Lakes Program Supervisor

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Water Quality Planner/Project Manager IV positions throughout the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next six months. About the Role As the Lakes Program Supervisor, you will lead King County’s long‑term water quality monitoring program for Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, and Lake Union while supervising a team of approximately 4–6 environmental scientists. You will provide strategic direction for scientific studies, oversee daily program operations, mentor and develop staff, and ensure the collection and analysis of high‑quality environmental data. This role combines scientific leadership with people management. You will guide the design of monitoring programs and applied research, support data‑driven decision making, and collaborate with regional partners—including Public Health, the Wastewater Treatment Division, the University of Washington, and other scientific organizations—to better understand and protect our freshwater ecosystems. Your work will help shape environmental policy, improve public health, and ensure King County’s lakes remain healthy for future generations. What You Will Be Doing Supervision – including staffing, assigning work, managing workplans and performance, supporting staff to consider equitable outcomes in their work, performance appraisals, recruitments, onboarding and training; teach, lead and coach a team of 4–6. Lead the Large Lakes Program – develop and manage long‑term scientific monitoring programs and special studies; develop and implement sampling protocols; work with field crews and contractors to implement monitoring plans and studies; perform time‑series and trend analysis, develop multivariate statistical models, nutrient and/or hydrodynamic modeling, and interpret, translate, and apply findings; build and follow data management systems to keep our findings open and reproducible. Expert Level Scientific Consultation & Research – design and implement applied research and analyses to detect and diagnose changes in the function and condition of County lakes; support and direct comprehensive reports and manuscripts suitable for publication in scientific journals. Establish Partnerships and Engage Collaborators – including but not limited to expert level scientific consultation to internal and external work groups; including Wastewater Treatment Division, Public Health, University of Washington, and other regional partners. Qualifications You Bring Specialized Education – applicant possesses at least a Bachelor’s of Science degree in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, biology, earth sciences, or an equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. Supervision – applicant has been a people leader, either in a role as a supervisor or as project lead in charge managing peoples roles and deliverables to successfully complete a project. Scientific Consultation and Research – ability to review a document on technically advanced research and analyses to help think through findings on King County lakes. Program Design and Oversight – experience establishing study objectives, experimental designs, sampling schedules, QA/QC, and statistical approaches; establishing and using SOPs, managing long‑term monitoring and special study programs. Reporting & Synthesis – experience writing technical reports, peer‑reviewed papers, management summaries, and/or regulatory documents. Competencies You Bring Strategic Mindset – seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies. Action Oriented – taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm. Plans and Aligns – planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals. Ensures Accountability – holding self and others accountable to meet commitments. Values Differences – recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Communicates Effectively – developing and delivering multi‑mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Courage – stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said. Required Licenses A valid Washington State Driver’s License or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire. It Would Be Great if You Also Bring Degree or specialized coursework in limnology, or 10+ years of professional experience working on lake ecosystems. Experience with aquatic food web dynamics, particularly those involving fish populations (including salmon), and the use and interpretation of scientific models (e.g., empirical, statistical, or box models). Experience advising policymakers and translating scientific findings into recommendations for resource managers, regulators, and other stakeholders. Demonstrated success developing, writing, and implementing scientific grant proposals. Experience representing an agency on multi‑jurisdictional working groups, technical advisory committees, or similar collaborative forums. Working Conditions Remote and Onsite Work Details – The Science Section 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 and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104. Other work locations are at project sites and other site locations near the rivers of King County. Remote Work Location Requirement – 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 reliable home workspace with an internet connection and be available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Work Schedule – This full‑time position will work a 40‑hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. Union Representation – This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117. Necessary Special Requirements The final candidate will be required to successfully pass a pre‑employment physical. Physical Requirement – The position requires the ability to conduct physical site inspections and evaluations, including in times of inclement weather conditions. Field conditions include brushy, forested environments, river, stream and wetland corridors, and slippery, uneven surfaces. Tasks may include carrying equipment up to 50 lbs and in‑water situations involving wading and the use of rafts. Ability to work long hours outside and occasionally in inclement weather is necessary. 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. The final candidate will be required to successfully pass a pre‑employment physical. Please ensure that your application materials clearly detail how your skills and experience meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this posting. Complete Online Application with responses to supplemental questions. Resume. 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 View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io. 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, 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr King County