About The Role:

These two positions are for three-years duration and will serve as senior wastewater utility planners in the comprehensive sewer system planning program. The comprehensive sewer system planning program is working to update King County's Regional Wastewater Service Plan (RWSP), which is the long-term plan for the regional wastewater system. The program team works with other sections of the agency, component sewer agencies, King County Council committees and staff, other governments, environmental groups, regulators, and the public. The comprehensive sewer system planning program is responsible for assessing long-term strategic options for capital investments in the regional sewer system and delivering a plan that meets legal requirements and has sufficient political support for adoption. Some of the key issues to be addressed by this planning process include population growth, climate change, aging assets, resource recovery, potential future regulatory requirements, and sewer rate affordability given increasing investment needs. These positions will work as part of a team at the senior level under a program manager to develop and lead decision making processes, develop technical information, and develop necessary documentation for decision making and to comply with regulatory requirements. These positions will also provide project guidance and work item support to mid-level staff within related programs.

This position performs work remotely and onsite.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Lead or assist in the updating of various technical and policy components of WTD's comprehensive sewer plan, the Regional Wastewater Service Plan.
• Coordinate and develop policy analyses and technical studies of various aspects of the regional system to assess potential strategic approaches to address multiple challenges and opportunities.
• Coordinate, develop, execute, and/or assist with various types of planning processes, decision making roadmaps, technical, costing, and policy analyses, such as treatment options, conveyance options, benefit/costs analysis, literature reviews, sustainability analyses, and data statistical analyses to evaluate technical concepts, recommend policies and decisions for various planning programs to inform decision making processes.
• Coordinate with other units within WTD to consider the nexus and context of other system needs, opportunities, and priorities as they relate to various planning programs.
• Coordinate communication about the planning process with communications specialists and consultants, and engage with multiple interested parties, regulators, component sewer agency staff, tribes, and others.
• Incorporate principles of sustainability and equity, as described in the County's Strategic Climate Action Plan and Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan, into the update of the comprehensive sewer plan.
• Lead and prepare written reports, memos, and other documents necessary to support various planning programs and inform decision making processes.

Qualifications You Must Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in planning, engineering, environmental science, communications, or closely related field OR the equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience leading planning, environmental review, and/or policy analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for conveying technical information to a wide variety of expert and non-expert audiences, such as the general public, stakeholder groups, other sewer utilities, agency leadership, and elected representatives.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of project management, contract management, team management, and planning techniques, principles, and practices to develop plans and solutions for complex projects.
• Experience working independently with minimal guidance where there may be ambiguity and established procedures and policies may not exist and must be developed to craft solutions and pathways leading to recommendations.
• Demonstrated skill in adapting to changing priorities, needs, and direction.

It Would Be Great If You Also Bring:

• Knowledge of wastewater conveyance and treatment methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of environmental regulations, such as federal Clean Water Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).