Sustainability Specialist (Water Quality Planner/Project Manager II)

King County   Auburn, WA   Full-time
This job is no longer available.
Job Posting Shared.
Job Posting Reminder Sent.

Summary

The King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) protects public health and the environment by collecting and treating wastewater while recycling valuable resources. WTD is looking for a self-motivated and detail-oriented Sustainability Specialist to support its Sustainability Program, which works to maintain, promote, and build holistic/triple-bottom line sustainability practices into all utility activities. The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable and enthusiastic about green building practices and green building materials.

'Sustainability' is defined as the long-term viability, health and robustness of environmental, social and economic systems. For WTD, this means: (1) healthy natural environments; (2) equity, social justice and vibrant communities; (3) cost-effective capital investments, operations, and maintenance; and (4) resilience to future disruptions and climate adaptation.

This position will focus on the incorporation of sustainable building practices into WTD's capital improvement projects, which are part of WTD's ~$200 million-per-year capital improvement program. It will help ensure that capital projects meet requirements outlined in King County's Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP), Equity and Social Justice Initiative, and Green Building and Energy Efficiency Ordinances. This position will also provide a significant level of support for division-wide SCAP and Green Building Ordinance (GBO) reporting.

The Sustainability Specialist will reside in WTD's Sustainability and Innovation Program and report to the Sustainability and Innovation Program Supervisor. To learn more about Sustainability at WTD visit: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wtd/sustainability.aspx

WHO MAY APPLY: This full-time position is open to all qualified candidates as a Term Limited Temporary (TLT) position or to King County career service employees as a special duty assignment.

NOTE: This recruitment will be used to fill a term limited temporary (TLT) position or special duty assignment. The position is expected to start in September of 2019 and is anticipated to end in approximately 2 years. If filled internally as a Special Duty Assignment (SDA), pay and duration will be in accordance with Personnel Guidelines or selected employee's collective bargaining agreement. This posting may be used to establish a list of qualified candidates for position openings in the following six months.

FORMS and MATERIALS: Applicants must submit: (1) King County application form, (2) resume and (3) letter of interest describing how their education and experience meet the job qualifications and have prepared them to successfully perform the job duties.

Division VALUES

  • Safety:   We protect ourselves and others before all other priorities. Safety is a virtue to be instilled in each of us.
  • Innovation:   We foster a creative environment where employees openly and enthusiastically search for new ways to improve our work.
  • Spirit of Service:   We reliably and equitably deliver exceptional products and services to our customers and communities all day, every day.
  • Empowered Teams:   We respect, trust, collaborate and communicate openly – embracing problems and conflict as opportunities to create solutions.
  • Communication:   We listen to and share with each other timely, accurate and clear information to ensure effective performance of our work.
  • Cultivate Mastery:   We provide opportunities to encourage each other to reach our highest level of performance within an inclusive, positive, fun work environment.
  • Financial Accountability:   We are responsible stewards of public dollars.

King County and the Wastewater Treatment Division value diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, people with disabilities, and veterans.

Job Duties

Examples of Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide sustainability support to WTD's capital improvement program by: (1) serving as a sustainability subject matter expert on multiple major capital projects, and (2) educating capital project teams on sustainable development and King County policy requirements related to sustainability.
  • Develop tools and resources to facilitate the implementation of sustainable development/green building strategies in capital projects and programs and compliance with King County sustainability policies.
  • Facilitate bi-weekly meetings to review capital project sustainability scorecards.
  • Work with the Sustainability Program Lead to develop and conduct trainings for staff to facilitate implementation of sustainability strategies, the SCAP, and the GBO.
  • Help manage sustainability reporting for the Division, including SCAP and GBO reporting and WTD's Annual Sustainability Report.
  • Participate in the development and implementation of a Sustainability Plan that defines a clear vision and goals for WTD's Sustainability Program and strategies for achieving Program goals.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

  • Bachelor's degree in Sustainability, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Environmental Science/Environmental Studies or closely related field, plus professional work experience in a similar field OR an equivalent combination of education and/or experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the job duties.
  • Knowledge of, and experience working with sustainable development and green building concepts.
  • Knowledge of capital improvement planning, design, and construction processes and experience working on capital improvement projects and/or programs.
  • Knowledge of, and experience working with third party sustainability rating systems and other sustainable development/"green building" frameworks such as the Living Building Challenge, Envision™, LEED, etc.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, flexibility and creativity.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and work collaboratively on multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Ability to solve problems effectively by identifying solutions and strategies that consider and respect competing priorities.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize work tasks.  
  • Demonstrated ability to collect, manage, analyze and succinctly distribute/communicate large amounts of complex data and information.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of equity and social justice issues.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs – Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, SharePoint
The most competitive applicants will have the following experiences and qualifications:
  • General knowledge of municipal wastewater treatment plant processes, conveyance systems, and resource recovery.
  • Experience developing and delivering sustainability training modules/curriculum.
  • Sustainability accreditations, such as Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) and LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP).

Supplemental Information

SELECTION PROCESS: Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. References and/or background checks may also be conducted.
UNION MEMBERSHIP: This position is represented by the Technical Employee's Association (TEA).
CONTACT INFO: Steve Namkung at steve.namkung@kingcounty.gov

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:

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
  • 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: King County employees are eligible to 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
  • 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
  • Generous vacation and paid sick leave
  • Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Wellness programs
  • Onsite gyms and 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 please 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.  Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
 
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.

01
Please check any certifications, degrees or experience that you currently hold. Check all that apply.
  • Envision™ Sustainability Professional (ENV SP)
  • LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
  • Knowledge of wastewater systems and operations
  • Bachelor's degree in Sustainability, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Environmental Science/Environmental Studies or closely related field
  • None of the above
02
Do you have experience incorporating sustainable practices into the design and/or construction of projects?
  • Yes
  • No
03
If you answered yes to Question 2 above, please describe your experience.

Required Question

This job is no longer available.

King County

Auburn, WA