Program Manager IV - Lead and Toxics Team (Special Duty- Internal Only)

Full Job Description

"Internal Only - This special duty position is open to career service employees only that are located in Environmental Health's Community Toxics, Science & Policy Section."

The Environmental Health Services Division is seeking a skilled, enthusiastic, and dedicated Program Manager (Project Program Manager IV) to lead a team in implementing environmental health promotion and community engagement strategies in the Lead and Toxics Program.

The program builds upon community leadership to prevent childhood lead poisoning; identify and reduce exposures to environmental toxics; and equitably improve health outcomes.

This position focuses on leading operational oversight of the Lead and Toxics Program’s existing services and staff and managing a portfolio of community contracts ($1.5 million in grant-funded work each year).

The position will work closely with a co-manager focused on the strategic direction of BSK’s future environmental health investments and the Children’s Environmental Health Collaborative.

The managers are collectively responsible for supervising staff, pursuing funding opportunities, overseeing community investments, and evaluating and reporting on program outcomes.

The Lead and Toxics Program is a partner of King County’s Best Start for Kids (BSK) – a community-driven initiative to promote the positive development of children and youth.

BSK invests largely in pre-natal to children age five strategies and early intervention services throughout childhood to early adulthood to reduce and prevent negative outcomes later in life.

The initiative encourages innovation and multiculturalism built on the experiences and priorities of our community partners and residents, with multi-generational approaches planned to capitalize on strengths within families and communities.

Within the Environmental Health Services Division, the Community, Toxics, Science and Policy (CTSP) Section is forming a new Children’s Environmental Health Collaborative, in which the Lead and Toxics Program, the Schools Environmental Health Program, and other CTSP programs will unify under a shared strategy to protect babies in utero, infants, children and youth from environmental health and safety risks.

The Collaborative will leverage existing program resources, expertise, and strengths to support and galvanize collective action.

Special Duty Assignment: This special duty is currently anticipated to last for one (1) year with possibility of extension. However, funding sources for this work remain uncertain and dependent upon decisions actively being made at both the federal and local levels. As a result, the end date of this position may be adjusted based on those decisions. The County and the Department continue to work to secure long term funding sources.

For Special Duty Assignment interest, you must be a Career Service, Career Service Exempt or other regular (non-temporary) employee in King County who has completed their initial County probation. You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice:

Named after Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world.

It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities.

With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups.

Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Requirements

Program Planning and Management:

• Ensure development and implementation of community health promotion/protection and public involvement strategies that promote healthy environments and reduce exposure to lead and other toxics.
• Develop strategic partnerships (internal and external) to enhance service delivery and program effectiveness, particularly on reducing lead and toxics exposures where families live, learn and play.
• Research, write and submit grants.

People Leadership:

• Provide supervision and support to lead and toxics staff (currently 4 direct reports), including coaching, mentorship and development, and performance management. -Build a high-trust, inclusive environment that creates space for diverse perspectives that lead to better outcomes.
• Hold team accountable to commitments, including tracking progress, removing roadblocks, and reinforcing high standards for work products.

Contract Management, Planning and Support:

• Manage all phases of contracting, assuring that partners meet contract deliverables and adhere to federal fiscal requirements.
• Provide support and technical assistance to internal and external partners.

Partnership Development:

• Develop relationships and create equitable partnerships with other public, private, and non-profit agencies and organizations.
• Assure that program processes center community voices and that equity considerations are integral to the development and implementation of all program strategies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required:

• Experience preparing technical guidance documents related to lead and toxics - particularly related to exposures and prevention measures for children and pregnant people.
• A combination of education and/or professional and life experience (a minimum of 5 years) resulting in the ability to understand and navigate complex issues quickly, make informed decisions, while also supporting and mentoring staff.
• Experience researching, writing, and managing grants.
• Demonstrated experience ensuring program compliance with policies, procedures, program and funding requirements.
• Demonstrated experience applying equity and social justice principles and practices, and an understanding of the effects of place, race and policy and systems-based inequities on marginalized communities.
• Strong writing and analytic skills with the ability to develop reports for internal and external audiences.
• Effective communication skills including the ability to make presentations to large and small groups.
• Strong facilitation and negotiation skills, and the demonstrated ability to develop partnerships with stakeholders to build consensus and develop reasonable solutions to issues and problems.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, and the ability to prioritize work assignments and adjust priorities in a multi-task environment.
• Working knowledge of basic accounting and project budget development.
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and the internet.

Desired:

• Certified Lead Assessor or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Information

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.

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Cover letter - Addressing your interest in the position and how you meet the requirements

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.

When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description.

This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.

• 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 your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Work Schedule

This position is Monday-Friday, 8-5 with flexibility for mutually agreed alternate work schedules. Occasional evening and weekend work required.

Remote and Onsite Work

The team works in a hybrid model, with 2 days in the office as well as telecommuting, changing to 3 days in office starting in June 2026.

The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is the Chinook Building, 401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 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.

Union Membership

This position is not represented by a Labor Union.

Contact

For questions about this recruitment contact Sarah Dunkinson (sdunkinson@kingcounty.gov).