SummaryJOB SUMMARY:  King County’s Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) is seeking a Land Conservation Initiative (LCI) Program Manager (PM). The LCI is a regional collaboration between King County, cities, business people, farmers, environmental partners and others that has created a strategy to preserve our last, most important natural lands and urban green spaces in 30 years. It is a key feature of the King County executive’s Clean Water, Healthy Habitat initiative.

The ideal candidate will be a results-oriented individual who understands how to work effectively across a complex organization and with diverse external partners to strengthen implementation of a major regional conservation initiative that relies on partnerships with cities and the private sector, and that has an increased emphasis on equity and public health. The PM will embody the shared values of equity and social justice, internal and external collaboration, innovative thinking, and continuous improvement.

The LCI PM is located within the Acquisitions Unit of WLRD’s Rural and Regional Services and works closely as part of a team across WLRD, DNRP’s Director’s Office, and the Parks and Recreation Division.

DURATION:  This term-limited temporary or special duty assignment is approved through February 28, 2021 (18 months).

WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified applicants.

King County values diverse perspectives, life experiences and differences. The Water and Land Resources Division encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans. We are committed to being equitable and fair in providing equal access to opportunities for all.

REQUIRED MATERIALS TO APPLY:  Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.

• King County application
• Resume
• Cover Letter detailing your background and describing how your education and experience meeting the qualifications and has prepared you to perform the essential functions of the job (please limit to no more than two pages)

WORK SCHEDULE: This term-limited temporary or special duty assignment position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. This position is a 40-hour work week, Monday through Friday. This position may be required to work extended and/or flex scheduled work hours to respond to service needs.

Job DutiesOverall Project Management and Coordination

• Serve as a core team member of the Executive’s Land Conservation Initiative that is being led by the Department of Natural Resource and Parks.
• Support the Parks and WLR Divisions in developing land acquisitions consistent with LCI priorities, including easement and fee acquisitions, countywide geographic coverage, pursuit of grant dollars from bonds as well as annual funding, addressing open space access and geographic disparities related to equity, and generally accelerating the rate of acquisition.
• Serve as a lead point of contact for coordinating among various county departments and work groups with projects/programs around the LCI.
• Strengthen equity practices and actions initiated by the Open Space Equity Cabinet.
• Build on regional public and private partnerships to accelerate implementation and secure additional financing.
• Lead and staff regular internal LCI team meetings.

Internal Coordination

• Coordinate with and maintain clear lines of communication with Parks, WLRD and DO staff leading related programs to ensure linkage and consistency with LCI, such as: the Forest Carbon Program, Million Trees Initiative, the Forest Action Plan, targeted forest acquisition in Southeast King County, Parks equity grants, etc.
• Coordinate efforts to link LCI with equity and health initiatives in close collaboration with Parks, Public Health, the Department of Community and Health Service and Communities of Opportunity program.
• Advance open space equity work, including implementation of the Open Space Equity Cabinet report recommendations. For example, coordinate closely with grant managers on changes to the grant process to more effectively engage communities in historically underserved neighborhoods.
• Collaborate with WLRD and Parks to create standard processes and protocols for an evolving program in coordination with the CFT program manager and division leadership.
• Lead effort to develop metrics that assess and communicate progress in achieving LCI goals.

External Coordination

• Lead development of an external campaign to build a brand in order to sustain the LCI as a regional endeavor over 30 years, including commitment pledges from cities and the private sector.
• Maintain communication with the LCI Advisory Group, cities, and key partners to provide updates about the work, seek advice on key issues, and build support for implementation and funding.
• Assist the CFT Grant Program Manager in communicating with and supporting cities in learning about match waiver opportunities, applying for CFT, and seeking other funds after acquisition for programmatic work and community engagement
• Lead efforts to identify sources of private revenue and external partnerships to help implement the LCI in partnership and coordination with other DNRP programs (e.g., the Trade Development Rights (TDR) program and the Mitigation fee-in-lieu program) and others working on finding private revenue and/or leverage private/non-profit partnerships (e.g., Forest Carbon program).

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills   The most competitive candidates will have:

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, policy, planning, ecology, natural resources management, public administration, or closely related field OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of open space and land conservation programs.
• Familiarity with conservation financing strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to engage elected officials, governmental agencies, and community and corporate leaders in supporting and implementing land conservation programs.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage a complex work program, including coordination of multiple projects and tasks with differing timelines.
• Ability to build and lead effective teams.
• Ability to create a learning environment where work products and processes are adapted and improved to be more effective and efficient.
• Ability to work collaboratively and with cultural competency to understand different perspectives, incorporate suggestions, and experiment regarding the best approach to achieve desired outcomes.
• Skill in working across various levels of staff and with various departments to research, troubleshoot and resolve issues.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills and the ability to communicate diplomatically on sensitive issues.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Familiarity with King County (or equivalent), state and/or federal polices, regulations and principles associated with the Land Conservation Initiative.
• Comprehensive knowledge of broad land conservation issues and how to build equity into such efforts.

Supplemental InformationNECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• A valid Washington State Driver’s License is required and the willingness to travel throughout King County, adjacent counties, and other travel destinations in a timely manner.

SELECTION PROCESS: Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in the selection process, including one or more panel interviews. Reference checks will also be conducted before the final offer of employment.

Union Membership:  This position is not represented by a union.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Pamela Johnson
Human Resource Manager
Email: Pamela.Johnson@kingcounty.gov
Phone: 206-477-4717