Sustainability Program Manager

King County, WA; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick leave

Flexible spending account

Telecommuting options

Job summary

King County's Recycling and Environmental Services (RES) Division seeks a Sustainability Program Manager to advance green building, resource recovery, climate preparedness, and equity goals. The role collaborates across capital projects with engineers, project managers, and staff to implement innovative sustainability strategies.

The position emphasizes reviewing project development, guiding sustainability requirements, and maintaining reporting procedures to track progress and performance in a

Qualifications

• Experience applying research methods to support complex project work.
• Strong project management skills across design, construction, operations, and reporting.
• Proven ability to collaborate with diverse partners, agencies, and stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation abilities for varied audiences.
• Experience coordinating multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise on sustainability and green building strategies for complex capital projects within the Solid Waste Division.
• Refine project scope, specifications, designs, and deliverables to meet green building and sustainability requirements.
• Manage data collection and reporting, including use of the PRISM database for green metrics.
• Prepare analytical reports and program evaluations to guide project managers and engineers.
• Develop program and policy recommendations to accelerate sustainable practices in capital projects.
• Review and develop RFPs, contracts, and project specifications; participate in the Capital Project Review Board.

Skills

Research methods

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication skills

Teamwork

Multitasking

Job description

We are searching for an incredibly passionate Sustainability Program Manager to join our Recycling & Environmental Services team. This position would contribute to implementing innovative and creative efforts that will advance construction and demolition, green building, sustainability, climate action and equity and social justice within the Solid Waste Division portfolio of projects.

These efforts will support meeting our Green Building Ordinance, Strategic Climate Action Plan, and Zero Waste of Resources goals and overall climate reduction goals for the County. This is an opportunity to be part of improving institutional changes to better serve the public and provide greater benefits to our community regarding an equitable, socially just, prosperous, and healthy future.

Core Priorities

• Breaking the Cycle: Addressing homelessness, addiction, and incarceration.
• Building More: Expanding housing, child care, transit, and infrastructure.
• Be in Community: Making King County government more visible, connected, and community-driven.
• Better Government: Delivering a government that is more transparent, efficient, and accountable.

Our program has the ability to connect with each of these areas, providing opportunities for creative and innovative projects.

About This Role

This position will help maximize sustainability efforts in our division’s capital project portfolio that will implement green building, resource recovery, climate preparedness, and equity and social justice priorities that will have long lasting benefits for our community as sound investments from our ratepayers.

In addition, we are looking for someone who has experience working with a dynamic project team structure and can collaborate with multiple sections and disciplines. The Solid Waste Division has a capital portfolio of over $500 million that ranges from small renovations to large complex new construction recycling and transfer stations.

This position will work closely with capital project managers, engineers, construction managers, and other team members to design, renovate and construct capital projects with the latest sustainability requirements. The successful candidate will serve as the Sustainability Subject Matter Expertise on Solid Waste Division project teams to assist in achieving sustainability requirements, complete necessary green building reporting, and highlighting achievements.

The Solid Waste Division has resource recovery central to all of the work and services moving forward. This position will be responsible for reviewing project development and approving advancement during gate milestones during the life of the project.

This individual will have a role in advising strategies for high performance in resource recovery, C&D material diversion, energy and water savings, stormwater and site management, sustainable material selection, renewable energy projection, and other sustainable features. The individual will also take part in maintaining standard operation procedures for implementing green building and sustainability measures.

Other tasks include being part of reviewing and developing RFPs, contracts and project specifications, design packages, and construction reports. They will be a member of the division’s Capital Project Review Board where they will keep staff appraised of the latest green building and sustainability requirements.

Some technical assistance duties include but not limited to organizing and facilitating project ecocharrettes, guidance on green building rating systems, providing tutorials on sustainability best practices, and researching appropriate green building strategies that are applicable to projects.

Job Duties

• Provide technical expertise on sustainability and green building strategies for complex capital projects within the Solid Waste Division.
• Recommend and refine project scope, specifications, designs, and deliverables to ensure alignment with King County’s green building, climate, and sustainability requirements.
• Manage data collection and reporting, including overseeing use of the County’s PRISM database, which tracks capital portfolio information and required green building metrics.
• Prepare comprehensive analytical reports and program evaluations to guide capital project managers and engineers in understanding and implementing sustainability expectations.
• Develop program and policy recommendations, including issue papers, to accelerate the integration of sustainable practices in capital projects. Assess current program resources and identify future needs.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• Demonstrated experience (2 years preferred) applying research methods, performing technical analyses, and supporting complex project work.
• Demonstrated experience (2 years preferred) with project management principles and capital project delivery, including contracting, design, construction, operations, standard operating procedures, planning, development, and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience (2 years preferred) working successfully with a variety of partners, stakeholders, and interest groups, including, but not limited to, various county, city, and/or state agencies, organizations, and associations.
• Strong and demonstrated written, verbal, and presentation skills for both small groups and large audiences.
• Experience collaborating effectively as a team member to coordinate and complete shared goals and tasks.
• Experience managing multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.

Competencies You Bring

• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Racially Just: Identify and replace racist systems and structures with anti-racist and pro-equity approaches.
• Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.

It Would Be Great If You Also Bring

• Experience (3 years preferred) in green building rating systems and sustainability efforts.
• Experience (3 years preferred) working with capital projects or facility operations.
• Experience (3 years preferred) with public agency, government or public administration.

Working Conditions

• Work Location: The Recycling and Environmental Services (RES) Section 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.
• 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; Mon – Fri, core hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Teamsters 117 Professional and Technical.

Benefits

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents.
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents.
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred‑compensation plan.
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass.
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays.
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave.
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves.
• Flexible Spending Account.
• Wellness programs.
• Onsite activity centers.
• Employee Giving Program.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position.
• Training and career development programs.

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based on the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

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.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Sonali Sharma at [e-mail].

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation’s best places to live, work and play.