Deputy Program Manager

Full Job Description

About the Role:

As the Deputy Program Manager for the team updating the Regional Wastewater Services Plan you will be responsible for

• Overseeing consultant activities, tracking overall project schedule, tracking deliverables, and acting in coordination with the program manager
• Coordinating and leading multi-section teams of subject manager experts responsible for developing technical information necessary to make informed decisions about policies guiding future capital investments
• Leading and preparing written reports, memos, and other documents necessary to support preparation of the draft and final Update to the Regional Wastewater Services Plan and inform decision making processes
• Assisting with coordination with various branches of King County government, other governments, and other interested parties
• Participating in decision-making processes for evaluating and recommending future policies and actions.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About the Team:

King County Wastewater Treatment’s mission is to protect public health and the environment by collecting and cleaning wastewater while recovering valuable resources for a thriving Puget Sound.

Our regional wastewater treatment system serves about 2 million residents and an area of about 424 square miles in the greater Seattle metropolitan area.

The system operates around the clock to sustain a healthy environment and support economic development that enables our region to flourish.

Wastewater Treatment’s Planning and Project Delivery Section has over 250 employees, is on track to deliver nearly $500M in capital projects this year and is anticipated to deliver over $1B per year by the end of the decade.

The Combined System and Utility Planning group within this section serves a critical role at the leading edge of the capital delivery pipeline by identifying future projects to be constructed.

Our Combined System and Utility Planning group develops short and long-range plans for upgrading the combined system, adapting to climate change, renewing and replacing aging assets, and updating the agency’s comprehensive sewer system plan.

The Combined System and Utility Planning Group is committed to Wastewater Treatment’s core values of environmental stewardship, quality of service, and financial accountability.

Team members are empowered to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, learn and grow from each other, and create innovative solutions.

Our commitment to equity and social justice, consistent with King County’s values, makes our teams stronger and allows us to serve King County residents more effectively, especially related to environmental determinants of equity.

Working in the Combined System and Utility Planning Group offers:

• Highly collaborative and supportive colleagues
• Opportunities for professional growth and continuous learning
• Flexible schedules and work arrangements
• A mix of independent and team-based work
• Cross-divisional collaboration with staff across operations and other work units

Our staff are critical strategic partners in shaping the processes and deliverables that guide major investment decisions, contributing directly to the long-term resilience and sustainability of King County’s wastewater system.

Requirements

• Lead large project teams across multiple disciplines to assess possible future policies and actions the agency might take under the policies.
• Oversee a large consultant team working on all aspects of the plan update.
• Help guide the team’s development, evaluation, and recommendation of long-term water quality improvement plans.
• Incorporate principles of sustainability and equity, as described in the County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan and Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan, into the Asset Renewal and Replacement Planning Program.
• Manage program work plans, scopes, budgets, and schedules. Provide guidance, direction, and support to program staff and consultants to ensure successful project delivery.
• Prepare documentation necessary for evaluating future policies and actions and recommendations.
• Assist with coordination with other branches of King County government, other governments, and other interested parties.

Qualifications

• Professional work experience and/or education in planning, engineering, public administration science, environmental science, or a related field, with increasing responsibility over time for managing large and complex programs or projects.
• Experience conducting, developing, or leading long-term public-sector planning, decision-making processes, and/or policy analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for conveying technical information to a wide variety of expert and non-expert audiences.
• 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.

• Manages Complexity - Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Plans and Aligns - Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Drives Results - Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Racially Just - Identify and replace racists systems and structures with anti-racists and pro-equity approaches.

• Knowledge of local government processes, public utility issues, and communications.
• Skill using graphic design software for creating communication materials.

Additional Information