Project Control Officer

King County Water and Land Resources Division -WA; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 136,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

King County Parks is seeking a detail-oriented Project Control Officer to oversee the Capital Improvement Program, ensuring compliant, strategic project delivery. You will guide contracting, manage cost, schedule, risk, and change processes, and lead a team supporting county initiatives.

Hybrid role blending remote and in-person work, with strong emphasis on policy compliance and staff development within the Parks Finance Section.

Qualifications

• Public-sector contracting processes and policies.
• Ability to analyze data to improve cost and performance.
• Strong scheduling and cost-management capabilities.
• Experience coaching staff and leading teams.
• Knowledge of procurement and contract practices in public sector.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, cost management, scheduling, risk analysis, and contract administration.
• Develop and improve project control tools, processes, and metrics.
• Provide guidance and training on public-sector project and contract practices.
• Review procurement requests and ensure compliance with policies.
• Oversee contract and project file reviews for accuracy and compliance.
• Prepare documentation on project control processes and workflows.

Skills

Public-sector contracting

Cost analysis

Scheduling

Team leadership

Policy compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, business, construction management or related field

Tools

LEAN methodology

Job description

Project Control Officer

Salary
$136,281.39 - $172,744.42 Annually

Location
King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA

Job Type
Career Service (Exec)

Job Number
2026-27441

Department
DNRP-Natural Resources & Parks

Division
Parks

FLSA
Exempt

Bargaining Unit
Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines

Full- or Part-Time
Full Time

Hours/Week
40 hours/week

Summary

King County Parks is seeking a collaborative and detail-oriented Project Control Officer to lead oversight of our robust Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and ensure smooth, compliant, and strategic delivery of high-value projects across the county. In this position, you will serve as a trusted advisor within the Finance Section, guiding complex contracting processes, and leading a dedicated team that supports county-wide initiatives.

About the Role: We are seeking a candidate who will bring extensive experience developing and implementing robust program management systems and processes for complex capital projects. They will be a strong leader with a proven ability to independently evaluate project performance and compliance, provide clear insight, and support proactive decision-making. This individual will possess advanced expertise in all facets of project controls—including cost management, scheduling, estimating, risk and change management, contracting, and ongoing project monitoring. They will also have demonstrated experience leading Job Order Contracting (JOC) authorization and compliance efforts, building cross-team collaborations, and supporting staff in these functions.

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

About the Team: The Parks Finance Section is a vital internal support resource to the Parks Division and provides responsive, outstanding support services aligned with the core values of accountability, diversity and inclusion, stewardship, and workforce development.

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to influence major capital investments that directly benefit our communities. You’ll join a collaborative team, work in a supportive environment, and contribute to meaningful outcomes for residents across the county.

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 Project Control Officer you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Job Duties

General Responsibilities

• Ensure contracting processes for architecture, engineering, construction, and other types of contracts meet King County policies and Parks procedures.
• Participate in LEAN and other process-improvement efforts.
• Develop documentation and deliver training to help staff and partners stay compliant and follow best practices.
• Identify compliance risks, recommend fixes, and help teams prevent future issues.
• Review and refine policies and procedures to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and align with industry standards.
• Support staff through coaching and frequent feedback.

Project Control Officer Responsibilities

• Serve as the main point of contact for the project control program and build strong relationships across the county by being a liaison with central procurement and capital sections in other departments and divisions.
• Lead core project control functions including budgeting, cost management, scheduling, risk analysis, and contract administration.
• Improve tools, processes, and metrics that support effective project and contract management.
• Provide expert guidance and training on public-sector project and contract practices.
• Review requests to waive procurement requirements and recommend appropriate actions.
• Oversee contract and project file reviews to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Lead the development of documentation on project control and contract management processes, procedures, and workflows.
• Provide strategic direction to facilitate efficient capital program delivery while ensuring contract compliance.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Demonstrated relevant experience and knowledge of public-sector design and construction project and contracting processes.
• Strong ability to build effective working relationships with capital project managers, supervisors, consultants, contractors, vendors, and public agencies.
• Ability to perform critical analysis of data to make timely recommendations that improve project cost, performance, and effectiveness.
• Experience in managing and monitoring a variety of accountability and performance audit processes to accomplish audit goals while minimizing disruptions to day-to-day capital program and procurement operations.
• Experience managing and administering architectural, engineering and professional services contracts, as well as various construction contracts (e.g. Low Bid, Job Order, Work Order)
• Advanced knowledge of public contract and procurement law.
• Knowledge of capital project management, design and construction principles and practices, cost estimating and scheduling, project management techniques, and federal, state and local development regulations and processes for public infrastructure projects.
• Strong written and oral communication skills that include skills in training, documenting, coaching, facilitation, and negotiation.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff.

Competencies You Bring:

• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Cultivates Innovation: Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Optimizes Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, business, construction management or related field.
• Knowledge of King County project management, and Capital Project Management Work Group (CPMWG) standards.
• Five years of progressive experience providing project control functions and reporting on capital projects for a public agency.
• Advanced knowledge of the content and application of Project Management Institute practices.
• Experience in developing project management/contract administration manuals.
• Experience managing project oversight functions in an advanced capital program and project environment.
• Experience as a project manager or program manager on mid-sized to large public works projects.
• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent professional certification.
• Knowledge and experience in using LEAN process improvement techniques to streamline business processes.
• Supplemental Information

Supplemental Information
Working Conditions:

Work Location:The Parks Finance 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.

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 exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.

Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.

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Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.

We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. 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.