Sustainability Program Manager

Sustainability Program Manager

We are searching for an incredibly passionate Sustainability Program Manager to join our Recycling & Environmental Services team. This position would contribute to implementing innovative and creative efforts that will advance construction and demolition, green building, sustainability, climate action and equity and social justice within the Solid Waste Division portfolio of projects.

These efforts will support meeting our Green Building Ordinance, Strategic Climate Action Plan, and Zero Waste of Resources goals and overall climate reduction goals for the County. This is an opportunity to be part of improving institutional changes to better serve the public and provide greater benefits to our community regarding an equitable, socially just, prosperous, and healthy future.

This position will help maximize sustainability efforts in our division's capital project portfolio that will implement green building, resource recovery, climate preparedness and equity and social justice priorities that will have long lasting benefits for our community as sound investments from our ratepayers. In addition, we are looking for someone who has experience working with a dynamic project team structure and can collaborate with multiple sections and disciplines.

The Solid Waste Division has resource recovery central to all of the work and services moving forward. This position will be responsible for reviewing project development and approve advancement during gate milestones during the life of the project. This individual will have a role in advising strategies for high performance in resource recovery, C&D material diversion, energy and water savings, stormwater and site management, sustainable material selection, renewable energy projection, and other sustainable features. The individual will also take part in maintaining standard operation procedures for implementing green building and sustainability measures. Other tasks include being part of reviewing and developing RFPs, contracts and project specifications, design packages, and construction reports. They will be a member of the division's Capital Project Review Board where they will keep staff appraised of the latest green building and sustainability requirements. Some technical assistance duties include but not limited to organizing and facilitating project ecocharrettes, guidance on green building rating systems, provide tutorials on sustainability best practices, and research appropriate green building strategies that are applicable to project.

The candidate will be joining a team of staff that work on additional aspects of green building internally at the county and externally communitywide, along with subject matter experts on equity and social justice and construction and demolition. Together they are members of the Recycling and Environmental Services Section of the Solid Waste Division that collectively is working on a suitable future for King County and consists of units working on climate and sustainability, Re+ in community programs, resource recovery, material collection program management and innovation. The King County Solid Waste Division (KCSWD) is responsible for the public solid waste system that serves the people and communities of unincorporated King County and most cities within King County. KCSWD is the lead King County Agency for delivering Zero Waste of Resources (ZWoR) goal for the region, which will reduce valuable materials sent to the landfill by up to 70%. KCSWD operates the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, ten transfer facilities, nine closed landfills, and many programs to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems.

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. In this Performance Analyst position, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Solid Waste Division of the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks. Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Provide technical expertise on sustainability and green building strategies for complex capital projects within the Solid Waste Division.
• Recommend and refine project scope, specifications, designs, and deliverables to ensure alignment with King County's green building, climate, and sustainability requirements.
• Manage data collection and reporting, including overseeing use of the County's PRISM database, which tracks capital portfolio information and required green building metrics.
• Prepare comprehensive analytical reports and program evaluations to guide capital project managers and engineers in understanding and implementing sustainability expectations.
• Develop program and policy recommendations, including issue papers, to accelerate the integration of sustainable practices in capital projects. Assess current program resources and identify future needs.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Demonstrated experience (2 years preferred) applying research methods, performing technical analyses, and supporting complex project work.
• Demonstrated experience (2 years preferred) with project management principles and capital project delivery, including contracting, design, construction, operations, standard operating procedures, planning, development, and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience (2 years preferred) working successfully with a variety of partners, stakeholders, and interest groups, including, but not limited to, various county, city, and/or state agencies, organizations, and associations.
• Strong and demonstrated written, verbal, and presentation skills for both small groups and large audiences.
• Experience collaborating effectively as a team member to coordinate and complete shared goals and tasks.
• Experience managing multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.

Competencies You Bring:

• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems
• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Racially Just: Identify and replace racists systems and structures with anti-racists and pro-equity approaches.
• Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.

It Would be Great if You Also Bring:

• Experience (3 years preferred) in green building rating systems and sustainability efforts.
• Experience (3 years preferred) working with capital projects or facility operations.
• Experience (3 years preferred) with public agency, government or public administration.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: The Recycling and Environmental Services (RES) 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, Seattle, Washington 98104.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week; Mon Fri, core hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Teamsters 117 Professional and Technical.

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 a skills test and one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter.

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us. King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with 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 stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly,