Environmental and Community Services Section Manager

Environmental and Community Services Section Manager Summary

This is a Special Duty Assignment for approximately 4 to 6 months and is open only to current King County employees. The section manager provides high-level guidance and manages the daily operations of the Wastewater Environmental and Community Services (ECSS) Section within the King County Wastewater Treatment Division. The position reports to the division director and is an active participant in the Division Leadership Team.

The ECSS Section supports over 110 employees and handles capital program management, education and engagement, and the pretreatment program. The section is organized into five units:
Industrial Waste, Regulatory Compliance and Land Acquisition, Environmental Planning, Community Services, and Education and Engagement. The section also coordinates King County’s participation in CERCLA (Superfund) clean-up work and provides equitable and inclusive services throughout the county.

• Manage the daily operations of section programs, providing technical assistance to staff and internal and external clients.
• Lead business teams in developing and fulfilling annual business plans, aligning programs with division and department priorities.
• Oversee and coordinate analyses and implementation of new and expanding regulatory mandates; work collaboratively with government and regulatory agencies to address environmental policies and issues.
• Provide high-level technical expertise and manage applicable operations and processes to meet regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Conduct complex negotiations and manage environmental cleanup work programs in partnership with public and private entities and with federal oversight.
• Manage grantmaking programs, associated budget development, public education programs, and the Christie True Environmental Education Center and City Soil Farm.
• Manage unit managers and program supervisors, and oversee hiring, performance, training, coaching, and discipline for section staff.
• Provide management support, problem-solving, and conflict resolution to collective bargaining and labor relations processes; administer collective bargaining agreements.
• Lead strategic planning processes and decision-making that can significantly impact wastewater operations or capital investments; develop a long-range vision for water quality improvements and site-specific treatment.
• Develop and monitor program policies and procedures, recommending changes to division/department leadership.

• Politically savvy with managerial courage and strong conflict management and collaboration skills.
• Organizationally agile to manage multiple complex programs and projects and understand the organization culture.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of applicable disciplines (environmental planning and/or engineering, biology, chemistry, microbiology, energy, industrial waste, real property, community relations, etc.).
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements such as NEPA/SEPA, DOE, ESA, OSHA/WISHA, Washington State Department of Health and Ecology permits and accreditation requirements.
• Knowledge of operating and capital budgeting procedures and processes.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision, leadership, and human resources management.
• Knowledge of marketing and communications principles and practices.
• Knowledge of public administration principles and practices (public finance, policy analysis, organization, contract management).
• Knowledge of wastewater operations, capital project delivery, and environmental compliance management.
• Knowledge of customer service and continuous quality improvement practices.
• Critical thinking and strategic planning skills.
• Experience managing programs, ensuring deliverables, and communicating results.
• Experience in managing programs and budgets for capital and operating programs; policy implementation and governance.
• Experience in labor-management partnership, dispute resolution, and team consensus building.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse workforce and community population.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Diplomatic communication on sensitive…