Assistant State Auditor 1 (Team Olympia)
State of Washington
FreshPosted Mar 18
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Posted: March 23, 2026 (1 day ago)
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State Relations Manager
King County
EXEC - Executive's Office
Location
Seattle, Washington, 98104
Salary
$126,927.02 - $185,485.96
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Management & Supervision jobs →Closes
April 7, 2026
SES Pay Grade
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
Job Description
Summary
This job involves leading King County's interactions with Washington State lawmakers and agencies to promote the county's goals, such as securing funding and influencing policies that affect local services.
The role requires building strong relationships in Olympia, tracking legislation, and coordinating advocacy efforts across county departments.
A good fit would be someone with deep experience in state government who thrives in fast-paced, collaborative environments and prioritizes equitable outcomes for residents.
Key Requirements
- 5+ years of experience in state government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, or related governmental roles
- Strong understanding of Washington State legislative and budget processes
- Experience building and maintaining relationships with state policymakers, agencies, and partners
- Ability to provide policy analysis, strategic recommendations, and political insights on state-level issues
- Skills in managing lobbyists, monitoring legislation, and preparing advocacy materials like briefings and testimony
- Commitment to equity, collaboration, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment
- Availability for in-person presence in Olympia during legislative sessions and at least three days per week in the office
Full Job Description
King County is launching an ambitious effort to ensure that government delivers high-quality, efficient, and equitable services to every resident.
To support this work, we are seeking a State Government Relations Manager (Manager) who will lead and strengthen King County’s engagement with Washington State policymakers, agencies, and partners.
Achieving this vision requires strong, trusted partnerships with state government and effective advocacy in Olympia.
This position will be a member of the Government Relations team and will report to the Director of Government Relations, working closely with colleagues across the team and departments countywide.
The Manager will help develop and implement the County’s state legislative and executive branch strategy, monitor and advance priority policy issues, and support coordinated advocacy efforts across King County departments.
The position plays a critical role in ensuring King County’s priorities are clearly communicated, strategically advanced, and effectively integrated into state-level decision-making.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
- Support development and execution of King County’s state government relations strategy in alignment with the Executive priorities and the County’s broader intergovernmental agenda.
- Lead King County’s relationships with the Washington state legislature and state government, serving as the Executive’s primary liaison on state relations.
- Manage the County’s state contract lobbyists to ensure execution and alignment of the Executive’s vision and agenda.
- Monitor, track, and help advance King County’s priority legislation, budget requests, and policy initiatives during the legislative session and interim.
- Provide policy analysis, strategic recommendations, and political insight on state-level issues affecting King County operations, funding, and residents.
- Coordinate with other members of the Government Relations team and county departments to ensure timely, consistent, and effective engagement on policies, programs, and projects.
- Support preparation of briefings, testimony, fact sheets, and other advocacy materials for the Executive, Council members, and department leaders.
- Coordinate with state, regional, and local partners on special projects, including international relations and related policy issues.
Expectations
- A strong presence in Olympia during the legislative session and consistent engagement with state partners year-round.
- In the office a minimum of three days per week; some meetings may require in-person attendance without remote options.
- Be timely, responsive, and respectful of others’ time.
- Bring urgency and momentum to the work; the pace will be fast, complex, and deeply impactful.
- Meetings and projects will have clear goals, agendas, ownership, and follow-through.
- A commitment to continuous improvement in processes, strategy, and outcomes.
- Serve with integrity.
- Show initiative and work hard.
- Prioritize outcomes over optics.
- Center equity and the voices of those most impacted.
- Approach challenges with a “yes, and” mindset.
- Work collaboratively as one adaptable, mission-driven team.
Qualifications
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a skilled policy professional who understands Washington State government and can navigate complex political environments with credibility and trust. Successful candidates will bring:
- Significant experience (5+ years) in state government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, or a related governmental role.
- Strong understanding of Washington State legislative and budget processes.
- Demonstrated experience building and maintaining relationships with legislators, agency leaders, and key stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex policy into clear, compelling messaging.
- Strong organizational skills with a track record of managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and deliverables.
- Strategic and Analytical: Sees the big picture, uses data to inform decisions, and can develop and deploy effective strategy.
- Equity-Centered: Embeds fairness, inclusion, and community impact into state policy work.
- Collaborative: Works across departments and with external partners to advance shared priorities.
- Results-Oriented: Connects advocacy to real-world outcomes and measurable impact for King County residents.
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