Sr. Environmental Policy Manager

Full Job Description

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future career service Government Relations Officer - Senior positions within the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next 6 months.

Help Shape Environmental Policy for King County’s Future

King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) is seeking a strategic, politically savvy leader to serve as our Senior Environmental Policy Manager.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in complex environments and wants to make a lasting impact on the region.

As our communities navigate evolving environmental challenges, you will help guide the County’s response to emerging policy issues affecting water quality, habitat protection, recreation, resource recovery, and other critical priorities.

In this role, you will work closely with senior leadership and partners across government to help navigate challenging policy questions, coordinate cross-divisional initiatives, and advance solutions that benefit communities throughout King County.

---

About the Role

The Senior Environmental Policy Manager will lead and coordinate high-priority policy initiatives that span multiple divisions within the Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

This newly created role focuses on developing strategic responses to emerging federal, state, and local policies and regulations that affect the County’s environmental programs and priorities.

You will collaborate closely with DNRP divisions, the Executive Office, government relations staff, other County departments, and external partners to address complex issues and help align policy strategies across the organization.

The role also supports interactions with the County Council when ordinances or legislative matters are involved.

Success in this role requires the ability to navigate complex political and policy environments, manage cross-functional teams of subject matter experts, and translate strategic goals into actionable initiatives.

You will lead projects that require coordination across disciplines, build strong relationships with stakeholders, and help ensure that policy development reflects King County’s commitment to equity, collaboration, and environmental stewardship.

---

About the Team

The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks works to support sustainable and livable communities and a clean, healthy natural environment.

Our mission is to foster environmental stewardship and strengthen communities by providing regional parks, protecting water, air, land, and natural habitats, and reducing, safely managing, and creating resources from wastewater and solid waste.

With more than 2,000 employees across four divisions, DNRP tackles some of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges.

The Director’s Office plays a central role in coordinating strategic priorities across the department and supporting leadership on complex issues that require collaboration across divisions and partners.

Our team values thoughtful problem solving, strong partnerships, and a commitment to equity in everything we do.

As Senior Environmental Policy Manager, you will help guide strategic initiatives that shape environmental policy and advance solutions that support healthy communities and a resilient natural environment across King County.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 a Senior Environmental Policy Manager (Government Relations Officer - Senior), you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work.

Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Requirements

What You Will Be Doing:

• Supervising and guiding staff engaged in environmental policy development and project management, ensuring alignment with King County’s strategic goals and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Leading and facilitating the development and implementation of policies and strategies so that King County can deliver efficient and effective, and equitable services to the community served by King County.
• Creating strategic project work plans to accomplish challenging political and policy goals and ensuring DNRP division staff are aligned to these plans and working together in common purpose.
• Acting as conduit between the King County Executive Office, County departments, community partners, and other stakeholders to communicate the County’s policy, create synergies, and remove barriers to implementing strategic initiatives.
• Developing and maintaining positive working relationships with DNRP divisions, County departments, community partners, state, federal and tribal governments and impacted communities.
• Driving policy priorities through legislative processes and collaborating on problem solving of key issues as they arise.
• Applying an equity lens to all aspects of policy development, stakeholder engagement, and implementation—ensuring strategies reflect the needs and voices of historically underserved communities and advance inclusive outcomes.

Qualifications

Qualifications You Bring:

• Supervisory and Team Leadership: Proven ability to supervise and develop staff or matrixed teams, providing guidance, performance feedback, and fostering collaboration to achieve strategic objectives.
• Policy and Government Expertise: Solid understanding of environmental policy across local, state, and federal levels, along with familiarity with government structures, legislative processes, and budget cycles.
• Strategic Policy Leadership: Demonstrated success in leading complex policy or legislative initiatives—conducting research, analyzing impacts, and advising senior leaders and elected officials with clarity and confidence.
• Project Design and Execution: Experience leading cross-functional projects from concept to implementation, with the ability to scope, plan, and adapt initiatives in response to evolving priorities and stakeholder needs.
• Collaborative Problem-Solving: Proven ability to guide teams and manage processes, using mediation and negotiation to resolve competing interests and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Analytical Thinking and Political Acumen: Skilled at identifying intersecting priorities, anticipating political sensitivities, and developing strategic responses to high-stakes issues.
• Vision-to-Execution Capability: Ability to translate strategic goals into actionable policy frameworks and implementation plans, while communicating effectively with elected leaders, agency partners, and community stakeholders.
• Commitment to Equity and Inclusion: Experience applying an equity lens to policy development and decision-making, with an understanding of how to advance inclusive outcomes for historically underserved communities.

Competencies You Bring:

• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Plans and Aligns: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Racially Just: Identify and replace racists systems and structures with anti-racists and pro-equity approaches.

It Would Be Nice if You Also Bring:

• Existing knowledge of and relationships with King County stakeholders including cities and community-based organizations.
• Knowledge of tribal treaty rights issues and experience working with tribes through both formal and informal consultation.
• Experience within different parts of County government, including the Executive Office, DNRP divisions and the DNRP Director’s Office.

Additional Information

Working Conditions:

Work Location: The Director's Office works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting.

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.

Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible

Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

We will review applications based on clarity, completeness, and alignment with the qualifications outlined in this posting. To receive full consideration, applicants should clearly demonstrate the following in their materials:

• Supervisory and Team Leadership: Experience supervising staff or leading teams, including coaching, performance feedback, and fostering a collaborative team environment.

• Policy and Government Expertise: Knowledge of environmental or public policy and familiarity with government processes such as legislative systems, regulatory frameworks, or public budgeting.

• Vision-to-Execution Capability: Experience translating strategic goals or policy priorities into actionable plans, programs, or initiatives and successfully implementing them.

• Commitment to Equity and Inclusion: Experience applying an equity lens to policy, program development, or decision-making and engaging communities historically underserved or disproportionately impacted.

To apply, please submit a:

• Complete Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume (Your resume should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Cover Letter (Your cover letter should detail your background and what you can bring to this position and will be used in the screening process; we’re looking for original writing that showcases your relevant job experience)

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

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Jamie Jensen-Young at 206-263-8779 or jjensenyoung@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.

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.