Economic Development Program Manager (Project/Program Manager IV)
King County, WA
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
King County’s Department of Local Services seeks an Economic Development Program Manager to lead countywide strategies for unincorporated areas, aligning equity and community needs with growth.
In this role you will build partnerships, oversee programs, pursue diverse funding, and supervise a small team, delivering measurable outcomes for jobs, housing, and business vitality.
Qualifications
- Experience supporting community, economic, business, nonprofit or public service activities.
- Ability to build relationships with diverse communities, stakeholders, businesses, and partners.
- Skills in organizing projects, coordinating activities, and managing multiple priorities.
- Strong communication skills, including listening, collaboration, and cross-cultural engagement. Ability to write business plans, reports, or requirements.
- Commitment to equity, racial, and social justice in daily work.
- Ability to use common digital tools and willingness to learn more.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in fast-paced environments.
Responsibilities
- Lead Countywide Economic Development Strategy and implement long-range plans with equity at the core.
- Strengthen business districts, support small and minority-owned businesses, and promote retention and growth.
- Build partnerships with community organizations and developers; liaise with unincorporated areas.
- Coordinate cross-departmental efforts to inform policy and budget decisions.
- Secure diverse funding sources including grants and public-private partnerships.
- Oversee programs, supervise staff, monitor metrics, and ensure equitable service delivery.
Skills
Job description
The (Economic Development Program Manager ) (Project/Program Manager IV) supports strategic economic development in King County’s unincorporated areas. Working from the Director’s Office in the Department of Local Services and reporting to the External Relations Manager, this role leads the creation and implementation of programs that grow jobs and the tax base, including developing area business plans, supporting new business ventures, and strengthening existing businesses. The manager builds strong public-private partnerships, collaborates with economic development organizations, and serves as a subject matter expert and liaison between unincorporated communities, including ethnic business groups—and developers pursuing housing and commercial projects. The role also coordinates rural economic efforts with the Department of Natural Resources and Parks and the Executives Office and provides technical assistance for urban and subarea planning. This position works closely with subarea planners, outreach staff, and department leadership to advance economic development countywide. Candidates must be committed to racial, social, and economic equity. The Department of Local Services values equity, respect, and partnership and is dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers and fostering inclusive, thriving communities.
King County is the local service provider for the roughly one quarter-million people who live in the unincorporated areas of the county; collectively, these communities would be the second largest city in the state. The Department of Local Services includes a Director's Office, Road Services, and Permitting divisions, as well as long-range planning, code writing, subarea planning, community service area liaison and comprehensive planning teams. Together, this department provides a single executive point of accountability for delivering local services to all unincorporated areas of King County.
The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity and Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people, partners, and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike.
- Lead Countywide Economic Development Strategy Develop and implement long-term economic development plans for unincorporated King County, integrating equity, racial, and social justice principles into all strategies and initiatives.
- Strengthen Business Districts and Support Small Businesses Design, manage, and deliver programs that promote business district vitality, support small and minority-owned businesses, and foster business retention, expansion, and new ventures.
- Build Partnerships and Engage Communities Cultivate strong relationships with community organizations, chambers of commerce, business groups, and development partners. Serve as a liaison between unincorporated communities and private developers.
- Coordinate Cross-Departmental and Policy Efforts Collaborate with County departments to address economic challenges, support land-use and subarea planning, and provide economic development insights for policy and budget decisions.
- Secure Funding and Manage Resources Identify, pursue, and manage diverse funding sources—including grants, REET, and public-private partnerships—to support economic development programs and business district improvements.
- Manage Programs and Lead Staff Oversee program operations, supervise a small team, track performance metrics, and ensure efficient, equitable, and effective delivery of economic development services.
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Experience supporting community, economic, business, nonprofit, outreach, or public service activities — experience may be paid, volunteer, or community-based.
- Ability to build relationships with diverse communities, stakeholders, businesses, and partners.
- Skills in organizing projects, coordinating activities, and managing multiple priorities.’
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to listen, collaborate, and engage respectfully across cultures and communities. Ability to write business plans, reports, or requirements.
- Commitment to applying equity, racial, and social justice principles in daily work.
- Ability to use common digital tools (such as email, spreadsheets, or basic data platforms) and willingness to learn additional tools as needed.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in fast-paced or evolving environments.
- Experience in community development, economic development, business district work, small business support, or related fields.
- Experience working with communities of color, immigrants, refugees, rural communities, small business owners, or other historically underserved groups.
- Experience facilitating meetings, conducting outreach, or presenting information to community groups, organizations, or the public.
- Familiarity with land-use concepts, zoning, development processes, or policy work.
- Experience with grant funding processes, resource development, or program budgeting.
- Experience coordinating cross-departmental, cross-agency, or multi-stakeholder projects.
- Ability to analyze information, identify trends, or support data-informed decision-making.
- Multilingual or bilingual abilities.
- Experience applying innovative thinking, creative problem solving, or process improvement approaches such as LEAN.
Applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to participate in an interview the week of October 26, 2026.
This position is open to all qualified applicants. This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) career service position and to create an eligibility pool to fill additional vacancies in the same classification that may occur within the next six months.
A completed King County Application is required. A resume and supplemental question responses are also required.
Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. Minimum qualifications and answers to supplemental questions must be demonstrated in your application materials. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews.
The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but may at times require work on the weekends, or outside of normal business hours. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.
This position has been designated as: Non-Mission Critical - Employees who staff county functions or services that may be delayed, suspended, or diverted in an emergency while essential functions are prioritized Mission Critical.
Unless otherwise directed by the King County Executive, department director, or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather.
This position is not represented.
We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps. The primary onsite location is at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, 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.
The employee will report to work at the King Street Center (201 S. Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104). Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities and may be required to report to offices in Unincorporated King County.
Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. Employees will be provided with a King County-issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.
Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice. 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. If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Janice Antonio, HR Analyst, by email at jantonio@kingcounty.gov, or by phone at 206-263-2003.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite activity centers
- Employee Giving Program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
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