Economic Opportunity and Activation Director

Full Job Description

King County Executive Zahilay’s Office is launching a new Economic Opportunity & Activation team that will support and foster economic growth in unincorporated communities by empowering and partnering with residents, businesses, and organizations to drive initiatives and create equitable opportunities that strengthen local economies and create lasting prosperity.

To lead this work, we are seeking a strategic, collaborative and knowledgeable Director of the Economic Opportunity and Activation team.

The Director will lead this new team and serve as the County Executive’s senior advisor on economic opportunity.

An important focus on this role is integrating low-income communities with our local economies – centralizing job opportunities, connections to career pipelines and activating dormant county-owned spaces.

This team will ensure that residents and small businesses can connect to economic and workforce resources throughout the County to enhance accessibility, visibility and viability.

This position will oversee a multidisciplinary team responsible, including the following positions:

• Arts & Culture Manager
• Workforce & Business Community Coordinator
• County Facilities Activation Specialist
• Land Use / Regional Planning Specialist

Working with the Executive and senior leadership, the Director ensures the County’s priorities are clearly communicated, community needs are elevated, and trusted relationships are built and maintained across all communities.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Economic Opportunity and Activation team by setting a vision, priorities, and goals that advance equitable economic growth throughout King County, with a concentration in unincorporated communities.
• Manage and support a multidisciplinary team, fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture.
• Design and oversee programs that start in year one to expand access to jobs, career pipelines, small business support, arts and culture activation, and community economic development.
• Announce at least 10 new county activated sites (i.e. activate dirt to playing fields, vacant storefronts to arts & culture spaces and office buildings to small business hubs or opportunities) in the first year of the team towards regional development.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with residents, employers, labor organizations, small businesses, community-based organizations, and educational institutions to co-develop and advance economic opportunity initiatives.
  • Staffs Executive on Workforce Development Council board and Greater Seattle Partners Executive Council.
  • Advises Executive on biennial designation of Associate Development Organization (ADO - Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce).
• Lead community engagement efforts by convening tables, listening to community needs, launching events and fairs, and serving as a visible, trusted representative of the Executive’s Office.

Expectations

• A focus on being out in the county to connect and build relationships with those we serve and those with whom we partner.
• In the office a minimum of 3 days a week. Meetings may not have a call-in option for required in-person days, and the expectation is to be in the office.
• Be on time, respectful of others’ time, and responsive when needed.
• Bring an urgency to the work. We will start fast. The work will be intense, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.
• Meetings will have written expectations, including an agenda with the goals and outcomes. Owners and next steps will be clear.
• Processes and work will continuously improve.

Values

• Serve with integrity.
• Show initiative and work hard.
• Prioritize outcomes over optics.
• Center those most impacted and put “boots on the ground.”
• Resolve challenges with a “yes, and” mindset.
• Work as one, adaptable, mission-driven team.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a Director of Economic Opportunity & Activation who can collaborate across diverse organizations and communicate King County’s values and priorities effectively. The ideal candidate will have:

• Significant experience (10+ years) in economic development, community development, workforce development, business support, public administration OR the equivalent combination of training and experience.
• At least 5 years of senior leadership experience overseeing teams of people.
• Strong track record of working with low-income communities, small businesses, and historically underserved populations.
• Model a highly collaborative and relational work style with a focus on building and maintaining positive working relationships.
• Strong ability to gather, synthesize, and communicate information to support sound decision making.

Additional Information

Why Join Us

The Director of the Economic Opportunity and Activation team will help turn bold ideas into accountable, transparent, and effective government action.

The King County Executive Office serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with integrity, transparency, and accountability.

We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact.

As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and frugal stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve.

We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive executive-level salary, commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive health, retirement, and leave benefits
• Professional development and leadership growth opportunities

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.

Application Process

To apply, please submit your résumé, a brief cover letter, and a statement of interest describing how your experience aligns with the vision of transparent, equitable, and accountable government.

If you have any questions about this recruitment, you may reach out to Seth Watson at seth.watson@kingcounty.gov.