Project/Program Manager III – White and Sammamish River Basins


River and Floodplain Management Section
$88,937-$112,732
Job Description
Summary
WHO MAY APPLY:
This position is open to all King County employees and the general public.
Job Summary
This position, located in the River and Floodplain Management Section within the Water and Land Resources Division, will involve a combination of planning, management, analysis, permit support, coordination and outreach with diverse groups in support of development and implementation of complex capital projects. This position will also support basin-wide programmatic activities such as real estate acquisition, flood facility management, maintenance and repair. The successful candidate will be responsible for management of complex programs and projects using independent judgment with limited supervision. Responsibilities also include supporting the coordination and project management of the King County Flood Control District’s (District's) work program for the basin, based on the actions described in the 2013 King County Flood Hazard Management Plan Update and in the 6-year Capital Improvement Project (CIP) plan for the District.
Job Duties
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. You will also:
- As an integral member of multi-disciplinary teams, implement flood risk reduction project and program recommendations identified in the District's 6-year Capital Improvement Project list.
- Build relationships through effective communication and outreach efforts for the White River and Sammamish River basin teams, as well as for the Cedar River basin team as needed. Lead development of stakeholder, public and tribal outreach planning and activities.
- Conduct citizen and landowner contact, communication and outreach to facilitate project implementation serving as a liaison between technical staff and property owners.
- Coordinate with internal King County staff from other watershed programs (e.g., salmon recovery, agriculture, stewardship) and associated regional projects to work collaboratively on river and floodplain management projects and address technical issues.
- Lead and/or participate in all phases of capital project planning and management according to WLRD Project Management Manual. Implement work program items, including flood risk assessment, levee conditions assessment, planning, policy development and coordination.
- Develop and oversee consultant contracts to support capital and programmatic projects related to actions underway in the basin.
- Manage capital and programmatic projects, including managing budgets and schedules and overseeing the work of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Review data, reports and technical documents and prepare and present summary information to technical staff, elected officials, management, and the public.
- Participate in development of planning and technical products such as evaluation of alternatives for capital projects and program initiatives to support recommendations.
- Participate in flood warning and emergency response programs and activities, including Flood Warning Center, flood patrols, and post-flood inspections.
- Coordinate with municipalities and federal and state agencies on projects and programs.
- Develop and manage state and federal grants for flood disaster recovery, flood hazard reduction projects and other floodplain enhancement projects. Track progress reporting and invoicing related to inter local agreements with municipalities.
- Conduct research and analysis to develop policies, strategies, issue papers and recommendations in collaboration with regional partners and stakeholders.
- Support budget development consistent with work program priorities and projects.
Qualifications
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Minimum Qualifications
- Effective communication skills: Ability to listen. Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences in writing, orally or visually. Experience communicating technical and policy issues related to floodplain management with varied levels of staff, consultants, business and professional groups, landowners, and the general public.
- Ability to work collaboratively and build consensus with diverse interests, including elected officials, citizens, and representatives of other county, city, state and federal agencies and tribes.
- Ability to deal tactfully, patiently and courteously with diverse groups of individuals (often with opposing perspectives), including government officials, the public, community groups, and organizational colleagues.
- Knowledge and understanding of King County (or equivalent), state & federal flood hazard codes, regulations and principles, and familiarity with associated disaster preparedness, mitigation and recovery programs through political and organizational savvy.
- Strategic mindset and broad perspectives during planning, permitting and implementation of flood hazard reduction capital projects and programs.
- Familiarity with broad water and land resource issues that affect river and floodplain management actions including watershed planning, water quantity and quality, water rights, Tribal treaty rights, and the Endangered Species Act.
- Demonstrated success utilizing project management skills, including developing scope, schedule and budget, overseeing the work of staff and managing projects through completion.
- Ability to grasp issues quickly and respond to and manage changing priorities.
- Strong facilitation skills with demonstrated ability to plan and facilitate meetings, including public meetings.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative and judgment within the scope of the position, with minimal oversight.
- Ability to effectively plan, organize, prioritize work on a daily basis.
- Ability to work on multiple tasks accurately and quickly in a high pressure/short deadline environment.
Preferred Skills
Competitive candidates will have the following:
- Bachelor's degree OR any equivalent education/experience in environmental science, natural resource management, urban/regional planning, communications, public administration or related fields.
- At least six years of increasingly responsible program and project management experience relevant to this position.
- At least three years of experience working in complex, multi-party project management, natural resource planning efforts with a demonstrated knowledge of interjurisdictional governance.
- Knowledge and experience working in the White and Sammamish river basins.
- An understanding of the separate roles and responsibilities of King County departments in the provision of floodplain management and flood hazard reduction services.
- Knowledge of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) as applied to the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
- Knowledge of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulatory program, including Section 408.
- Knowledge of the methods and techniques utilized in the production and presentation of written and graphic material.
- Knowledge and experience managing multi-objective programmatic and capital projects involving a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience and knowledge of the salmon habitat recovery planning efforts in King County and other land use issues.
Desirable Qualifications
Benefits
Competitive Benefits
https://kingcounty.gov/audience/employees/benefits.aspx
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Necessary Special Requirements: A valid Washington State Driver's License and the ability to travel throughout the County in a timely manner. This position requires the ability to conduct occasional physical site inspections and evaluation. There is an intermittent need to walk on uneven terrain for limited periods of time. Field conditions include brushy, forested environments; river, stream and wetland corridors; and slippery, uneven surfaces and dynamic conditions in the outdoors.