Senior Water Quality Specialist

King County Water and Land Resources Division -WA; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

King County is seeking a Senior Water Quality Specialist (Engineer III) to join the Water Quality Compliance Unit within the Stormwater Services Section. The role focuses on regulatory compliance, research, and technology development to improve water quality, with emphasis on refining the Surface Water Design Manual and collaborating with the Department of Local Services.

The position offers a hybrid work model, combines remote and onsite work, and requires strong communication, engineering

Qualifications

• Review drainage plans and lead engineering reviews applying SWDM.
• Advanced policy and code analysis and development.
• Strategic planning skills.
• Negotiation skills.
• Ability to work with county leadership and the public.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and content for the King County Surface Water Design Manual (SWDM).
• Stay current with new and emerging stormwater regulations, technology and research.
• Update and facilitate proper application of the County's stormwater design standards.
• Provide water quality technical expertise to the SWDM section and WLRD teams.
• Act as liaison for the SWDM between other King County agencies and with the DLS for partnerships.

Skills

Experience reviewing drainage plans &…

Policy & code analysis

Strategic planning

Negotiation skills

Working with county leadership & the公众

Job description

Senior Water Quality Specialist

Salary
$115,435.01 - $146,320.51 Annually

Location
Seattle - Regional area, WA

Job Type
Career Service (Exec)

Job Number
2026IG27636

Department
DNRP-Natural Resources & Parks

Division
WLRD -Water & Land Resources

FLSA
Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit
C1 : PROTEC17-DES, DLS, DNRP

Full- or Part-Time
Full Time

Hours/Week
40 hours/week

Summary
This is an internal transfer opportunity only. Consideration is only being given to King County PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit employees eligible for a lateral transfer (transferring within the Engineer III classification and having passed probation).

About the Role

We are seeking to hire a Senior Water Quality Specialist (Engineer III) to join the County’s Water Quality Compliance Unit. This team is focused on ensuring regulatory compliance with state and federal rules, as well as fostering innovation in research and technology that improves water quality. As a member of the Water Quality Compliance Unit (WQCU), you will be working within the Stormwater Services Section of the Water and Land Resources Division. A large portion of this work is dedicated to refining and updating the Surface Water Design Manual, a critical regulatory document used by many jurisdictions within the region. This is a challenging and rewarding role, allowing you to contribute to the development of stormwater design criteria and research/evaluate new and emerging technology related to stormwater management. This position will also act as a liaison to the Department of Local Services – Permitting Division, providing subject matter expertise to them as needed and work with DLS to develop partnership opportunities with the development community. As Senior Water Quality Specialist, you will be immersed in stormwater treatment media and materials review for use in Surface Water Design Manual facilities. You will also be providing your expertise and insight in developing King County’s annual reports and review of regulatory requirements. This position also participates in as‑needed constructability reviews for Stormwater Service’s Asset Management Unit, assisting with special project feedback and contributing to King County code revisions and policy updates. This position requires excellent communication skills (verbal and written); a strong science or engineering background; knowledge of stormwater source control and treatment technologies; and knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations pertaining to stormwater.

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

About the Team

King County staff and residents truly care about improving water quality. The hard‑working, skilled, and enthusiastic staff within the Stormwater Services Section (SWSS) are ready and willing to work to that end. This position will work closely with co‑workers who have a wealth of technical, scientific, and organizational expertise and knowledge, fostering a strong sense of teamwork. If you enjoy contributing a positive impact to the environment and the community through stormwater management, excel at communicating with the diverse communities and collaborating with others to safeguard water quality, this position would be a perfect opportunity for you.

Who Are We

The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is at the forefront of King County’s efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 450 supported by an annual budget of ~$280 million. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to protect working farms and forests, restore habitat, and improve water quality, and provide county residents with equitable access to green space. We house the Land Conservation Initiative, which aims to preserve our last, most important lands. Our forestry and agricultural programs help individuals protect their lands and support local food production. We house four salmon recovery forums where we collaborate with scores of partners to plan, design, and build habitat projects. We partner with regional jurisdictions to help residents and businesses reduce the threats posed by production, use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials. We are the primary service provider to the King County Flood Control District, contributing to flood preparedness and constructing and maintaining facilities that restore rivers and reduce risk. Our one true local service to unincorporated King County is stormwater management, protecting water quality, reducing flooding, and building and maintaining facilities. Finally, we provide regional science and laboratory services to an array of customers, maintaining high-quality data sets used to assess water quality and habitat trends, and provide Best Available Science to inform decision making. In two words, we are a watershed utility.

Commitment To Equity 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. As a Senior Water Quality Specialist, 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

• Provide technical support and create content for the King County Surface Water Design Manual (SWDM).
• Staying current with new and emerging stormwater regulations, technology and research.
• Updating and facilitating proper application of the County's stormwater design standards.
• Providing water quality technical expertise to the section and WLRD teams.
• Act as liaison for the SWDM between other King County agencies, assisting with manual interpretation and applicability.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring

• Experience reviewing drainage plans and leading engineering reviews that apply SWDM to development and/or capital project.
• Advanced policy and code analysis and development.
• Strategic planning skills.
• Negotiation skills.
• Skill in working with county leadership and the general public.

Competencies You Bring

• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Resourcefulness: Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently.
• Optimizes Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring

• WA State driver's license.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions

Remote and Onsite Work Details: The Water Quality Compliance Unit 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 St, Seattle, WA 98104.

Remote Work Location Requirement: 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 will work a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible. The typical work schedule is 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday– Friday. Work outside the typical work schedule including early mornings, evenings and weekends may be required from time to time.

Union Representation

This position is represented by PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit.

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.