River and Floodplain Management Section Manager

Summary

Join Our Team to Enhance River and Floodplain Management in the Heart of Puget Sound!

Become part of a diverse and collaborative King County team of over 40 professionals dedicated to restoring rivers and reducing flood risks across six watersheds. We are committed to building a resilient future for over 2 million residents.

Here at Water and Land Resources, we are looking for a visionary leader to join our River and Floodplain Management team. This role oversees hazard mapping, flood warning systems, home buyouts and elevations, policy development, regulatory compliance, education and outreach, planning for repair and replacement of flood risk reduction facilities and river restoration projects, and the maintenance and repair of flood risk reduction facilities.

You’ll work alongside a talented and mission-driven team, developing creative strategies and guiding efforts for integrated floodplain management.

Are you ready to:

• Empower a dedicated team of scientists, engineers, planners, and project managers?
• Advance projects that balance flood risk reduction, habitat restoration, and community benefits such as working agriculture and recreation?
• Shape the future of our region’s waterways with a focus on equity and resilience?

Apply now and help build the future of our rivers!

About the Role:
This is a unique opportunity to lead and support the River and Floodplain Management Section (RFMS) . The leader in this role will inspire and guide talented professionals while fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment. You'll drive strategic priorities, ensure successful program outcomes, and champion a regional approach to integrated floodplain management. You'll also collaborate with various partners to make a lasting impact on our community while growing your leadership skills. The RFMS manager also is a member of WLRD’s management team which seeks to integrate a portfolio of watershed services across more than a dozen programs that protect and restore the region’s water and land by using the best available science and innovation and collaboration with our partners and the community.

About the Team:
The River and Floodplain Management Section is comprised of more than 40 highly skilled program/project managers, communicators, planners, geomorphologists, engineers, administrators, and environmental scientists. T he team is responsible for carrying out programs that reduce flood risk, facilitate flood preparedness, and protect public health and safety. In conjunction with the Water and Land Resources Division's (WLRD) Capital Section, RFMS helps design and build multi-benefit projects that reduce flood risk, restore habitat, and achieve other regional benefits where possible such as recreation and protection of agriculture. RFMS also fields a maintenance team that stewards facilities and properties to reduce flood risk and improve resilience along King County's major rivers and tributaries.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
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 River and Floodplain Management Section 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 Water and Land Resources 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.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Provide leadership to a team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, planners, communicators, and administrators in carrying out the program’s mission.
• Foster a collaborative, supportive, inclusive, and diverse culture for the section.
• Oversee development of section priorities to inform budget development, staff allocation, and implementation of work programs. Monitor progress, budgets, and schedules to ensure successful outcomes.
• Collaborate with other WLRD programs, such as capital delivery, stormwater, and land conservation, as well as pertinent county department and division leaders, to increase program impact.
• Collaborate with cities, tribes, non-governmental organizations, and other external partners to implement a regional approach to integrated floodplain management that incorporates climate resiliency and equity.
• Coordinate with the Flood Control District to deliver the District’s workplan as service provider to the District.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• A graduate degree or equivalent work experience in civil or environmental engineering, water resources, aquatic ecology, environmental science, regional planning, natural resource management, public or business administration, or related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible management experience in public or private sector supervising multi-disciplinary policy and technical staff.
• Demonstrated commitment to public service and equity.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and successfully implement projects and programs that address complex environmental management problems across diverse landscapes and with multiple interests.
• Experience developing and leading teams with proficiencies in human resource management and professional development; includes skills to coach staff, manage interpersonal conflict, and hold staff to account.
• Demonstrated skill in organizational positioning and customer relations, including developing and maintaining working relationships with other agencies, tribes, jurisdictions, residents, and businesses.

Competencies You Bring:

• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Builds Effective Teams: Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Courage: Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
• Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
  
  

It Would Be Nice if You Also Bring:

• Master's degree in natural resources or related field.
• Familiarity with capital projects and portfolio management.
• Experience with applying the principles of Integrated Floodplain Management and achieving multi-benefit outcomes.
• Experience with federal, state and local regulatory requirements related to environmental and water resource management (e.g., National Flood Insurance Program, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Endangered Species Act, and the State Environmental Policy Act, etc.) as well as the agencies that administer them.
• Experience working with Tribes and responsibilities associated with government-to-government consultation.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically once per week. 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). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work.

• Remote Work Location 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 not represented by a union.

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 (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume (Your resume should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Cover Letter (Your cover letter should detail your background and what you can bring to this position and will be used in the screening process)

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Jamie Jensen-Young at 206-263-8779 or jjensenyoung@kingcounty.gov.

Discover More About the Water and Land Resources Division: Visit our website .

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 .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

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.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 1/5/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• King County Water and Land Resources Division

• 206-477-4800

Show more