Community Service Team - Lead

Full Job Description

If you want to use your communication skills to protect people, enhance the environment and improve equity, then the Wastewater Treatment Division’s (WTD) Community Services group looks forward to meeting you.

We use the art of engagement to serve others and help our division do the same. We work together to communicate clearly and solve problems. We manage our work adaptively to get desired results.

We know diverse perspectives make us better, so we welcome diversity and seek be mindful.

As a team lead for WTD’s Community Services Unit, you will help drive results in supporting the Community Services (CS) team to achieve all the division’s work.

You will provide direct support to inform the public about our wastewater projects, operations, and services.

You will engage communities in equitable decision-making, work one-on-one with individuals, businesses, and communities to understand and respond to their needs.

This position will serve the division’s most complex, high-risk capital projects and long-term strategic planning projects, and develop strategies to build public acceptance of changes.

This position will also be tasked with providing strategic guidance to Community Services staff through coaching and mentoring and managing to the unit’s key performance indicators.

You will lead continuous improvement efforts for the unit, such as the customer relationship management platform, LEAN efforts, and accessibility.

This position will be expected to maintain cross division coordination in support of capital facility programs, long-term planning, and equity and social justice efforts, and other strategic initiatives.

The candidate will support incident response efforts that focus on protecting the public from sewage spills or other unexpected dangers related to an emergency. The candidate may also serve as a work group lead directing and coordinating response efforts with WTD management.

Serve as part of a collaborative group leadership team in the following ways:

Support supervisors through direct work with unit staff to maintain unit key performance indicators (KPIs).KPIs focus on service delivery, federal and state requirements for communications and outreach, safety training compliance and outreach communication documentation.

Report regularly to unit leadership team on unit progress.

Manage deadline driven continuous improvement processes to ensure CS work unit meets goals, objectives, and best practices established for service delivery.

Continuous improvement efforts may include but are not limited to: unit data management best practices, unit incident response preparation, advancing equity and social justice, and advancing morale and connection in a hybrid work environment.

Support CS work unit teammates in doing their best work to serve WTD and all ratepayers:

• Promote and protect work unit safety.
• In coordination with CS Leadership Team, advise staff and make decisions on issues where established guidelines or procedures may not exist or are not clear.
• Provide coaching and constructive feedback focused on ensuring high quality service delivery. This includes services for the capital improvement program, Operations and Maintenance, and the WTD Director's Office.
• Promote and reinforce group Korn Ferry competencies of customer focus, resilience, interpersonal savvy, and drives for results.
• Track and manage unit staff achievement of key performance indicators with a particular focus on WTD capital improvement program and unit support for WTD Operations and Maintenance section work.

• Serve as CS project lead on WTD’s most complex capital projects, planning processes and programs by:

  • Developing and implementing equitable public engagement plans that build informed consent and community support for WTD CIP projects, plans, programs, and operations.
  • Identifying and planning for project and equity risks and opportunities on WTD planning, operations and/or capital improvement program.

Serve on the Community Services incident response team, which requires 7 days of 24-hour availability every 5-6 weeks with the potential for field support that may include closing public spaces and working with residents affected by sewage spills outside regular work hours.

You may serve as work group lead managing field response and coordinating with WTD management.

About the Team:

The Community Services unit advances the values of King County and the Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) by protecting public health and the environment and providing equitable, inclusive services to residents and businesses across King County. To our agency, success means clean water. It means keeping a promise to the next generation that our beautiful environment will be there for them to enjoy. It also means being accountable to our ratepayers and operating a well-managed agency. We are committed to the principles of equity and social justice. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.

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 an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic, 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.

Requirements

What You Will Be Doing:

• Support the work unit leadership team in planning, prioritizing, and implementing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Coach and mentor staff on complex issues in ambiguous environments where clear guidance is not provided.
• Maintain and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to meet customer needs and priorities, which may include coaching and/or mentoring, KPI checks, review and quality control of public-facing materials, and reporting.
• Administrative duties support which could include planning team meetings and retreats, mandatory training compliance, and cross-division coordination.
• Serve as outreach lead for complex projects and programs, including directing and managing consultant teams.
• Coordinate unit work across major capital programs and projects to ensure consistency of service and staff experience in meeting customer needs and priorities.
• Lead or support continuous improvement efforts including technical working sessions, customer relationship management database, accessibility compliance, and other efforts as assigned.
• Serve as acting supervisor, work group lead for Incident Response, and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications You Bring:

• Demonstrated experience in advising staff and making decisions on complex issues where established guidelines or procedures may not exist or are not clear
• At least 3 years of experience leading and being the public face of public participation processes to advance large infrastructure or projects
• Demonstrated experience coaching or mentoring staff on public facing outreach projects or programs
• At least 3 years of experience with planning and implementing equity and social justice efforts
• At least 3 years of experience directing and managing consultant teams in support of community outreach efforts
Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of wastewater systems and operations
• Experience working with Project Management Body of Knowledge fundamental practices and techniques
• Experience supporting public agency incident response efforts
• Experience working in FEMA Incident Command structure
• Experience working with multiple capital delivery methods, including design-build-build, progressive design build, and general contractor/construction management
• Experience using LEAN techniques to improve processes
Competencies You Bring:

Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
Develops Talent: Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals
Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
Plans and Aligns: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals
Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.

Additional Information

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104

Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week, Monday-Friday. This position is not covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.

This position is a hybrid schedule requiring (2) days in office and telecommute work based upon business needs. Schedule is flexible with a 5 x 8 or 9/80 schedule with management approval

• Union Representation: This position is represented by Technical Employees Association (TEA)


Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all internal King County employees and qualified applicants. 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:



• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter




Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.




Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Dan Sherman at dasherman@kingcounty.gov



Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook (formerly Twitter),Instagram, YouTube, and the WTD Blog.

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our DNRP website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and 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.

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.

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.