Principal Planner

Salary


$139,552.19 - $176,890.48 Annually

Location


King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA

Job Type

Career Service (Exec)

Job Number

2026SN27770


Department

DLS - Dept. of Local Services

Division

DLS-Directors Office

Opening Date

08/03/2026

Closing Date

8/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA


Exempt

Bargaining Unit


Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines

Full- or Part-Time


Full Time

Summary

Join Our Team as a Principal Planner & Demographer in the Department of Local Services (DLS) - King County

The Department of Local Services Director's Office is seeking an experienced planning professional to serve as Principal Planner & Demographer. This position will independently lead complex long-range planning, policy, legislative, and demographic initiatives that shape the future of unincorporated King County.

Working in close partnership with the Comprehensive Plan Manager, this position will serve as one of DLS's senior planning professionals and a trusted technical and policy advisor. You will lead a portfolio that may include Comprehensive Plan amendments, subarea planning, land use and zoning studies, code amendments, demographic analysis, and other high-profile initiatives. You will help set project direction, organize cross-departmental work, evaluate policy tradeoffs, and translate complex information into clear recommendations for department leaders and elected officials.

Approximately 20% of the position's work will focus on demographic analysis and coordination, although the proportion may vary somewhat based on the planning work cycle. You will serve as DLS's lead demographic resource, using population, housing, employment, migration, and related data to inform long-range planning, service delivery, and policy decisions. You will collaborate with countywide, regional, and state partners to support sound methods and consistent use of demographic information.

This role requires strong independent judgment, project leadership, and the ability to influence outcomes in a complex organization where many partners will not report directly to you. You will work with community members, planners, technical experts, department leadership, the King County Executive Office, Council staff, and other agencies to develop practical and implementable plans, policies, and legislation.

Our work is grounded in equity, guided by the King County Comprehensive Plan, and shaped by the communities we serve-especially communities historically underrepresented in planning and decision-making. The successful candidate will combine strong technical planning expertise with political awareness, clear communication, and an ability to make complex work understandable and actionable.

Some evening and weekend commitments may be required for community meetings and public presentations.

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, Road Services, and Permitting. Together, this department provides a single executive point of accountability for delivering local services to all unincorporated areas.

Our Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice

The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity and Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people, partners, and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike.

Job Duties

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


Strategic Planning & Project Leadership

• Independently lead complex long-range planning, policy, and legislative initiatives from scoping through adoption and implementation.
• Lead or play a principal role in Comprehensive Plan amendments, subarea plans, land use and zoning studies, development code amendments, and related implementation efforts.
• Establish project scope, work plans, schedules, decision points, engagement approaches, and measures of success; identify risks and resolve challenges affecting delivery.
• Lead cross-departmental and interjurisdictional teams, often without direct supervisory authority, and build the alignment and accountability needed to keep work moving.
• Mentor planning staff and provide technical guidance, quality review, and support for consistent and effective planning practices.

Demographic Analysis & Data

• Serve as DLS's lead demographic resource, conducting and coordinating demographic and growth forecasting work, including Urban Growth Capacity and Buildable Lands analysis, growth targets, Census data, and analysis of population, housing, employment, migration, equity indicators, and related trends.
• Integrate demographic, geographic, financial, and operational data to inform planning, service delivery, policy development, and legislative decisions.
• Coordinate with County, regional, and state partners and communicate methods, findings, and limitations clearly through reports, maps, presentations, and other accessible products.

Policy, Code & Legislative Development

• Develop and recommend land use policies, development code amendments, legislative proposals, reports, and implementation strategies.
• Evaluate legal, operational, financial, equity, and political considerations; identify tradeoffs and recommend practical, implementable approaches.
• Prepare clear decision materials and technical products for senior leaders and elected officials, and collaborate with legal, operational, and policy partners to develop and review legislation.
• Monitor planning and policy developments affecting unincorporated communities and support alignment between Comprehensive Plan policies, regulations, and implementation.

Community Engagement, Collaboration & Representation

• Develop and implement inclusive engagement and communication strategies that center communities most affected by planning decisions and inform policy outcomes.
• Build effective relationships with communities, jurisdictions, agencies, and internal partners; facilitate difficult conversations and help groups with competing interests reach workable decisions.
• Represent DLS in interdepartmental, interjurisdictional, regional, legislative, and community forums, communicating County priorities clearly and professionally.

Professional Leadership & Work Management

• Exercise independent judgment, manage multiple complex assignments and shifting priorities, and elevate significant risks with clear options and recommendations.
• Communicate project status, decisions, dependencies, and changes in direction so staff, leadership, and partners remain aligned; fulfill commitments with integrity and professionalism.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Values (ACTIVATE)

• Accountable
• Collaborative
• Timely
• Impactful
• Value Employees
• Accessible
• Trusted
• Equitable

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Education & Core Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in planning, urban studies, public policy, demography, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in long-range planning, public policy, demographic analysis, or related work, including responsibility for leading complex projects or major components of a broader program.
• Knowledge of Washington's planning framework, including the Growth Management Act, Shoreline Management Act, and State Environmental Policy Act, and a practical understanding of land use, development regulations, and permitting.

Planning, Policy & Project Leadership

• Experience independently leading or coordinating complex planning, policy, code, or legislative initiatives involving multiple departments, jurisdictions, disciplines, or partner organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize technical, legal, operational, political, and community information; evaluate competing priorities and risks; and develop sound, implementable recommendations.
• Experience building alignment and maintaining momentum when project partners do not report directly to you.
• Strong project management skills, including establishing scope, organizing work, managing risks and shifting priorities, meeting deadlines, and delivering high-quality outcomes.

Demographic & Analytical Skills

• Experience analyzing and interpreting demographic, housing, economic, geographic, financial, growth, or other quantitative data to inform planning or policy decisions.
• Ability to select appropriate data and methods, assess quality and limitations, and translate technical findings accurately for nontechnical audiences.

Communication, Engagement & Collaboration

• Demonstrated experience leading inclusive community engagement and working effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, organizations, and perspectives.
• Strong writing, presentation, facilitation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to explain complex information to elected officials, senior leaders, technical professionals, community members, and the public.
• Experience preparing or presenting policy, legislative, technical, or decision materials for senior leaders, elected officials, appointed bodies, or comparable audiences.

Technical Proficiency

• Proficiency with common tools used for planning, policy, project management, and collaborative work, and experience with quantitative or geographic analysis tools such as advanced Excel, GIS, statistical software, databases, or data visualization platforms.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's or professional degree in planning, public administration, demography, geography, public policy, or a related field; or equivalent experience.
• Experience serving as a principal planner, senior policy advisor, or technical lead for a major Comprehensive Plan, subarea planning, zoning, code development, or related initiative.
• Experience using U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Washington State Office of Financial Management, regional growth forecasts, growth targets, Urban Growth Capacity or Buildable Lands data, or comparable demographic and forecasting products.
• Experience using GIS, data visualization, or statistical analysis to communicate findings and support policy decisions.
• Knowledge of King County government and the regional and local policy landscape affecting King County.
• Experience mentoring professional staff or leading multidisciplinary teams without direct supervisory authority; AICP or another relevant professional credential is a plus.

Supplemental Information

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE:
Those applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to participate in a 45-minute phone interviews in the week of 09/07/2026. If you are selected to move forward after the first phone interview, you will be invited for a 45 minute in-person interview in the week of 09/14/2026.


WHO MAY APPLY:
This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill current and or/future career service, term-limited temporary, short-term temporary, and or/special duty positions over the next six months.
Special duty opportunities are open only to current King County career service employees who have completed the initial probation. Special duty applicants must have approval from their current supervisor to accept an assignment. Current employees selected for special duty will be compensated based upon the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement, King County Personnel Guidelines, or Coalition Labor Agreement for their base assignment.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
A full and complete King County application is required. You may also provide a resume and cover letter, summarizing how you meet the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position.


Applications will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Minimum qualifications and answers to supplemental questions must be demonstrated in your application materials.

For interviewing tips, please see the STAR-LA method: star-la_interview_method.pdf
WORK SCHEDULE:
The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but may at times require work outside of normal business hours and on weekends. This position is Exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.


EMERGENCY DESIGNATION STATUS:

This position has been designated as Non-Mission Critical -Employees who staff county functions or services that may be delayed, suspended, or diverted in an emergency while essential functions are prioritized Mission Critical.

UNION MEMBERSHIP:

This position is non-represented.

TELEWORKING REQUIREMENTS:

This is a hybrid position. We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps.

Employees must reside in WashingtonStateand 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 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 in a hybrid environment.


For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:

Sonali Naidu, View email address on click.appcast.io/View phone number on click.appcast.io
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.
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.
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