Municipal Relations & Community Engagement Manager (Government Relations Adminis

Career Service Municipal Relations & Community Engagement Manager

King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences.
King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community.
DCHS is seeking a Career Service Municipal Relations & Community Engagement Manager to foster engagement with municipal elected officials, their staff, and other local partners regarding DCHS programs and policy goals. The Municipal & Community Relations Manager will primarily focus on successful siting of DCHS-funded capital projects, including but not limited to those funded through the Health through Housing and Crisis Care Centers initiatives.
The Municipal & Community Relations Manager reports to the Department's Chief of Staff as a member of the Director's Office External Affairs team. The position also coordinates closely with, and recommends strategies to, the DCHS Director, the Executive's Office and the five divisions within DCHS.
The incumbent will be a strategic thought partner, bring outstanding relationship-building skills, and demonstrate commitment to advancing racial equity and social justice principles. The ability to be agile and adaptive are critical to success. Leading candidates will possess leadership skills and the ability to facilitate meetings, manage projects and teams, communicate with transparency and clarity, and work in a complex and constantly evolving environment.
As a member of the DCHS External Affairs Team, the Municipal & Community Relations Manager will be assigned a portfolio that will fluctuate over time based on workload and expertise. The primary responsibilities of this position will include:
Lead negotiation of intergovernmental agreements.
Organize, present at, and facilitate meetings with municipal partners to promote awareness and collaboration on DCHS programs, including organizing individual meetings, tours, briefings, and other events as needed.
Partner with DCHS divisions and communications staff to plan and implement site-based community engagement strategies, including drafting materials and planning events.
Track and promote implementation of intergovernmental initiatives, including monitoring and supporting compliance with commitments and requirements of intergovernmental agreements.
Establish and maintain liaisons with local governments and other community partners.
Work with key staff across divisions and external affairs team to develop a communications strategy for municipal siting priorities.
Monitor, analyze, and report on city legislative activity related to DCHS issues and impacts.
Create systems to keep relevant DCHS staff informed and appropriately engaged on DCHS' municipal priorities.
Support External Affairs Team efforts to identify and advance federal and state budget and policy priorities for the Department.
Advise DCHS staff on how to advance their goals within the legislative environment.
Perform other duties as assigned.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE:
Experience working to advance federal, state, or local policies, including but not limited to drafting legislation and legislative summaries, leading community engagement strategies, and/or equivalent education or experience.
Experience working directly for or with city elected officials and their staff.
Experience advancing equitable community engagement techniques and racial equity and social justice principles.
Experience communicating complex subject matter and terminology into succinct, accessible information for elected officials and members of the public.
Experience working effectively in a high volume, politically sensitive environment.
Experience with human services issues, including behavioral health, affordable housing, homelessness or other related policy areas.
Ability to work independently and as a team member.
Commitment to contributing to a respectful workplace that values the contributions and backgrounds of diverse individuals with varying opinions.
Committed to equity and race and social justice in developing municipal & community partnerships.
Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
Skilled in resolving conflict, making decisions, solving problems, collaborating and negotiating.
Skilled in reading and interpreting programs, laws, regulations and guidelines written by federal, state and local agencies.
Desired Qualifications:
Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures for the King County, WA region, including knowledge of land use regulations and behavioral health licensing rules.
Experience with siting complex public facilities (such as housing or behavioral health facilities).
Experience working in the King County region.
This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around June 15, 2026. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive. If you have any questions, please contact Alicia Larsen, alarsen@kingcounty.gov.