Remedial Actions Lead

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

King County's Solid Waste Division is seeking an Engineer III to serve as the technical lead for remedial actions at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill. You will develop remediation strategies, provide engineering direction on projects, manage CIP-related tasks from design through commissioning, and support operations with non-capital projects.

You will mentor junior engineers, collaborate with project managers, and promote teamwork, innovation, and learning within the Facilities Engineering

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical science, or a related field.
• Progressive experience in environmental remediation.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and contractors during remediation activities.
• Experience applying MTCA, CERCLA, or similar state cleanup programs.
• Experience planning or overseeing environmental field investigations.
• Strong technical writing skills, including reports, memos, and regulatory submittals.
• Demonstrated knowledge of project management techniques and principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive program to investigate and remediate environmental impacts from the landfill spills/releases.
• Provide technical oversight and project management from discovery through cleanup.
• Represent the Division in dealings with regulatory agencies overseeing spill response and cleanup.
• Lead consultant RFPs, bid processes, and contract negotiations; assist in contractor selection.
• Collaborate with Operations, compliance, regulators, and on-site construction for responses and cleanup actions.
• Apply stormwater design knowledge per Washington State or King County manuals where applicable.
• Perform other engineering and environmental duties at Cedar Hills.

Skills

Environmental remediation

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory compliance

Technical writing

Project management

Field investigations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical science, or related field

Job description

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Engineer III positions throughout the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next 6 months.

The Solid Waste Division (SWD) of King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks is seeking a motivated, solutions-focused professional to serve as a Remedial Actions Lead (Engineer III). If you are a collaborative problem solver who thrives on complex environmental and engineering challenges, this role offers the opportunity to support vital work that protects public health and the environment for King County communities.

Within the Solid Waste Division, the Facilities Engineering Services (FES) unit is a multidisciplinary team supporting both capital projects and daily operations at King County’s only operational landfill. We are committed to engineering excellence, continuous learning, and meaningful environmental stewardship - and we invite you to bring your expertise and technical guidance to our team.

About this Role

This full-time Engineer III position serves as the technical lead for remedial actions at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill. In this senior engineering role, you will develop and advance remediation strategies, provide technical direction on environmental engineering projects, and support Capital Improvement Program (CIP) efforts from design through commissioning. You will also provide engineering support to Operations, manage non-capital projects, and contribute technical expertise to teams across the Solid Waste Division.

Our engineers bring a range of relevant experience to this work, including civil and environmental engineering, wastewater systems, gas collection and conveyance, and environmental science. This diversity supports the broad and complex engineering challenges at Cedar Hills. Because landfill engineering is a specialized discipline, we provide targeted training to help new team members build the site-specific knowledge needed to apply their expertise effectively.

As an Engineer III, you will also serve as a technical leader within the Facilities Engineering Services team. This includes mentoring junior engineers and scientists, collaborating closely with capital project managers and multidisciplinary teams, and fostering a culture of teamwork, innovation, and continuous learning.

About the Team

The Facility Engineering and Science Unit (FES) is a critical part of the Capital Planning and Delivery Section within the Solid Waste Division (SWD). Our engineers and scientists support a variety of large-scale programs and projects within SWD. FES is a dynamic team committed to safety, environmental stewardship and providing critical services to the residents and businesses of King County. Our team consists of civil, mechanical, chemical, and environmental engineers, geologists, environmental scientists, operational technology systems engineers, IT systems architect, project managers, CAD/BIM professionals as well as surveyors and asset managers. To learn more about SWD visit https://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/solid-waste.aspx.

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. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. In this position, 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:

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive program to investigate and remediate environmental impacts associated with spills / releases from the landfill.
• Provide technical oversight and project management in response to spills / releases from discovery through cleanup.
• Represent the Solid Waste Division in interactions with regulatory agencies overseeing spill response and cleanup.
• Lead the preparation of consultant request for proposals, construction invitation to bid and other contract documents; participate in the consultant review and selection, bid or qualification process and assist in negotiation of final contracts.
• Collaborating with the Operations Section, environmental compliance group, regulatory agencies, and onsite construction for environmental responses and cleanup actions.
• Stormwater design or knowledge in application of the Washington State or King County Stormwater Design manuals preferable.
• Other engineering and environmental duties as assigned at Cedar Hills.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Demonstrated progressive experience in environmental remediation.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and contractors during remediation activities.
• Demonstrated experience applying regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements, including the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), or similar state cleanup programs.
• Experience planning or overseeing environmental field investigations.
• Strong technical writing skills, including preparation of reports, memos, and regulatory submittals.
• Demonstrated knowledge of project management techniques and principles.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires bending, lifting, walking in uneven terrain and adverse weather conditions, and performing other physical activities associated with field work.

Must be able to travel between SWD facilities throughout King County, some of which are not served by public transportation.

Workplace Exposures:

This position requires work at an active municipal solid waste landfill, where employees may be exposed to environmental, chemical, and physical hazards. All field activities are performed in accordance with a task-specific health and safety plan.

Competencies You Bring:

• Decision Quality- Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Drives Results - Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• 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.
• Instills Trust - Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

It Would Be Great If You Also Bring:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in environmental remediation.
• Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Certification
• OSHA 30-hour Construction or General Industry Certification
• Professional Engineer (PE) License, Licensed Geologist (LG), or Licensed Hydrogeologist (LHG)

Working Conditions:

• Work LocationThe FES 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. Field work is also required for this position. During the dry-weather season, approximately three days per week in the field are expected. During the wet-weather season, field work is typically required one to two days per week.

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 ScheduleThis 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 Protec Local 17.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Susan Ng at [e-mail]

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.

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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.