Job Description

SUMMARY:

In order to hire and maintain a quality workforce that reflects the diversity of the community and works well within our True North values-based organization, the Department of Local Services (DLS) is accepting applications for the position of Principal Subarea Planner (PPM IV).

The Principal Subarea Planner works under the supervision of the Strategic Planning Manager in the Director’s Office of the Department of Local Services. The position coordinates closely with the Permitting Division and the County’s Office of Regional Planning. It also works constructively with other departments, the King County Council, the Office of the King County Executive, and other jurisdictions.

The Principal Subarea Planner collaborates with the public and subject matter experts to generate ideas, perform research and analysis, and develop recommendations, reports, plans, and other products. The Principal Subarea Planner has higher-level career experience leading and working on high-profile, time-sensitive, politically charged, and/or innovative land use policies and projects.

The successful applicant must have proven experience working with community members to craft forward-thinking land use policies and codes for both urban and rural communities, as well as a demonstrated record of working with Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color communities plus other historically under-represented communities to develop plans that reflect their long-term goals and objectives in a meaningful way. The successful applicant will also a have a demonstrated record of communicating complex land use topics and an understanding of the range of service delivery models used by governments across the urban to rural spectrum.

This position requires evening and weekend meetings and presentations to the public, legislative bodies, hearing bodies, and other agencies. Additionally, this role requires coordination with department staff to facilitate code reviews and analysis, craft text, and plan for and monitor legislative actions.

JOB DUTIES:

Applying equity, racial, and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity, racial, and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

• Implement the County’s subarea planning program for unincorporated areas; review, analyze, and continually refine and improve subarea planning processes.
• Keep abreast of land use activities, trends, and key issues in the unincorporated areas.
• Coordinate closely with the Office of Regional Planning and the Permitting Division.
• Collaboratively conduct research and analyses based upon demographic, financial, and/or geographic information system data.
• Author documents or portions of documents that are clear, accurate, and economical.
• Work with Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color communities plus other historically under-represented communities to develop plans that reflect the long-term goals and objectives of those communities in a meaningful way.
• Manage individual work time to meet deadlines and accommodate a fluctuating workload.
• Serve as a technical resource for others in the organization about subarea planning generally and the content of specific plans.
• Develop or assist in developing code and plan amendments that bring greater relevance or improve departmental processes or systems; support ad hoc long-range planning assignments.
• Work with department staff to craft and review new or amended legislation for codes, ordinances, policies, reports, and documents.
• Work with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and County Council staff to help resolve legal issues and questions that arise from proposed legislation.
• Help ensure compliance and consistency between the policies in the Comprehensive Plan and regulations in related documents; assist with Comprehensive Plan updates as directed.
• As assigned by the Director, provide staff support to interdepartmental or interjurisdictional teams; provide staff support to community outreach efforts.
• Work cooperatively with others in the department or in other agencies to resolve project- and process-related issues.
• Exhibit and support a culture of superior customer service.
• Communicate on the job in ways that reflect well upon King County, the County Executive, the department, and the incumbent.
• Scrupulously honor commitments made to customers and others.
• Respond to inquiries from county residents.
• Other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:

 Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, urban studies, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience developing long-range plans and completing complex, high-profile, and/or time-sensitive projects.
• Experience developing, writing, amending, interpreting, and recommending building and land use regulations and documents concerning urban, rural, and resource issues.
• Experience working in an organization or agency dealing with complex rural and urban issues, sophisticated regional initiatives, and diverse interjurisdictional relationships.
• Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans.
• Extensive experience and familiarity with the Washington State Growth Management Act, the Washington Shorelines Act, and the State Environmental Policy Act.
• Strong familiarity with land use legal theory and principles; ability to identify legal issues, impacts and risks; knowing when to reach out to legal or other professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships and partnerships across boundaries and with different interests.
• Advanced experience in making presentations to legislative bodies, jurisdictional partners, and the public.
• Experience advocating recommendations or positions to elected officials.
• Superior technical and non-technical writing skills; advanced skill in adjusting written communication for varying audiences.
• Clear and effective communication skills: ability to listen, provide feedback, and negotiate outcomes as needed; ability to provide accurate and concise oral presentations.
• Experience using common desktop tools, including the Microsoft Office of applications to perform job duties.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in planning or a related field.
• Professional long-range planning experience in both a rural and urban context.
• Experience drafting legislation.
• Knowledge of the King County government, its mandates and functions, and familiarity with the regional and local policy issues and challenges that affect King County.
• American Institute of Certified Planners accreditation.
• Proficiency in a second language.
• Experience using geographic information systems.

Necessary Special Requirements:

• Must have a valid Washington State driver’s license and the ability to operate a motor vehicle safely throughout the County.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to interview the week of October 16, 2023.

Second interviews will be held the week of October 23, 2023.

If you are selected as a finalist, you will be invited to come back the week of October 30, 2023, for a third and final interview.

This recruitment may be used to fill vacancies for up to 6 months. Including career service, special duty assignments, STT and TLT opportunities.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all qualified applicants.

Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. The position is paid on a bi-weekly schedule, every other Thursday. The 40-hour work week is normally Monday through Friday. The position will be required to attend evening meetings with extended and/or flex scheduled work hours to respond to service needs.

Forms and Materials: A completed King County Application is required. A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your background and describing how you meet or exceed the required qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experience listed in this job announcement is also required.

Selection Process: Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Interviews will be conducted via Teams. Reference checks and file reviews will be conducted.

Union Membership: Non-Represented.

Teleworking Requirement: 

The work associated with this position will be performed through a hybrid work schedule of teleworking, onsite work, and meetings as needed.

Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department’s hybrid environment.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Vivienne Swai
Human Resources Analyst
206-477-1538


vs***@ki********.gov

Forbes recently 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.

About the Department of Local Services:
King County is the local service provider for the roughly one quarter-million people who live in the unincorporated areas of the county; collectively, these communities would be the second largest city in the state. The Department of Local Services includes a Director’s Office, and the Road Services and Permitting Divisions. Together, this department provides a single executive point of accountability for delivering local services to the unincorporated areas.

King County commitment to equity and social justice:
As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King Jr, one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation’s history, King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. Together, we’re changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.

King County employees provide more than 2 million residents with essential services that make this one of the nation’s best places to live, work, play, and raise a family. We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking, and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all our residents, regardless of their race or income.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 100,000 and above.

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