Strategic Grants & Partnerships Lead

King County Water and Land Resources Division -WA; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 131,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

The King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) seeks a dedicated Grant & Partnership Programs Supervisor to manage the delivery of grant and partnership initiatives. You will oversee a team, guide program strategy, and ensure compliance and impact for community-driven projects in our service area.

This executive‑level role emphasizes strategic planning, staff supervision, and collaboration with internal units, regional partners, and public stakeholders to advance clean water and healthy

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience managing grant programs including distribution of grant funds at minimum of $1M annually; managing full grant lifecycle administration, contract negotiation, budget & scope development, compliance monitoring, and financial oversight.
• 5+ years experience in supervising direct reports including hiring and mentoring, setting performance metrics, and conducting performance evaluations.
• 5+ years experience in managing community partnership programs including working with diverse partners to inform and improve programs and processes.
• Knowledge of regional environment and/or water issues which is critical for accurate review of proposals, scope of work and acting as a technical advisor for staff, committee members and decision makers who make funding decisions.
• Established ability to manage systems and logistics needed to run successful grant and partnership programs including experience with grant database platforms, CRM systems, grant and program evaluation and reporting methods.
• Strong communication skills in writing and public speaking including experience in delivering trainings and briefings to partners and impacted parties; briefings for elected officials; developing written program reports; and creating narratives for storytelling on social media, blogs, websites, etc.

Responsibilities

• Strategic development and continuous improvement – lead strategic planning and program development; establish program goals, annual program work plans, implementation timelines, key performance indicators and evaluation methods. Align strategic development with Unit, Division, Department and agency strategic planning, policies and process change.
• Staff supervision – manage the grant and partner program team of 3-4 staff; hire and mentor, establish individual work plans, set performance metrics, and conduct performance evaluations.
• Systems management – oversee the full grant process from advertisement to contract close-out using grant database platforms, customer relations management (CRM) systems, grant and program evaluation and reporting methods; manage the WaterWorks Grant Ranking Committee (one of King County’s Boards and Commissions); coach and build capacity in staff, committee, and grantees; coordinate with Council and governmental relations for the biannual legislative process.
• Financial and legal accountability - ensure legal requirements, accountability of program requirements and fiscal reporting are met in all grant programs that distribute approximately $8M each grant cycle. Manage grant contracts; approve program expenditures; and work with finance staff and unit manager for annual budgeting. Respond to audit requests and questions from internal or external parties including King County Council. Ensure compliance with policy updates and protocols for King County Boards and Commissions, and with legislative and policy requirements at the local and state level.
• Communication - act as lead for written materials and representing the programs to internal and external audiences including delivery of trainings and briefings to partners and impacted parties such as senior managers, elected officials, local sewer utilities, and committees. Develop written program reports; and create narratives for storytelling on social media, blogs, websites, etc.
• Grant and Partnership leadership - serve as a subject expert on granting and partnership programs and advise other division and department leads; share best practices and coordinate with other King County grant programs; provide content to regulatory compliance reports such as the NPDES report, LDW source control report; as well as King County strategic plans for Equity and Social Justice, Workforce, Strategic Climate Action, etc.

Skills

Grant program management

Staff supervision

Strategic planning

Budget oversight

Public speaking

Tools

Grant databases

CRM systems

Job description

The King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) seeks a dedicated Grant & Partnership Programs Supervisor to manage the delivery of grant and partnership initiatives. You will oversee a team, guide program strategy, and ensure compliance and impact for community-driven projects in our service area.

This executive‑level role emphasizes strategic planning, staff supervision, and collaboration with internal units, regional partners, and public stakeholders to advance clean water and healthy