Climate Preparedness Collaborative Project Manager

This posting is open to all qualified candidates
This position is currently funded through December 2027 with the possibility of extension based on continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs

As part of King County’s commitment to regional partnership on climate action, the County serves as organizational host and co-chair of the Puget Sound Climate Preparedness Collaborative, a network of more than 30 local and county governments, Tribes, regional agencies, and other organizations working to build community, economic, and environmental resilience to climate change.

In 2024, the Collaborative was awarded a Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC) grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to expand climate adaptation learning, collaboration, and technical support opportunities for Puget Sound jurisdictions and Tribes. Activities supported by the grant include a new Small Communities Cohort Program designed to support climate preparedness projects in 12 small and less-resourced jurisdictions and Tribes in the Puget Sound region; developing Tribal and community engagement learning series; working with state and local governments to build stronger regional alignment in climate preparedness work; and building local and regional capacity for climate preparedness through Collaborative engagement activities and development of technical resources.

About the Role:

The Collaborative Project Manager is responsible for working with King County’s Climate Preparedness Manager and grant-funded staff to successfully implement the Collaborative’s CRRC grant. The Collaborative Project Manager position provides a unique opportunity to work with climate adaptation practitioners across the Puget Sound region on building local and regional capacity for climate preparedness, and to grow the Collaborative’s role as a leading resource for climate preparedness learning and practice. The role also provides an opportunity to mentor early career staff working on the grant. This full-time position is currently funded through December 2027 with the possibility of extension based on continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs. The position will report to the Climate Preparedness Manager within the DNRP Director’s Office.

About the Department:

The Collaborative Project Manager position is based in the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Director’s Office and is a member of the County’s Climate Preparedness Team. The Climate Preparedness Team works across agency, jurisdictional, and subject matter boundaries to reduce climate impacts and increase community and organizational resilience. In addition to running the Collaborative, the team is actively working on issues related sea level rise, wildfire risk reduction, extreme heat mitigation, flooding, and integrating climate change into county policies and practices.

The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks supports sustainable and livable communities and a clean and healthy natural environment. Our mission is to foster environmental stewardship and strengthen communities by providing regional parks, protecting the region's water, air, land, and natural habitats, and reducing, safely disposing of, and creating resources from wastewater and solid waste. The Department is comprised of the Director’s Office, which provides direction and support for its four divisions: Parks and Recreation, Solid Waste, Wastewater Treatment, and Water and Land Resources.

Discover More About the Division: Check us out atFacebook,X (formerly Twitter),Instagram, andYouTube

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 the Deputy Division Director, 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 Director's Office and join a group oftalented workers in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training,comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

What you will be doing:

• Grant Management– Ensure that grant activities are being completed on time, preparation of grant progress and performance measure reports, grant budget tracking and management, and shared supervision of four full-time Fellows and two part-time interns. Plan, organize, and facilitate the Collaborative Steering Committee, which is charged with guiding grant objectives, activities, and outcomes.
• Manage and Support Implementation of Small Communities Cohort Program (SCCP)- Provide oversight and guidance on implementation of the Small Communities Cohort Program. This includes meeting regularly with the SCCP Fellows to support and guide preparation of community deliverables, review and editing of deliverables, overseeing subcontracting for technical services, and participating in SCCP calls and activities as needed.
• Manage and Support Development of Tribal and Communities Learning Series -Manage andprovide leadership in the developmentof the Climate and Communities Learning Series (CCLS)and the Tribal Partnership Learning Series (TPLS). This includesshared supervision of two part-time internsto be hired for the series,working withengagement consultantsto plan and implement the series, collaborating with tribalpartners, andassistingin hosting the TPLS and CELSseries.
• Develop and Implement Collaborative Climate Engagement Activities- Develop and implement work plans for the Collaborative to ensure programming and technical resources address community needs identified through engagement. Organize and facilitate calls, webinars, and convenings to support peer-to-peer learning, capacity building, and cross-jurisdictional collaboration on climate preparedness needs and interests. Evaluate and report on the efficacy of the Collaborative work plan and engagement activities through methods such as post-event surveys, online surveys, and website analytics.
• Build Cross-Jurisdictional Partnerships and Alignment- Assist in planning and hosting multi-stakeholder workshops intended to identify opportunities for building consistency between federal, state, Tribal, and local government climate preparedness goals and outcomes. Work with consultants to summarize climate preparedness priorities in Puget Sound jurisdictions and Tribes and to identify regional trends in preparedness work.
  

Qualifications you bring:

• Direct experience with climate adaptation planning, community resilience, and/or environmental management
• Experience developing, implementing, and tracking project workplans
• Experience with organizing and facilitating discussions in virtual meetings, webinars, workshops, and other collaborative processes
• Experience leading or working on teams with a shared set of goals and project responsibilities
• Demonstrated success building collaborative partnerships and working with diverse communities
• Strong systems thinking and organizational skills
• Creativity and ability to operate with ambiguity

Competencies you bring:

Customer Focus:Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions
Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies
Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
Develops Talent: Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals
Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives

It would be great if you also bring:

• Experience with grant management such as developing and implementing work plans, managing budgets, and reporting to regulatory agencies
• Experience in framing climate topics in a manner relevant to a variety of audiences, including community members and decision makers
• Experience leading teams and supervising staff to solve complex challenges
• Demonstrated ability to research and provide recommendations on complex issues using analysis, experience, and judgement

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: The communications team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs. The primary onsite location is the collaboration space at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection oftools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• Work Schedule:This full-time position works a 40-hour work week.This position is not exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible
• Union Representation:This position is not represented

Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment: (subject to change)

Technical Vetting: 2nd week of June 2026
Interview: Mid-June 2026

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all internal King County employees. 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
• Supplemental question

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

Who to Contact:For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Dan Sherman at dasherman@kingcounty.gov

Visit our website and check us out at Facebook(formerly Twitter),Instagram,YouTube.

Sign up for JobAlerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select theNatural Resourcescategory 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 "TrueNorth", weare 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.