Natural Resources Policy Lead Advisor

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive health benefits

Professional development

Job summary

King County seeks a collaborative Natural Resources and Parks Policy Advisor to help shape and implement environmental policy priorities across county departments. You will work with the Climate Policy Advisor and tribal partners to translate policy into actionable programs and measurable outcomes.

The role requires 8+ years in natural resources or environmental/public policy, with strong stakeholder engagement, governance, and communication skills.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in natural resources or environmental/public policy roles.
• Proven ability to translate policy into implementation and measurable results.
• Experience engaging tribes, local governments, NGOs, and regulatory bodies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement environmental policy priorities in collaboration with the Climate Policy Advisor.
• Monitor environmental resources policy across county departments and tribal relations.
• Represent the Executive in policy meetings and intergovernmental groups.
• Lead cross-departmental collaboration to integrate policy priorities into organizational strategies.

Skills

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Communication

Job description

King County is launching an ambitious effort to ensure that government delivers high-quality, efficient and equitable services to every resident. To support this work, we are seeking a collaborative, strategic, and deeply knowledgeable Natural Resources and Parks Policy Advisor.

The Natural Resources and Parks Policy Advisor will be a member of the newly created Policy and Innovation team. This role will serve with a team of policy leads, each representing a specific priority of Executive Zahilay. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Policy and Innovation, the Natural Resources and Parks Policy Advisor will help guide policy direction for their portfolio and work closely with County departments to integrate and align policy priorities across the enterprise.

The ideal candidate brings not only policy subject matter expertise, but also a strong understanding of how to translate policy to implementation. Success in this role requires subject matter expertise, familiarity with community and government relations, and the ability to lead policy solutions that advance the Executive’s goals.

• Work in partnership with the Climate Policy Advisor to develop and implement the Executive’s environmental policy priorities.
• Closely monitor and track environmental and natural resource policy related to King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (including work of the Water and Land, Solid Waste, Wastewater, and Parks Divisions).
• Monitor, track, and help advance priority issues, including emerging policy, political, and operational developments related to natural resources, utilities, and parks at the local, state and national level.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with tribal governments, stakeholders and key partners. Coordinate with legislative, regulatory, and intergovernmental partners, including government-to-government coordination with federally recognized Tribes on natural resource and utility policy issues.

• Represent the Executive in meetings and working groups related to natural resources and utility policy.
• Support cross-departmental collaboration to advance equitable environmental policy.
• Work with the Director of Policy and Innovation, Deputy Director of Policy and Innovation, other policy leads and members of the Executive’s Office on strategies to integrate policy priorities into broader organizational strategy and cross-functional initiatives.
• Work with the Tribal Relations Manager to engage with federally recognized tribes as co-managers of natural and cultural resources.

Expectations

• A focus on being out in the county to connect and build relationships with those we serve and those with whom we partner.
• In the office a minimum of 3 days a week (, Tuesday, ). There may be additional in-person days required. Meetings may not have a call-in option for required in-person days, and the expectation is to be in the office.
• Be on time, respectful of others’ time, and responsive when needed.
• Bring an urgency to the work. We will start fast. The work will be intense, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.
• Meetings will have written expectations, including an agenda with the goals and outcomes. Owners and next steps will be clear.
• Processes and work will continuously improve.?

Our Values

• Accountable
• Collaborative
• Timely
• Impactful
• Value Employees
• Accessible
• Trusted
• Equitable

We are looking for aNatural Resources and ParksPolicy Advisorwho can collaborate across diverse organizations and communicate King County’s values and priorities effectively. The ideal candidate will have:

• Significant experience(8+ years) workinginnatural resources orenvironmentalpolicy,public policy, or related roles.Preference for experience in tribal, federal, state, or local government.
• An understanding offederal and statepolicyand regulatory requirements for clean water, environmental health, and salmon recovery, as well as county rolesrelated to wastewater treatment facilities, wastereductionand prevention; regional planning of the solid waste system, landconservationand recreation.
• Experience working with tribal governments and a working knowledge of tribal sovereignty,tribal treaty rights and how they shapenatural resource management and cultural resource protection.
• A proven record ofleading andfacilitatingefforts to translatepolicy into measurable results.
• A deep commitment to transparency, equity, and service excellence in government.
• Experience engaginga wide range of stakeholders, includinglocal governments, environmental regulatory bodies, and environmental advocacy organizations.
• Strong relationship-building skills with experience engaging elected officials, senior leaders, and strategic partners.
• Excellentanalytical andwritten and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with a demonstrated record of follow-through, attention to detail, and accountability in managing deadlines and deliverables.

Key Attributes

• Strategic and Analytical: Sees the big picture, uses data to inform decisions, and can develop and deploy effective strategy.
• Equity-Centered: Embeds fairness, inclusion, and community impact into policy work.
• Collaborative: Works across departments and builds strong partnerships to drive the policy agenda.

• Results-Oriented: Connects policy to action, driving measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to shape how King County delivers for its residents. The Natural Resources and Parks Policy Advisor will help bring Executive Zahilay’s vision to life—turning bold ideas into accountable, transparent, and effective government action.

The King County Executive Office serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with integrity, 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 frugal stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve.?

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. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive executive-level salary,commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive health, retirement, and leave benefits
• Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
• Ability to make a meaningful impact on how King County delivers for its residents