Labor and Workplace Standards Policy Advisor

Salary

$146,331.12 - $185,482.96 Annually

Location


Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Seattle, WA

Job Type

Appt/Exempt

Job Number

2026BHC27219

Department

EXEC - Executive's Office

Opening Date

05/11/2026

Closing Date

6/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA


Exempt

Bargaining Unit


Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines

Full- or Part-Time


Full Time

Hours/Week


40 hours/week

Summary

King County is launching an ambitious effort to ensure that government delivers high-quality, efficient and equitable services to every resident. To support this work, we are seeking a collaborative, strategic, and deeply knowledgeable Labor and Workplace Standards Policy Advisor.


The Labor and Workplace Standards Policy Advisor will be a member of the newly created Policy and Innovation team. This role will serve with nine (9) policy leads, each representing a specific priority of Executive Zahilay. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Policy and Innovation, the Policy Lead Advisor will help guide policy direction for their portfolio and work closely with County departments to integrate and align policy priorities across the enterprise.


The Labor and Workplace Standards Policy Advisor will be responsible for coordinating with county departments and external partners to advance policies that promote fair wages, safe workplaces, and equitable labor practices in King County.


The ideal candidate brings not only labor policy subject matter expertise, but also a strong understanding of how to translate policy to implementation. Success in this role requires subject matter expertise, familiarity with community and government relations, and the ability to lead policy solutions that advance the Executive's goals.


The King County Department of Human Resources and Office of Labor Relations within the Executive Office are responsible for promoting fair wages, safe workplaces and equitable labor practices for King County internal departments and employees. The new Labor and Workplace Standards Policy Advisor will coordinate with these teams, but the primary focus of this position is policy related to non-King County employees.

Job Duties

• Oversee the development and implementation for the Executive's labor policy priorities at the federal, state, and local levels.
  
  
• Work with the Director of Policy and Innovation, Deputy Director of Policy and Innovation, other policy leads and members of the Executive's Office on strategies to integrate policy priorities into broader organizational strategy and cross-functional initiatives.
  
  
• Collaborate with public sector partners, community and subject matter experts to develop policy positions that advance the interests of the Executive.
  
  
• Monitor, track, and help advance priority labor standards and protection issues, including emerging policy, political, and operational developments.
  
  
• Advise the Executive and Executive leadership on labor policy, external collective bargaining dynamics, worker protection policy and laws, and related risks and opportunities.
  
  
• Coordinate with the Labor Relations Team within the Executive Office, the Department of Human Resources, and County departments to ensure consistent alignment on labor standards policies and engagement with internal and external labor partners.
  
  
• Build and maintain strong relationships with labor organizations, worker advocacy groups, employers, and other key partners.
  
  
• Coordinate with legislative, regulatory, and intergovernmental partners on labor standards and workforce policy issues.
  
  
• Represent the Executive in meetings and working groups, related to labor standards and external labor relations.
  
  
• Support cross-departmental collaboration to advance equitable labor practices and improve outcomes for workers across King County.
  
  

Expectations

• A focus on being out in the county to connect and build relationships with those we serve and those with whom we partner.
  
  
• In the office a minimum of 3 days a week. Meetings may not have a call-in option for required in-person days, and the expectation is to be in the office.
  
  
• Be on time, respectful of others' time, and responsive when needed.
  
  
• Bring an urgency to the work. We will start fast. The work will be intense, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.
  
  
• Meetings will have written expectations, including an agenda with the goals and outcomes. Owners and next steps will be clear.
  
  
• Processes and work will continuously improve.
  
  

Values

• Serve with Integrity, Humility and Empathy.
  
  
• Center Those Most Impacted.
  
  
• One Team, One Mission.
  
  
• Be in Community.
  
  
• Outcomes Over Optics.
  
  
• Commit to Excellence.
  
  
• Invest in our People.
  
  
• Embed Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in our work.
  
  

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a Labor and Workplace Standards Policy Advisor who can collaborate across diverse organizations and communicate King County's values and priorities effectively. The ideal candidate will have:

• Significant experience (5+ years) working in labor standards, labor relations, workforce policy, public policy, or related roles.
  
  
• A proven record of translating policy into measurable results.
  
  
• A deep commitment to transparency, equity, and service excellence in government.
  
  
• Exceptional analytical, communication, writing, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders, from staff to community partners.
  
  
• Demonstrated knowledge of labor standards laws, worker protection policies, and labor management relations.
  
  
• Experience engaging labor unions, worker advocates, employers, elected officials, and senior leaders.
  
  
• Strong relationship-building skills with experience engaging elected officials, senior leaders, and strategic partners.
  
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  
  
• Strong organizational skills with a demonstrated record of follow-through, attention to detail, and accountability in managing deadlines and deliverables.
  
  

Key Attributes

• Strategic and Analytical: Sees the big picture, uses data to inform decisions, and can develop and deploy effective strategy.
  
  
• Equity-Centered: Embeds fairness, inclusion, and community impact into policy work.
  
  
• Collaborative: Works across departments and builds strong partnerships to drive the policy agenda.
  
  
• Results-Oriented: Connects policy to action, driving measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
  
  

Supplemental Information

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to shape how King County delivers for its residents. TheLaborand Workplace StandardsPolicy Advisorwill help bringExecutiveZahilay'svision to life-turning bold ideas into accountable, transparent, and effective government action.

The King County Executive Office serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with integrity, transparency, and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and frugal stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve.?

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. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust.


Application Process

To apply, please submit your rsum and a brief cover letter describing how your experience aligns Executive Zahilay's priorities and goals. A first review of applications will take place on June 1, 2026.

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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