, and ability to think at a systems level to shape policies and practices that result in consistently accessible and welcoming communications for our customers and the public.

This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) Career Services, Communications Specialist III, Language Equity Lead vacancy. In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility list for future Career Service (CS), Special Duty Assignment (SDA) and Term Limited Temporary (TLT) positions that may occur in this classification and workgroup. The eligibility pool list is valid for up to 12 months from the time of posting for use at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Requirements

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As a Communications Specialist III, Language Equity Lead, you will:

Work with people and teams across Metro responsible for developing customer and employee communications products to assess current practices, identify needs and gaps, and establish procedures for efficient and effective language access processes and systems.
Serve as an internal resource to Metro divisions. Educate, train, convene, and orient internal staff to language access processes, resources and tools to ensure people are empowered to implement these practices in their day-to-day work.
Develop a process for soliciting interpreters for all Metro-related events and services. Educate, train, and orient internal staff to implement the process.
Work with Metro’s Community Engagement team to develop a plan for in-language engagement for all Metro-related events and services. Educate, train, and orient internal staff to implement the process.
Work with Metro’s translation coordinator team to develop a translation process for all Metro-related communications, events and services. Educate, train, and orient internal staff to implement the process.
Collaborate with ADA and Title VI program managers to take a universal access approach to language equity.
Develop targets and measures to track how Metro is doing at implementing language equity best practices, increasing participation by priority populations in Metro’s community engagement and decision-making, and increasing use of in-language resources that enable people to use Metro’s services.

Develop a system for tracking data relevant to countywide language equity reporting.

Prepare reports as required at federal, state, and local levels as well as reports for King County Council, King County’s Executive Office, and Metro to document efforts to assure language accessibility of Metro services.

Liaison with the executive office on county wide language equity efforts and represent Metro in these spaces

Work with Metro team to develop plain language practices for internal and external communications.
Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

A successful applicant will have an experience that reflects a commitment to immigrant and refugee communities and to working collaboratively to achieve stated goals. This experience should be complemented by demonstrated ability in the following areas:

Demonstrated experience in developing a program's objectives and strategy and assessing how it will impact their department, division, or organization
Ability to work in a collaborative, fast-paced, and busy environment in a larger, matrixed organization.
Demonstrated experience in developing a program's objectives and strategy and assessing how it will impact their department, business, or organization.
Ability to research, write and communicate program goals, objectives, and outcomes.
Ability to collaborate with, lead, and influence internal and external stakeholders as well as County department/agency partners.
Outstanding oral and written communications skills; high interpersonal and leadership skills.
Demonstrated ability to manage work with community leaders with sensitivity to cultural nuances.
Ability to multi-task and complete complex, time-sensitive project management tasks with high quality and attention to detail.
Developing and operationalizing strategy.
Communicating effectively with diverse audiences in writing, presentations, and training.

Desired qualifications

Knowledge of Language Equity best practices.
Knowledge of Change Management principles and practices.
Experience developing and updating Language Access Plans for government agencies.
Experience with successful outreach, education, and engagement strategies and tactics with immigrant, low-income, and underserved communities and navigating equity barriers experienced by those communities.
Experience with building and managing complex and multi-functional new programs, systems, and processes.
Fluency in another language is a plus.

Additional Information

Required Application Materials

A completed Job Application (employment history should go back at least 10 years if you have 10 years of employment (or more to include all relevant experience). Resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed job application.
Resume
Complete the supplemental questions
A letter of interest (cover letter) that addresses why you are interested in this role and how your experience, skills and/or education have prepared you for this position.

NOTE: Applications that do not include the required materials may be rejected as incomplete and will not advance in the process.Selection ProcessAll the application materials will be screened for qualifications, competitiveness, completeness, attention to detail and written communications kills.

The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks.

Who May Apply
This position is open to all King County employees and the public.

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. Variations may be required depending on the demands and needs of the work.

Union Representation/Job Code/Grade
Protec17/252305/58

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 1 day in office each week. In office requirements are anticipated to increase to 2-3 days per week in 2026. 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.

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.

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, mtirhi@kingcounty.gov

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 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.

✓ Fresh Listing

Communications Specialist III - Language Equity Lead

SES Pay Grade

Job Description

Summary

Key Requirements

Full Job Description

Requirements

Qualifications

Additional Information

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