Sustainability Specialist

Full Job Description

This position is open to all qualified candidates

About the Role

Wastewater treatment is critical to water quality and the health and wellbeing of our communities. Improving our system’s sustainability can offer a wide variety of benefits, including addressing climate change, reducing material extraction and waste, expanding green stormwater solutions, minimizing energy and water usage, protecting habitat and trees, and supporting equity and social justice efforts.

This position will support WTD capital project and operations staff in advancing sustainability to meet the goals and commitments of the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan. The role will include work on WTD capital projects that can vary from smaller improvements to existing assets to the planning, design and construction of new, large utility infrastructure. The position will also support the tracking and annual reporting of progress toward sustainability commitments related to the reduction of water and energy use, sustainable materials, renewable energy, and waste diversion. It will support training WTD staff on sustainability topics and integrating sustainability into their work.

Along with sustainability and wastewater treatment knowledge and experience, the successful candidate will have a strong commitment and passion for sustainable design and mitigating the impacts climate change. Candidates will be self-motivated and detail oriented, and they have strong interpersonal skills, as this position works across many groups within WTD.

With about 1000 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division is at the forefront of environmental stewardship.

We enforce regulations to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection.

We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that serves over 2.3 million King County residents.

Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region.

If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to protect public health and the environment by collecting and cleaning wastewater while recovering valuable resources for a healthy and resilient Puget Sound.

About the Team

This position will be supervised by the Climate, Energy and Sustainability Supervisor.

The Climate, Energy and Sustainability work group is part of the Resource Recovery Unit in WTD’s Operations and Maintenance Section.

The Resource Recovery Unit strives to bring valuable resources, technology, and sound business practices together to deliver products and programs that inspire our customers to be part of an environmentally sustainable future—today.

It is responsible for ensuring safe, environmentally friendly products are made from an urban renewable waste stream including, Loop® biosolids soil amendment, recycled water, and renewable energy, as well as managing programs including sustainability, energy, technology assessment, and nutrient management.

The Climate, Energy and Sustainability work group includes the Sustainability Program.

This team is focused on development and implementation of King County sustainability policies, including the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) and Green Building Ordinance (GBO).

Work performed by the team includes efforts to increase green building, use of low-embodied carbon construction materials, green O&M efforts, and construction and demolition waste diversion in WTD operations and capital projects.

WTD’s mission is to protect public health and enhance the environment by collecting and treating wastewater while recycling valuable resources for the Puget Sound region.

To our agency, success means clean water. It means honoring our legacy while keeping a promise to future generations that our beautiful environment will be there for them to enjoy.

We are committed to the principles of equity and social justice.

We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.

WTD strives to provide equitable services to residents and businesses 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 Sustainability Specialist 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:

• Support capital project and operations staff in advancing green building and sustainability.
• Assist project teams with green building project certifications, including the internal WTD Sustainable Infrastructure Scorecard, LEED, Envision, Living Building Challenge and Salmon-Safe.
• Coordinate and support trainings and educational opportunities to enable teams to effectively integrate sustainability into their work.
• Research sustainable development/green building strategies in capital projects and programs. Develop tools and resources to advance sustainability, including an internal Sustainability SharePoint site, and guidance documents.
• Support WTD’s annual sustainability reporting, including maintaining a green building database.
• Support WTD’s Sustainability Program and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications you bring

• Passion for and knowledge of sustainability and/or the wastewater treatment process
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships on interdisciplinary teams, with a variety of partners
• Ability to successfully manage multiple work assignments with competing priorities
• Experience supporting the development and delivery of training modules/curriculum

Required licenses:

• Valid WA State driver's license within 90 days of hire.

Competencies you bring;
Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.

It would be great if you also bring:

• Knowledge of wastewater systems and operations, and/or experience working on capital conveyance, treatment and resource recovery projects.
• Sustainability certifications, such as Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) and LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP).
• Experience implementing sustainable infrastructure through the WTD Sustainable Infrastructure Scorecard.
• Demonstrated skills in managing data and performance measures.

Additional Information

Working Conditions:

Work Details: This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on the business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is the collaboration space at King Street Center - 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104 and other wastewater treatment facilities.
Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within reasonable proximity to King County worksites to meet in-person work requirements. 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 covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
Union Representation: Technical Employees' Association (TEA) bargaining unit
Physical Requirement: Field work will require outdoor work with uneven terrain
Workplace Exposures: Work in wastewater facilities, including exposure to chemicals, biohazards, and construction activities

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.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment: (subject to change)

• Technical vetting interview: Virtual interviews will be held in late February or early March 2026.
• Panel interview: Virtual interviews will be held the held in February or early March 2026.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume (Required)
• Cover Letter (Required)
• Responses to the supplemental questions

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

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact danilee@kingcounty.gov

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and the WTD Blog.Discover More About DNRP: Visit our DNRP website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

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.