Senior Public Involvement Outreach Specialist
King County Water and Land Resources Division Seattle, Washington, United States
- Location: Seattle, Washington, United States
- Categories: Human and Social Services
- Job Type: Full Time
- Posted: Jun 11, 2026
Job Description:
Senior Public Involvement Outreach Specialist
Description
SummaryThis posting is open to all qualified candidates.
If you want to use your communication skills to help people make informed decisions about the infrastructure and services that affect their lives, the Wastewater Treatment Division’s (WTD) Community Services group looks forward to meeting you. Our work centers on building understanding, supporting transparency, and ensuring the public has the information they need to engage meaningfully with our projects and operations, even when faced with community opposition. We collaborate across the division to communicate clearly, anticipate concerns, and provide accurate, accessible information. We adapt our approach to meet the needs of diverse audiences and value the perspectives that different communities bring.
As a member of WTD’s Community Services unit, you will support all aspects of the division’s work by helping the public understand our infrastructure projects, operations, and services. You will provide timely, clear information so individuals, businesses, and communities can offer informed input and understand how decisions may affect them. This position supports WTD operations, Executive priorities, and complex multidisciplinary capital projects, planning efforts, and programs. You will also support incident response efforts that focus on protecting the public from sewage spills or other unexpected dangers related to an emergency.
About the Role:
We are recruiting for two (2) Senior Public Involvement Outreach Specialist (Water Quality Planner/Project Manager III - WQPPM III) positions. The successful candidates will plan, manage, and provide field communications and public outreach support for multiple concurrent projects to build or improve large infrastructure facilities, such as pipes, pump stations, and underground storage tanks. They will support projects in the planning, design, and construction phases. Established guidelines or processes may not exist and need to be developed to successfully support complex work. The successful candidates will interact with community members directly affected by construction projects. They will be expected to use diplomacy and tact when working with upset individuals or when facing public opposition in order to gain acceptance of the division’s work.
They will be expected to engage all communities equitably, and will support emergency incidents such as sewer overflows by being available 24 hours a day every five to six weeks on a rotating basis. In this capacity, they will provide field support to protect public health and safety during sewage spills or unplanned repairs of the regional wastewater system.
About the Team:
The Community Services unit advances the values of King County and the Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) by protecting public health and the environment and providing equitable, inclusive services to residents and businesses across King County. To our agency, success means clean water. It means keeping a promise to the next generation that our beautiful environment will be there for them to enjoy. It also means being accountable to our ratepayers and operating a well-managed agency. We are committed to the principles of equity and social justice. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.
Commitment to Equity, Racial, and Social Justice:
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. As a Senior Public Involvement Outreach Specialist (WQPPM III), you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .
Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). 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:
- Gain public acceptance for impactful construction projects that plan, build, repair or maintain wastewater treatment facilities. This could include treatment plants, large pipes, pump stations and other underground infrastructure for WTD’s Capital Improvement Program.
- Develop, manage, and implement public involvement plans for projects that may face opposition or controversy. Navigate ambiguous environments and develop guidelines where none exist to share information and build community understanding and support for WTD’s work.
- Effectively communicate and coordinate with interdisciplinary project teams on complex infrastructure projects. Work collaboratively with project and construction managers, engineers, finance and contracting specialists, permitting, environmental leads, and real property experts to meet project objectives and division goals.
- Represent WTD at public events, briefings and in one-on-one venues. Support WTD projects by working directly with interested community members to reduce risks and advance opportunities for WTD's Capital Improvement Program.
- Provide planning, assessment, and advocacy for equity and social justice opportunities on WTD capital projects and plans using County equity assessment tools.
- Support the community relations elements of the Wastewater Treatment Division incident response program, which requires night and weekend availability on a rotating basis. Duties could include safely moving through industrial and construction sites and driving metal fence posts into the ground to close off public spaces affected by incidents.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Qualifications You Bring:
- Experience managing public outreach on concurrent projects including serving as the public face for outreach efforts.
- Demonstrated experience leading public outreach on projects with no established guidelines or developing guidelines where none exist.
- Experience working effectively with racially, culturally, and socioeconomically diverse individuals, communities, and organizations.
- Experience planning and implementing effective public outreach campaigns that include strategic goal identification, objective setting, tactic selection, and managing schedules. Demonstrated skills in designing accessible outreach and using equitable engagement tactics.
- Demonstrated experience directing and managing consultant teams in support of community outreach efforts.
- Experience working with technical experts to develop easily understood communication pieces.
Competencies You Bring:
- Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
- Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
- Interpersonal Savvy: Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
- Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.
- Being Resilient: Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.
Required Licenses/Certifications:
- A valid Washington State Driver’s License (ability to get to meetings and field sites not served by transit at varying times of day).
It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:
- Working knowledge of wastewater systems and operations.
- Experience supporting public agency incident response efforts.
- Experience working with multiple capital delivery methods, including design-bid-build, progressive design build, and general contractor/construction management.
Physical Requirements:
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is:
- regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to touch, handle or feel objects, tools or controls.
- required to talk and hear.
- occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, and to stoop, kneel or crouch.
- occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
Supplemental Information
Working Conditions:
- Work Location: The Community Services team 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. 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 Technical Employees Association (TEA).
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 technical assessment and one or more panel interviews.
To apply, submit a:
- Complete Application
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Responses to the supplemental questions
Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Rodney Dungo, HR Analyst at [email protected].
Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , and the WTD Blog .
Discover More About DNRP: Visit our DNRP website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .
Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.
Forbes 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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
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
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.
Closing Date/Time: 6/24/2026 11:59 PM Pacific