Capital Readiness Program Manager at King County, WA
King County, WA · Seattle, United States Of America · Hybrid
- Professional
- Office in Seattle
About the Department
The Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) is seeking an energetic and motivated Capital Readiness Program Manager candidate for our Capital Readiness Program within the Capital Strategy, Quality, and Standards (SQS) unit.
WTD’s Capital Program has grown significantly over the last 30 years and is expected to nearly triple in size over the next decade to keep pace with population growth, increasing regulatory requirements, and aging infrastructure. Change, growth, innovation, and continuous improvement have always been central to WTD’s culture. As we expand our Capital Program, learning from past experiences, driving innovation, and maximizing efficiency remain core organizational values.
Nearly all WTD projects are mission critical and directly aligned with our mission to protect public health and the environment by collecting and cleaning wastewater while recovering valuable resources for a thriving Puget Sound region. However, near-term demands are outpacing available resources. As responsible stewards of ratepayer funds, our Capital Program is prioritizing efficient deployment of increased staffing, new project delivery methods, and process enhancements. Our current efforts to improve, streamline, and standardize capital delivery processes and have been collectively referred to as ‘Capital Readiness’.
The Capital Readiness Project Manager will drive and innovate efforts to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of capital project delivery. The current team has conducted some foundational work in this area, which the Program Manager will further advance in support of a Capital Readiness Strategic Plan. The Capital Readiness Project Manager will be responsible for the following duties:
Lead the development of the Capital Readiness Strategic Plan and workplan, including establishing a prioritization framework
Develop and socialize policy, process, and tool standardization to address capital delivery challenges
Drive project and program efficiency, shorter project phase cycle times, and equitable outcomes
Establish and manage metrics for benchmarking capital program performance and equity
Collaborate with unit training staff, contribute to, and socialize training programs that support needed capital readiness change and skill development
Desired outcomes of this role are the following:
Clearly defined capital delivery roles and responsibilities
Accountable capital delivery staff who are equipped with the tools needed to succeed in their roles
Seamless project and program transition to Operations and Maintenance (O&M), including increased staff understanding of plant operations and improved O&M satisfaction with capital delivery
This is a hybrid position. Staff will primarily telework but have access to a downtown co-working space and various facilities to participate in trainings and workshops, conduct meetings, and engage colleagues. The frequency of onsite work will depend on business needs. Some mandatory site visits and field work cannot be accessed via public transportation. Candidates will have access to a county vehicle or can be reimbursed if using their personal vehicle. Candidates will be issued a laptop, a regional transit pass, and a stipend for work boots and personal protective equipment PPE.
About the Team:
WTD is the employer of choice for passionate multi-disciplinary professionals dedicated to ensuring clean water in the Puget Sound for generations to come. With over 950 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is a leader in environmental stewardship. Success for us means honoring our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment.
We partner with regulatory agencies to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that services over 2.3 million King County residents. Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment, but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region. If you thrive in a collaborative environment and want to make a difference, join us in furthering our mission to safeguard our precious water resources.
The SQS Unit, within the Project Planning and Delivery section of WTD, is dedicated to maximizing capital delivery efficiency, equity, and quality through strategic planning, standardization, workforce development, and partnering with Operations and Maintenance. Our team embraces a culture of collaboration, innovation, and service to the agency. We pride ourselves on our professional ethics and finding solutions for tough problems.
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 Capital Optimization Project Manager, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.
Apply now for a rewarding career at the [Wastewater Treatment Division] of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.
Position Duties
What You Will Be Doing:
Conduct strategic planning, root cause analyses, and process mapping; develop clear visual graphics to report findings and trends
Develop and manage work plans, set priorities, and formulate strategies to ensure quality and standards in capital delivery; seek guidance and approval on specific items and efforts
Implement a structured change management approach; communicate changes with clarity and transparency
Standardize policies, processes, and procedures for projects and across programs
Partner with the training team, influence training program design, and ensure capital delivery staff are equipped with necessary tools to successfully adopt changes.
Lead through influence by adapting to diverse audiences, inspiring others, building trust and credibility, fostering collaboration and teamwork, and a strong focus on achieving outcomes.
Contribute to various unit initiatives including conducting contracting equity and outreach, streamlining permitting, and identifying projects for collaborative delivery.
Minimum Qualifications
Qualifications You Bring:
5 years or more of experience in process improvement and change management, including developing frameworks for standardization or similar systems.
- 1-3 years of experience in capital project management, capital programs implementation, or a closely related role.
Working knowledge of project management processes and principles, including familiarity with the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including experience preparing presentations, facilitating workshops and trainings, writing reports and memos, and conducting program evaluations.
Proven ability to work effectively with diverse project stakeholders, including senior management, multi-disciplinary staff, and consultants.
Skilled in conflict resolution, negotiation, and emotional self-awareness.
Demonstrated proficiency with data analytics software and tools to effectively gather, analyze, manipulate, summarize, and visualize data, including Microsoft Office suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel), SharePoint, and database management systems.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with wastewater utilities, public works, infrastructure, design, construction, project control systems, mechanical systems, and/or asset replacement or equivalent.
Competencies You Bring:
Action Oriented - Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
Cultivates Innovation - Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
Manages Complexity - Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
Strategic Mindset - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
Other Qualifications
Working Conditions:
- Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically 1-3 days weekly. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104) and treatment plant facilities. This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work.
- Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
- Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
- Union Representation: This position is represented by the TEA (Technical Employee Association)
- This recruitment aims to fill a Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) position with an anticipated duration of up to 5 years. If the position is filled by a King County employee who has successfully completed their initial probation, they will be offered the role as a Special Duty Assignment.
Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.
Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.
To apply, submit a:
- Complete Application
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.
Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Mark Workinger at [email protected]
Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and our WTD Blog.
Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. 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.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. 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.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
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