Lakes Program Supervisor

• King County Wastewater Treatment Division, WA
• Seattle, Washington United States

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Water Quality Planner/Project Manager IV positions throughout the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next six (6) months.

Are you an experienced environmental scientist who is equally passionate about developing people and advancing science? King County is seeking a collaborative leader to oversee one of the nation's most respected freshwater lake monitoring programs. In this role, you'll lead a team of scientists conducting research and monitoring that directly informs environmental policy, public health, and the protection of some of the Pacific Northwest's most iconic lakes.

If you're excited about combining technical expertise with people leadership to make a lasting impact on our region, we'd love to hear from you.

As the Lakes Program Supervisor, you will lead King County's long-term water quality monitoring program for Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, and Lake Union while supervising a team of approximately 4-6 environmental scientists. You'll provide strategic direction for scientific studies, oversee daily program operations, mentor and develop staff, and ensure the collection and analysis of high-quality environmental data.

This role combines scientific leadership with people management. You'll guide the design of monitoring programs and applied research, support data-driven decision making, and collaborate with regional partners—including Public Health, the Wastewater Treatment Division, the University of Washington, and other scientific organizations—to better understand and protect our freshwater ecosystems. Your work will help shape environmental policy, improve public health, and ensure King County's lakes remain healthy for future generations.

The Science Section provides the scientific foundation that helps King County protect water quality, restore habitat, and make informed environmental decisions. Our team leads applied research, manages long-term environmental monitoring programs, delivers technical expertise, and supports evidence-based policies that benefit people, salmon, and orca.

We value scientific excellence, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. Our work influences major public investments and regional environmental initiatives while advancing equity and environmental justice. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives strengthen our science and improve outcomes for the communities we serve.

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 Lakes Program Supervisor (Water Quality Planner/Project Manager IV), you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work.

Learn more about our commitment at http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). .

What You Will Be Doing:

• Supervision - including staffing, assigning work, managing workplans and performance, supporting staff to consider equitable outcomes in their work, performance appraisals, recruitments, onboarding and training. Teach, lead and coach a team of 4-6.
• Lead the Large Lakes program - develop and manage long‑term scientific monitoring programs and special studies. Develop and implement sampling protocols; work with field crews and contractors to implement monitoring plans and studies. Perform time‑series and trend analysis, develop multivariate statistical models, nutrient and/or hydrodynamic modeling, and interpret, translate, and apply findings; build and follow data management systems to ensure our findings are open and reproducible.
• Expert level scientific consultation & research – design and implement applied research and analyses to detect and diagnose changes in the…