Sustainability Program Lead

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading team at King County as the Sustainability Program Lead, focusing on advancing climate mitigation efforts and sustainable infrastructure. Collaborate across divisions to implement the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan and promote equity and social justice in all initiatives.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits

Training opportunities

Growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant professional work experience in sustainability or related field.
• Knowledge of sustainability concepts and climate mitigation.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of the WTD Sustainability Work Plan.
• Provide sustainability support to capital improvement programs.
• Develop tools for sustainability strategies in operations.

Skills

Sustainability

Collaboration

Communication

Planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science

Job description

Summary

This position is open to King County Employees Only.
This posting may be used to establish a list of qualified candidates in the following 6months, after a selection has been made.

About the Role:
The primary function of this role is to provide leadership for the WTD Sustainability Program and advance climate mitigation efforts associated with planning, designing, building and operating wastewater infrastructure. This position will work with staff from all WTD sections and units, including close coordination with WTD’s Energy and Equity and Social Justice Programs, to implement and report progress on climate initiatives including the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan and Green Building Ordinance. The Sustainability Program Lead will reside in WTD’s Climate Energy and Sustainability Work Group (CES) and report to the CES Supervisor.

This position provides an opportunity to work on a fun and innovative team that is advancing sustainable infrastructure strategies and climate mitigation efforts across WTD and the region. This is an opportunity to shape the future of sustainability efforts in WTD, while fostering relationships, collaboration, and teamwork across the division.

About the Team:
The Climate, Energy and Sustainability work group is part of the Resource Recovery Unit in King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s (WTD’s) Operations and Maintenance Section. The Resource Recovery Unit strives to bring valuable resources, technology, and sound business practices together to deliver products and programs that inspire our customers to be part of an environmentally sustainable future—today. It is responsible for ensuring safe, environmentally friendly products are made from an urban renewable waste stream including, Loop biosolids soil amendment, recycled water, and renewable energy, as well as managing programs including sustainability, energy, technology assessment, and nutrient management.

The Climate, Energy and Sustainability work group includes the Sustainability Program. This team is focused on development and implementation of King County sustainability policies, including the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) and Green Building Ordinance (GBO). Work performed by the team includes efforts to increase green building, use of low-embodied carbon construction materials, and construction and demolition waste diversion in WTD operations and capital projects.

WTD’s mission is to protect public health and enhance the environment by collecting and treating wastewater while recycling valuable resources for the Puget Sound region. To our agency, success means clean water. It means honoring our legacy while keeping a promise to future generations that our beautiful environment will be there for them to enjoy. We are committed to the principles of equity and social justice. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. WTD strives to provide equitable services to residents and businesses across King 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. 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 King County Employee you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment athttp://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Apply now for a rewarding career at theWastewater Treatment Divisionof King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training,comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Lead implementation of the WTD Sustainability Work Plan, develop and report on program metrics.
• Provide sustainability support to WTD’s capital improvement program by: (1) serving as a sustainability subject matter expert on multiple major facility programs and capital projects, and (2) educating capital project teams on sustainable infrastructure and King County policy requirements related to sustainability.
• Develop tools and resources to advance the implementation of sustainability and efficiency strategies in capital programs, and operations and maintenance of WTD facilities.
• Help develop Sustainability Program staff work plans and track progress. Provide input on staff performance appraisals and recommend staffing actions (hiring, promotion, discipline, etc.).
• Assign work to Sustainability Program staff and review staff work as needed. Provide coaching and mentoring to Sustainability Program staff on technical and interpersonal issues related to assigned work and career development.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability, Engineering, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Environmental Science/Environmental Studies or closely related field, plus significant professional work experience in a similar field OR an equivalent combination of education and/or experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the job duties.
• Knowledge of, and work experience with sustainability concepts such as sustainable infrastructure, third-party sustainability scorecards, sustainable materials and waste diversion, greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions reduction, climate mitigation, equity, social justice, and community engagement.
• Familiarity with the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) and Green Building Ordinance (GBO), and experience with the practical application and tracking compliance/reporting of these policies to County activities.
• Experience interpreting initiatives and policies for which there are no established guidelines for practical application to specific projects and activities. Experience developing tools and resources to implement policy directives and achieve policy goals.
• Knowledge of capital improvement planning, design, and construction processes and experience working on capital improvement projects and programs.

Competencies You Bring:

• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Manages Ambiguity - Operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.
• Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
• Plans and Aligns - Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals
• Manages Complexity – Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Washington State Driver’s License or the ability to provide transportation to remote work locations with limited or no public transportation service options.

It Would Also Be Great If You Bring:

• Knowledge of wastewater systems and operations, and experience working on capital conveyance, treatment and resource recovery projects.
• Sustainability certifications, such as Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) and LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP).
• Experience implementing sustainable infrastructure through the WTD Sustainable Infrastructure Scorecard.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions

• Remote and Onsite Work Details:Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements 1 - 2 times monthly at a King County worksite. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104) and treatment plant facilities. This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work.
• Remote Work Location Requirement:Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule:This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is not covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not overtime-eligible
• Union Representation:This position is represented by King County Technical Employees' Association (TEA) bargaining unit.

Application and Selection Process:
We value diversity, diverse perspectives, and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness, and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume Required
• Cover Letter Required -Please describe how your knowledge, skills and abilities meet the expectations for the position.

Note: Additional documents will not be considered during minimum qualification screening.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:Helen David
HR Analyst
[e-mail]

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division:Visit ourwebsiteand check us out atFacebook,X (formerly Twitter),Instagram,YouTubeandourWTD Blog.

DiscoverMoreAboutDNRP: Visit ourwebsite,explore aninteractive mapof our recent accomplishments and check us out atFacebook,X (formerly Twitter),LinkedIn,TikTok,Instagram,YouTubeandKeeping King County Green News.

Sign up forJob Alertsto be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select theNatural Resourcescategory for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference?Come join the teamdedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. 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.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.