Capital Equity Program Manager

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division seeks a Capital Equity Program Manager to lead ESJ integration across planning, design, and delivery of its capital program. This role partners with Capital Division staff, ESJ Committee, and communities to embed equity in project development and outcomes.

The incumbent will design tools and processes to prioritize equity, monitor compliance with strategic plans, and provide policy guidance to the division leadership. Hybrid work arrangements apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, project management, engineering, architecture, urban planning, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in a related field is a plus; experience in public sector capital programs is valued.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic guidance and operational assistance to advance ESJ within the WTD Capital Program at portfolio, program, and project levels.
• Develop and maintain program documents, tools, workflows, protocols, and policies.
• Collaborate with internal staff and external partners to understand community concerns related to capital decisions.
• Use data to identify under-represented communities and improve equity through capital decisions.
• Identify ESJ training opportunities and collaborate on delivery.
• Stay current on best practices to strengthen equity in capital programs.
• Advocate for ESJ and foster candid conversations about race and equity in the workplace.

Skills

Public speaking

Stakeholder facilitation

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration/public administration/PM/engineering/architecture/urban planning

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

This position is open to current KING COUNTY EMPLOYEE ONLY.

King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) is seeking an enthusiastic, motivated, and collaborative individual to serve as the Capital Equity Program Manager in the capital Project Planning and Delivery (PPD) section at King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD). WTD’s growing capital program is one of the largest in the region and touches many communities in King County. The Capital Equity Program Manager will collaborate with Capital Division staff and management, WTD’s ESJ (Equity and Social Justice) Committee, community partners, vendors, and other interested parties within King County who are responsible for delivering capital programs for their respective organizations.

About The Role

The Capital Equity Program Manager will serve as WTD’s lead equity expert for staff involved in the planning, design, and delivery of the division’s Capital Program. In this role, the manager will ensure that capital teams have the tools, resources, and guidance needed to incorporate equity into project development and to use capital investments to positively influence the Determinants of Equity identified by King County as fundamental to the wellbeing of all communities. Key responsibilities include helping design and refine tools, systems, and procedures that embed equitable practices and outcomes throughout the Capital Program. This position plays a central role in integrating ESJ policies into WTD’s capital processes, ensuring that infrastructure decisions reflect both countywide goals and community priorities.

The role will provide strategic advice and practical support to advance ESJ at the capital portfolio, program, and project levels. This work includes gathering data, monitoring progress, and reporting on compliance with the DNRP and WTD Strategic Plans and support outcomes in the WTD 3-year Strategic Equity Plan. It must also support outcomes for the Sustainable & Resilient Frontline Communities section of the Strategic Climate Action Plan. Particular focus will be given to addressing the needs of historically underserved communities, including residents with limited English proficiency.

In addition, the Capital Equity Program Manager will serve as a policy advisor to the Division Leadership Team and a resource to the division Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Manager and capital program - especially Capital Project Managers. They will help staff apply a pro-equity lens to decision-making and develop processes to prioritize, measure, and track how the Wastewater Treatment Division’s Capital Improvement Program advances equitable practices, outcomes, and benefits throughout the capital lifecycle.

About The Team

Our regional wastewater treatment system has a big job to do. Not only does it operate around the clock to sustain a healthy environment, but this vital infrastructure also supports economic development that enables our region to thrive. You will have the unique opportunity to work across all wastewater workgroups and lines of business to help shape how we as a utility adapt and respond to changing regulations and build infrastructure for future generations. You will be a key part of one of King County’s largest, most complex capital programs with a variety of interesting, challenging, and critical projects. You will be supporting the growth and strategic development of the largest capital program in King County with projects and programs stretching across 2,200 square miles.

To our agency, success means providing clean water safely and reliably for the next generation. It also means being accountable to our ratepayers and operating a well-managed agency. We are committed to the principles of ESJ. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. Our primary mission is to provide high-quality wastewater treatment collected from local sewer agencies. We also partner with regulatory agencies to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to safeguard our precious water resources.

About WTD

Join our team dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With over 1000 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment.

We partner with regulatory agencies 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 services 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 safeguard our precious water resources.

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 King County Employee, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Provide strategic guidance and operational assistance in developing and advancing ESJ within the WTD Capital Program at the capital portfolio, program, and project level.
• Develop, communicate, organize, and maintain program documents, tools and resources (including workflows, talking points, protocols, toolkits, and policies) relevant to the work of the capital program.
• Collaborate with internal staff and external partners to gather information and build a strong understanding of local community and stakeholder concerns related to capital portfolio, program, and project decisions.
• In alignment with the community workforce agreements and the DNRP and WTD Strategic Plans, use data that identifies under-represented and marginalized communities to work with internal project teams and external consultants, contractors and suppliers to improve the Determinants of Equity within these communities.
• Assist with needs assessments to identify individual, group, team, divisional, departmental, and organizational ESJ training opportunities; collaborate on training delivery.
• Stay current on emerging best practices and innovations in advancing equity through capital programs and use that knowledge to continually strengthen and improve the Capital Equity Program.
• Be a champion for ESJ. Understand that systematic racism and its long-term effects are pervasive in our society. Be comfortable having candid and sincere conversations with all employees about race and equity in the workplace and how we can advance equity across our capital programs and in the communities we serve.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, project management, engineering, architecture, urban planning, or a related social or technical field.
• 5 years or more of experience building and managing community development programs, monitoring performance results, or providing technical assistance to diverse organizations.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes, with strong understanding of systemic inequities affecting historically underserved communities.
• Understanding of capital project management budgeting, contracting processes, schedule control, and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent written, verbal, public speaking, and stakeholder facilitation skills to build trusting relationships with internal and external partners.

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.
• Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Racially Just: Identify and replace racists systems and structures with anti-racists and pro-equity approaches.

Required Licenses

A valid Washington State Driver’s License or an alternate ability to get to meetings and other King County sites not served by transit at varying times of day.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, project management, engineering, architecture, urban planning, or a related social or technical field.
• 10 years or more of experience building and managing community development programs, monitoring performance results, or providing technical assistance in the public sector.

Work Location

The unit 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 the Collaboration space at 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