Economic Development Program Manager (Project/Program Manager IV)

King-County,-W; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

King County seeks an Economic Development Program Manager to lead countywide strategy and implement long-term plans for unincorporated areas. The role fosters public-private partnerships, collaborates with economic development organizations, and serves as liaison to diverse communities and developers pursuing housing and commercial projects.

The position emphasizes equity, racial and social justice, and coordination across departments to support planning, funding, and program delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting community, economic, business, nonprofit, outreach, 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 applying equity, racial, and social justice principles in daily work.
• Ability to use common digital tools (email, spreadsheets, basic data platforms) and willingness to learn more.
• Ability to work independently and in a team in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead countywide economic development strategy and implement long-term plans for unincorporated King County with equity at the core.
• Strengthen business districts, support small and minority-owned businesses, and foster retention and growth.
• Build partnerships with community organizations, chambers of commerce, and developers; serve as liaison to communities.
• Coordinate cross-departmental and policy efforts to address economic challenges and inform land-use planning.
• Secure funding from diverse sources (grants, REET, public-private partnerships) for programs and district improvements.
• Manage programs and lead staff; track performance metrics and ensure equitable service delivery.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Relationship building

Public-private partnerships

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Strong communication

Equity and justice

Tools

Email

Spreadsheets

Data platforms

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.

About the Department of Local Services:

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.

Our Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice

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.

Applying the principles of equity and racial and social justice is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. You will apply these principles to all aspects of your work. Primary responsibilities include:

• 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

Minimum Qualifications

• 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.

Desirable Qualifications

• 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.

Who may apply:

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.

Forms and materials:

A completed King County Application is required. A resume and supplemental question responses are also required.

Selection process:

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.

Work schedule:

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.

Emergency designation status:

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.

Union Membership:

This position is not represented.

Teleworking Requirement:

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. T he 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.

Work location

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 mustresidein 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.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

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.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

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.