Aide to the Executive

Executive Assistant

Under Executive-elect Girmay Zahilay's leadership, we are making King County a high performing government, transparently delivering services that improve the lives of residents. To support this vision, we are seeking a seasoned, detail oriented, and highly collaborative Executive Assistant.

The Executive Assistant will provide comprehensive, high-level administrative support to Executive Zahilay, applying specialized administrative expertise, sound judgment, and exceptional organizational skills. As the highest-level Executive Assistant role in King County, this position is expected to model the administration's values by serving with integrity, showing initiative, and approaching challenges with a collaborative mindset. This role requires strong attention to detail, a customer-focused approach, and the ability to anticipate needs and adapt in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate brings a continuous improvement mindset, actively seeks opportunities to enhance workflows and streamline processes, and demonstrates flexibilityincluding the ability to shift start and end times as needed to accommodate the Executive's schedule and priorities.

Job Duties

• Provide direct administrative support to the King County Executive, serving as the primary point of contact for all scheduling needs.
• Manage the day-to-day administrative operations for the Executive, including scheduling all appointments, meetings, speaking engagements, and other commitments.
• Prepare, compile, and distribute background materials and supporting documents for meetings and follow-up actions, to ensure the Executive and support staff are fully briefed for all engagements.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to gather accurate, timely information into a briefing binder that will guide the week ahead.
• Coordinate with the Executive Protection Unit on all engagements needing security oversight and support.
• Maintain an efficient and professional flow of information between the Executive and internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment on organizational priorities and readiness for all engagements.
• Serve as a liaison between the Executive, department leadership, county staff, and community partners, fostering strong working relationships and supporting effective collaboration.
• Build and maintain positive, collaborative relationships across all levels of the organization, modeling professionalism and supporting effective communication and teamwork.
• Coordinate and review all travel arrangements for the Executive, including preparing itineraries, confirming lodging and transportation, and processing travel reconciliation.
• When necessary, staff the Executive at assigned events, ensuring logistics run smoothly and the Executive is supported throughout the engagement.
• Assist in shaping new roles and responsibilities as the needs of the Executive Office evolve.
• Perform other administrative duties as assigned to support the Executive Office operations and priorities. This role requires flexibility and a willingness to assist with a variety of tasks that support the Executive Office.

Values

• Serve with integrity.
• Show initiative and work hard.
• Prioritize outcomes over optics.
• Center those most impacted and put "boots on the ground."
• Solve problems with a "yes, and" mindset.
• Work as one, adaptable, mission-driven team.
• Drive for clarity.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

We are seeking an Executive Assistant who can provide high-level support to the County Executive, anticipate needs, manage complex priorities with discretion, and build positive, collaborative relationships across the organization. The ideal candidate will:

• Have a strong background providing professional-level support to an Executive Director, CEO, COO, or other senior leader, with the ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment, tact, and diplomacy when making independent decisions.
• Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with people at all levels, maintain a positive attitude, and show a strong commitment to equity and social justice.
• Possess the ability to navigate differing or conflicting stakeholder perspectives with professionalism and clarity.
• Be proactive and able to coordinate a high volume of diverse assignments, managing multiple competing priorities while maintaining excellent attention to detail.
• Possess strong editing, writing, presentation, and communication skills.
• Understand how large organizations operate, including how to navigate formal and informal channels to move work forward.
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability, including the ability to adjust start and end working hours, urgently respond to alterations in the schedule, and recognize shifting priorities to support the Executive when unexpected demands arise.
• Exhibit a commitment to continuous improvement in an aim to increase the efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness of the role.
• Be highly proficient using office productivity software and relational databases in daily work (Microsoft Office, PeopleSoft HCM, and Oracle EBS) and demonstrate comfortability learning new systems and processes.

Supplemental Information

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the operational backbone of King County government. The Executive Assistant will play a pivotal role in creating a more unified, efficient, and resident-centered governmentensuring that 10 departments work together as one team to deliver exceptional service to the public.

The King County Executive Department 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. The team will represent the Executive with professionalismincluding responsible social media conductand respond promptly when contacted. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive executive-level salary, commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive health, retirement, and leave benefits
• Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
• Ability to make a meaningful impact on how King County delivers for its residents

Application Process

To apply, please submit your rsum, a brief cover letter, and a statement of interest describing how your experience aligns with the Executive's vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government.