Equity and Engagement Program Manager – Seattle – King County

SUMMARY:
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is currently recruiting for an Equity and Engagement Program Manager to lead the department in becoming a more equitable, racially diverse and inclusive work environment as well as working closely with DOT Communications and Government Relations staff to build and sustain community partnerships. This individual will plan, coordinate and lead numerous multi-faceted projects and programs to support equity and social justice – a priority area for the County Executive.

This position will lead Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Strategic Plan implementation and the incorporation of an equity lens in work throughout the Department, our services and programs and how we serve community. This position will also support administration of annual Employee Survey, subsequent Action Planning and employee engagement implementation efforts.

The selected candidate will support various programs developed, implemented, and/or managed by DOT agencies and/or the Office of Equity and Social Justice. This position will also lead various departmental programs, strategic initiatives and/or projects and serve as the DOT representative on assigned countywide initiatives in coordination with other Departments, the Executive’s Office, and/or Council.

The most competitive candidate will have a passion for equity, social and racial justice, employee engagement, as well as, possess strong project management and communication skills.

King County Department of Transportation
King County’s Department of Transportation is a leader in this nation’s public transportation industry. KCDOT is composed of the Metro Transit, Road Services, Fleet Administration, King County Airport, and Marine Divisions. Each division plays a unique role in getting people to work quickly and comfortably, reducing commuter stress, providing efficient transportation infrastructure for our vital regional economy, greening the environment, radically improving urban air quality and preparing for the impacts of climate change.

Who May Apply
This position is open to the general public and all King County employees.

Required Application Materials
Applicants for this position are required to submit the complete online application form and answers to the attached supplemental questions. A resume and cover letter are required. Your cover letter should explain why you are interested in this position and how your background has prepared you for it.

Work Schedule
The work week will normally be within the 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday timeframe. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is not eligible for overtime pay. Extended and/or flex scheduled work hours may be required.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Mara Sims
Senior Human Resource Analyst
206-477-2358#
Mara.Sims@kingcounty.gov

JOB DUTIES:
Working with others in the department, lead Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) work, including ESJ Strategic Plan implementation, and represent the DOT on the County’s ESJ Inter-branch team. Responsibilities include: report preparation, documentation, policy analysis, information gathering, and sharing.
Provide support to programs established, implemented, and/or managed by DOT agencies and/or the Office of Equity and Social Justice. Such support will include activities such as: developing work plans and policies, developing policy recommendations, ensuring that relevant reporting and documentation requirements are met, participating on program and/or project teams and assisting with grant application development.
Obtain buy-in from key stakeholders and implement plan project improvements designed to fully leverage internal and external ESJ opportunities. Conduct outreach and engagement opportunities throughout the organization and community.
Expand, diversify, and strengthen alliances with public, private, and civic sector partners to develop and implement ESJ strategies and shape decision-making, including engaging groups serving limited English speaking, low income, and racially diverse populations.
Support administration of annual employee survey and subsequent action planning, implementation, and reporting efforts.
Manage interagency projects on behalf of the Department that could be in the areas of employee engagement and/or other projects or programs as assigned.
Lead various departmental programs, committees, strategic initiatives and/or projects and serve as the DOT representative on assigned countywide initiatives in coordination with other Departments, the Executive’s Office and/or Council.
Coordinate assignments, communications, and meetings with a variety of stakeholders.
Handle politically sensitive inquiries about assigned projects and/or initiatives.
Manage and troubleshoot issues on behalf of the Department.
Perform other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:
Our ideal candidate will be competent in:

Motivating others and creating an environment where people want to do their best
Organizing and marshaling resources to get things done
Generating trust and confidence in the integrity of the process and person
Attentive and active listening
Promoting robust public engagement that informs, involves, and empowers people and communities

Minimum Qualifications:
Commitment to advancing equity, social and racial justice in King County.
Demonstrated project management skills, including ability to prioritize project activities.
Experience preparing project communications.
Strong customer service skills with the ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with managers, employees and community partners.
Strong collaboration and engagement skills.
Program evaluation, advocacy and promotion skills.
Skill in facilitation, coordination and negotiation to engage and ensure timely accomplishment of work goals throughout the organization.
Ability to work in an environment that may include ambiguity and political sensitivity.
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills, including a range of writing ability that spans writing executive summaries to sharing information and direction.
Strong interpersonal skills, humor and compassion.
Proficient in MS Office, Outlook, and Word.
Ability to work effectively as a team leader and member to coordinate accomplishment of tasks while using pro-equity, collaborative decision making approach.

Desired Qualifications:
Experience managing and coordinating projects and/or processes in public sector environment along with knowledge of associated principles and procedures.
Demonstrated experience assessing and analyzing ESJ issues in an organization and facilitating enhancements.
Experience developing, leading and implementing equity and social justice programs to address institutional and structural racism.
Survey and employee engagement experience.
Successful, demonstrated experience analyzing organizational environments, developing cross departmental programs and providing recommendations for organizational enhancements that meet both business and ESJ needs.
Strong presentation skills and experience conducting trainings in an effective and informative manner.
Experience developing partnerships between government, non-profit organizations, educational institutions and grass roots community groups.
Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative, productive and respectful relationships with leaders and other institutions and groups, including but not limited to communities of color, immigrant and refugee communities, business and philanthropy.
Skills in program evaluation, advocacy and promotion.
Skills in gathering, manipulating and using computerized data utilizing MS Excel.
Proficient in Excel and SharePoint
Experience with performance measurement and management.
Bilingual language skills a plus.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Application Process
Applicants should complete the online application, which includes the Supplemental Questions. Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions under Tips On Applying at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs. If you need an accommodation in the recruitment process or an alternate format of this announcement, please inquire directly with the Human Resources contact for this job announcement, Mara Sims, at 206-477-2358# or Mara.Sims@kingcounty.gov.

Selection Process
Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. There could also be a written exercise. Reference checks will be conducted before hire.

King County Metro Transit is committed to promoting equal employment opportunity, affirmative action and diversity in the workplace.

Class Code: Project Program Manager III 2441300

Note: Online applications are preferred. However, if you cannot apply online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for other options.

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