Language Access Program Manager - INTERNAL ONLY

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

King County Parks is seeking a Language Accessibility Project Manager to champion language access equity across our parks system. The role focuses on ESL and ADA compliance, enhancing how we reach diverse communities and improve accessibility in digital and print materials.

As part of the Communications Team, you will partner with IT, executive departments, translators, and field staff to implement inclusive communication practices and guide ongoing improvements for both onsite and offsite

Qualifications

• Experience collaborating with translators and interpreters for events.
• Knowledge of accessibility guidelines and applying them to public materials.
• Commitment to equity, social justice, inclusion and belonging in public service.
• Excellent writing, verbal communication, and research skills.
• Experience developing language access guidelines or libraries for disability accessibility.

Responsibilities

• Enhance language access and strengthen communication for ESL visitors.
• Evaluate current accessibility practices, recommend improvements, implement changes, and build sustainable systems and processes.
• Review and remediate digital platforms to maintain ADA accessibility compliance.
• Lead ADA compliance across digital and print materials including signage, and provide training and tooling recommendations.
• Serve as Parks liaison to IT and Executive departments for language access alignment.
• Support Communications across projects including outreach, signage, and social content.

Skills

Language access

ADA compliance

Communication

Public engagement

Collaboration

Written communication

Translation coordination

Job description

Join King County Parks as our Language Accessibility Project Manager (Project/Program Manager II) and utilize your passion for language access equity to strengthen community engagement across King County Parks. In this highly collaborative role, you will serve as a subject-matter expert on communication methods for English as a Second Language (ESL) and Americans with Disability Act (ADA) compliance. If you’re passionate about community engagement, are a skilled communications professional, and are excited to make an impact, we encourage you to apply!

This opportunity is open to current King County employees. External applicants are not being considered.

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Project/Program Manager II career service and term-limited temporary openings within the Parks Division or throughout the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next six months.

About the Role

The Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP), Parks Division is seeking a Language Accessibility Project Manager (PPM-II) to join the Communications Team within the Community Investments and Engagement Section (CIE). As a collaborative partner, you will combine your passion for community engagement with your expertise in language access and communications to champion continuous improvements in ADA compliant digital and print platforms. You will work to drive innovative approaches that make onsite and offsite experiences more accessible for English as Second Language audiences and people with disabilities - strengthening how we serve our community.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About the Team

The Community Investments & Engagement (CIE) Section connects King County Parks to the communities we serve through equitable investments, inclusive programs, and meaningful engagement. CIE oversees a wide range of initiatives designed to strengthen community relationships and ensure County resources are distributed fairly and transparently. This work includes managing community grants, leading public outreach efforts, coordinating volunteer programs, supporting translation and accessibility services, and amplifying community voices in decision-making processes. CIE collaborates closely with local partners, grassroots organizations, and residents to create programs and spaces that reflect the diverse needs and values of King County communities.

As part of CIE, the Communication Team connects King County Parks to the public through clear, accessible, and engaging messaging. The team shares stories, celebrates park spaces, and provides timely updates that help people access and enjoy all Parks has to offer. This work includes curating social media and blog content, managing Parks’ websites, producing and installing signage, creating print and digital materials, and crafting press releases, graphics, and advertisements. The team ensures materials are available in multiple languages, making information inclusive and accessible to King County’s diverse communities. The team is committed to providing timely, accurate, and inspiring information—helping the community feel informed, connected, and excited about Parks.

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. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Language Accessibility Project Manager (PPM-II), 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

• Enhance language access and strengthen communication for King County Parks visitors who speak ESL.
• Evaluate current accessibility practices, recommend improvements, implement changes, and build sustainable systems and processes.
• Review and remediate digital platforms - such as the website, blog, and newsletters - to maintain ongoing ADA accessibility compliance.
• Lead ADA compliance efforts across digital and print materials including signage and branding; provide training, conduct regular reviews, develop processes, and identify tools that support accessibility and language needs in physical spaces.
• Serve as Parks liaison to King County IT and Executive departments, ensuring alignment with best practices in language access and accessibility.
• Support the Communications Team by addressing language access needs across projects including capital project outreach, signage, community engagement initiatives, social media content/posts, and more.

Qualifications You Bring

• Experience collaborating with translators to produce written materials and working with interpreters to support virtual and in-person events.
• Knowledge of accessibility guidelines and experience applying them to implement or remediate public-facing materials
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, social justice, inclusion and belonging in public service, or community focused organization.
• Excellent writing, verbal communication, and research skills.
• Experience developing best practices and guidelines, including resource libraries for language access and/or disability accessibility.

Competencies You Bring

Customer Focus: Ability to build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions.

Manages Complexity: Ability to make sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.

Collaborates: Ability to build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.

Communicates Effectively: Ability to develop and deliver multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

Action Oriented: Abilit to take on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring

• Expertise in assessing and implementing language access best practices.
• Experience working within King County or experience working in the public sector/government environment.
• Experience in creating communications for diverse audiences such as website updates, writing, and blog posts.

This opportunity is open to current King County employees. External applicants are not being considered.

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Project/Program Manager II career service and term-limited temporary openings within the Parks Division or throughout the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next six months.

Work Location

The Communications Team 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 King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104. The Language Accessibility Project Manager conducts site visits and occasionally attends community events. This role requires the ability to travel to in-person locations throughout the county, including areas that may not be accessible by public transportation.

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 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: This position is represented by PROTEC17

Discover More About the Parks Division

Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Flickr.

Discover More About DNRP

Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X, 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.

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.

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 based on citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.