The Employee Health and Safety (EHS) Division within King County's Department of Human Resources (DHR) seeks an experienced, dynamic, and motivated professional to serve as the Program Manager of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Reporting to the EHS Division Director, this role will provide day-to-day supervision of two EAP Counselors. This role will also be responsible for the management and administration of all aspects of the County's internal EAP Program and coordination of services provided through the external Making Life Easier (MLE) program vendor.

Beginning January 1, 2020 EHS Division will be renamed the Central Employee Services Division as DHR welcomes the Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations Sections of the Department of Executive Services (DES) to the department. This change will more accurately reflect the full suite of services that the expanded division will provided beginning next year.

To learn more about EAP, please visit: https://www.kingcounty.gov/audience/employees/safety-claims/MLE-EAP.aspx

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE

As the only county in the United States named after one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation’s history, Martin Luther King, Jr. County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures.

We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and the EAP Program Manager has a strong and central role in advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all county employees. 

To learn more, please visit: http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

ABOUT THE POSITION

The EAP Program Manager will provide direct services and support to the County's diverse workforce regarding delicate and complicated employee matters. The responsibilities include working in partnership with countywide human resource professionals, managers, and staff to provide high level EAP services that effectively balances promoting employee interests along with King County Departmental operational needs.

King County Executive recently declared racism a public health crisis. This position will provide employees with guidance and resources to address workplace issues around race, gender identity, gender expression, and ability to support and protect the health and well-being of our diverse workforce. The person in this position will be relied on to build trusted relationships and garner positive outcomes for employees to be successful at work.

The ideal candidate will operate with a high degree of emotional intelligence, embracing different styles, valuing diversity, and demonstrating a commitment to the County's Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) strategic plan to reinforce ESJ principles into practices, attitudes, and actions that produce equitable access, opportunities, treatment, impacts, and outcomes for all employees.

To learn more about our values, please visit: https://kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/initiatives/true-north.aspx

TEMPORARY TELECOMMUTING REQUIREMENT

The work associated with this position will be performed remotely, at least through July 5, 2021 in compliance with King County’s telecommuting mandate. 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. Employees must reside in WA state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. There will be situations where the employee is required to report to a County worksite. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required by the department in alignment with the Public Health Directive from the Seattle & King County Public Health Officer.

To support employees during this time 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. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint. 
 

• Serve as the subject matter expert and spokesperson on EAP services, including substance abuse counseling and treatment; provide advanced consultation, guidance, and triage services to internal stakeholders and agency management to help resolve broad, complex, and politically sensitive employee matters.
• Determine and establish EAP strategy for delivery and deployment of EAP and MLE vendor services to the County's diverse workforce with stakeholder input and cross collaboration with other DHR divisions and Departments.
• Provide day-to-day supervision, program direction, and technical support for two EAP Counselors; ensure that the delivery of EAP services across the County are consistent and in compliance with state, federal, and national standards; and perform case management, counseling, coaching, and refer employees to resources where non-work related matters are impacting work performance matters.
• Lead and develop EAP staff to support continuous learning and development of skills; create staffing plans for appropriate coverage for the EAP program; manage performance related matters; and most importantly, ensure the emotional and restorative work for self and staff related to impacts of secondary trauma.
• Perform countywide trainings, facilitated discussions, and mediations for workplace conflict resolution.
• Manage the relationship with the external MLE program contract including the performance guarantees and vendor selection process; troubleshooting and resolving programmatic and service delivery issues and complaints affecting employees and eligible dependents.
• Determine EAP performance standards and measures including ongoing examination of EAP best practices to include continual review of the program for effectiveness, outcomes, and efficiencies; prepare written and statistical reports regarding EAP utilization; and ensure case documentation is maintained accurately, timely, and comprehensively in compliance with state and federal privacy and confidentiality laws.
• Ensure EAP counseling services are designed and delivered using an ESJ lens.
• Provide coaching and problem-solving tactics to increase emotional resiliency in EAP staff in responding to ESJ matters and in complex workplace matters.
• Along with EAP Counselors, provide and oversee Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) services for employees following small and large-scale traumatic events, and periodic clinical consultation to the Transit Divisions' CISM Team; provide consultation services related to domestic and workplace violence.
• Provide expert advice, guidance and assistance related to employee fitness for duty and return-to-work mental health and substance abuse evaluations.

• Experience working with people from diverse background including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans.
• Experience and skill in applying ESJ principles to workplace conflict to enhance employee performance.
• Knowledge and skills in the application of principles and practices related to internally focused EAP services for employees and management.
• Knowledge and skills in providing supervision and management to individual employees.
• Knowledge and skills in applying EAP services in a public sector, political, and highly unionized work environment.
• Knowledge of human resource practices and their intersection with EAP practices.
• Advanced skills in communicating verbally and in writing that includes the ability to communicate and work effectively with all levels of management and employees across organizational lines.
• Advanced skills in problem-solving, conflict resolution and decision making relevant to EAP matters.
• Skills in developing, designing and delivering formal EAP presentations and trainings to diverse audiences with different opinions and considerations.
• Ability to multitask and produce quality products and services while under the pressure of critical timelines.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in resiliency, adaptability, and self-awareness required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing interests.
• Ability to maintain the privacy and security of sensitive and confidential information.
• Proficiency in the use of computer software, including case management software, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Outlook, Word, Access and PowerPoint, with a high degree of accuracy.

• Master's degree in Behavioral Health related field (MA, MS, MSW)
• Active licensure as a Licensed Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
• Five years of EAP Service Delivery and/or comprehensive counseling experience and supervisory experience.
• Federal Department of Transportation Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) qualification, or the ability to obtain qualification within six months of employment with King County.
• A valid driver's license or the alternate ability to travel around the County in a timely manner to locations that may not be accessible by public transportation is required.

Forbes recently 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.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

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 your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Direct confidential inquiries to Elisha Mackey at elisha.mackey@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-0193.

To be considered, an online employment application, completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs, with employment history going back at least ten years if you have ten years of employment (or more to include all relevant experience), a resume, and a cover letter (no more than 2 pages) summarizing how you meet the experience, qualifications, knowledge and skills for the job.

Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed as received, and they will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. All materials will be evaluated for spelling, grammar, and punctuation usage. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a series of interviews. Reference checks and/or record reviews will also be conducted.

Union Membership
This position is not represented by a union.

Class Code
2441400