Communications and Policy Manager

Environmental Communications And Policy Manager

Are you ready to use your environmental expertise to make visible, lasting change? In this role, you'll play a central part in educating the public about noxious weeds and strengthening countywide efforts to protect ecosystems through creative communication and community engagement. You'll be part of a dynamic team pushing forward some of King County's most ambitious environmental goals, including the Healthy Lands Project, the Land Conservation Initiative (LCI) and the Clean Water Healthy Habitat Initiative.
The Communications and Policy Manager (Project/Program Manager III) will work closely with the Program Manager to assist with the development of program policies and communication strategies that achieve the mission of the program to reduce impacts of noxious weeds on the environment and economy of King County, and to meet the requirements of the Washington State Noxious Weed Law. The role will develop communications materials, implement outreach plans, and develop outreach strategies to better reach the residents of King County and deliver equitable services across the diverse landscape and population of the region.
About the Team: The Noxious Weed Control Program is a national leader in the early detection of noxious weeds, integrated pest management, community engagement, and rapid response to high impact weed concerns. We work throughout King County to prevent and reduce the economic, environmental, and social impacts of noxious weeds in King County, Washington. Our mission is to provide benefits to the environment, recreation, public health, and economic resources of King County by preventing and minimizing harmful impacts of noxious weeds.
Who Are We? The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is at the forefront of King County's efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 450 supported by an annual budget of ~$280 million. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to protect working farms and forests, restore habitat, improve water quality, and provide county residents with equitable access to green space.
Commitment To Equity 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 Communications and Policy Manager, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work.
Job Duties
What You Will Be Doing:
Policy: Collaborate with the Noxious Weed Control Program Unit manager to identify policy issues connected to noxious weed control work and provide project management to tackle these issues.
Communications: Develop communications materials such as reports, newsletters, website updates, presentations, that effectively educate the public on the topic of identifying and controlling noxious weeds. Coordinate with graphics teams to ensure excellence in visual communications.
Community Outreach: Develop plans to advance public understanding of noxious weed concerns including trainings. Conduct compelling community engagement and education sessions to provide education on noxious weeds topics.
Board Management: Support the Noxious Weed Control Board in their endeavors including supporting their adoption of the 2027 weed list.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Qualifications You Bring:
Knowledgeable in noxious weed identification, biology, control, and impacts.
Ability to create and maintain public communications such as newsletter publication, website updates, publication development, and other relevant communication outlets.
Skills in community outreach, teaching, engaging the public in learning.
Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with the public on difficult, sensitive and technical issues, both verbally and in writing.
Planning and project management skills and the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously under tight deadlines, prioritizing work and managing own time.
Experience supporting or contributing to policy development, including researching issues, analyzing options, and preparing recommendations or briefing materials.
Required Licenses:
WA pesticide applicator license required within 3 months of beginning the position.
Valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to obtain one prior to starting work if selected for this position.
Competencies You Bring:
Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.
Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:
Experience with herbicides, holds WSDA pesticide applicator license.
Working Conditions:
Remote and Onsite Work Details: The Noxious Weed Control Program 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 St, Seattle, WA 98104.
Remote Work Location Requirement: 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 will work a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. The typical work schedule is 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday– Friday. Work outside the typical work schedule including early mornings, evenings and weekends may be required from time to time.
Union Representation: This position is represented by Teamsters Local Union Local 117.
Physical Requirement: This position will be required to set up and take down tabling materials for events 1-2 times per month (carry boxes of materials approximately 25lbs).
Duration: This recruitment aims to fill a Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) position with an anticipated duration of one (1) year. If the position is filled by a King County employee who has successfully completed their initial probation, they will be offered the role as a Special Duty Assignment.
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 one or more panel interviews.
Please ensure that your application materials clearly detail how your skills and experience meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this posting.
To apply, submit a:
Complete Online Application with response to supplemental questions.
Cover Letter.
Writing Sample corresponding with required supplemental question 3.
Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.
Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Isaac Good at (206) 848-0576 or igood@kingcounty.gov.
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