Senior Community Engagement Planner IV (Multiple Positions)
- Summary
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Are you looking for a career in facilitation and engagement?
Do you have experience in developing public or employee involvement processes?Do you have experience in centering communities in decision-making processes?Do you have a strong commitment to equity and inclusion?
If you are interested in helping the public and employees have their say and make a difference in the services we offer, we have opportunities for you!
King County Metro Transit’s General Manager division has multiple exciting opportunities for a Senior Community Engagement Planner IV! The GM group seeks strong communicators who can translate complex facts and figures into understandable messages. The Senior Community Engagement Planner will design and facilitate processes that engage people in shaping decisions and transforming policies and practices, allowing Metro to continue to build a system and deliver transportation services that matter to our customers and the region. These actions are key to delivering more equitable outcomes.
- Job Duties
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.
As the Senior Community Engagement Planner IV, you will:
- Build, strengthen, and manage collaborative and constructive relationships with our customers, stakeholders, and the diverse communities we serve to achieve important customer, community, and agency outcomes.
- Design and facilitate inclusive outreach and involvement efforts that increase public participation, influence decision-making, and transform our policies and practices.
- Ensure the diverse voices of King County's marginalized populations are equitably heard and considered in capital, service, and program planning.
- Facilitate members of the public and employees, historically underrepresented people and organizations, and stakeholders in one-on-one conversations, small and large group settings, and through various participatory methods to provide meaningful feedback to decision-makers and make collaborative decisions.
- Use conflict management skills to manage diversity and understand others; deal effectively with all races, nationalities, cultures, disabilities, ages, and sexes; and understand why groups do what they do.
- Use your intellectual horsepower and political savvy to maneuver through complex political situations, anticipate where the land mines are, and plan communication and engagement approaches accordingly, deal comfortably with senior managers and the public without undue tension and nervousness.
- Use listening, facilitation, planning, and organizing skills to both receive and deliver the creative ideas of others to the forefront; relate well to all kinds of people and get messages across in a variety of communication settings and styles.
- Use strategic agility to anticipate future consequences and trends accurately, and articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods.
- Transform complex information into simple, understandable words, digital and print media to help people understand issues being considered, how their input will make a difference, provide informed feedback, and reflect how their participation influenced outcomes.
- Lead teams of communication and technical professionals to design and implement engagement plans that involve the community in decision-making.
- Provide day-to-day guidance and mentorship of Community Engagement Planners II and III.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
We are looking for candidates who have the following:
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in public engagement and community relations, Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience that provides the skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform the key roles and responsibilities of the position.
Must also be skilled people leaders who are/have:- Demonstrated experience building effective cross-functional teams in diverse work environments while creating strong morale, instilling vision and purpose, and fostering dialog.
- Skilled in dealing with paradox and are very flexible and adaptable when facing tough calls.
- Knowledge of know how to build relationships and treat all employees and customers equitably, with respect and dignity, as well as solve problems for the good of all.
- Fluency in one of King County's top languages – referred to as Tier 1 or Tier 2 languages in the County's Executive Order on Translation (Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Ukrainian, Amharic, Punjabi).
- Knowledge of local community issues and/or relationships with community-based organizations, community leaders, and government agencies in the Puget Sound Region.
- Knowledge of transportation issues and projects and experience involving the public in shaping transportation and capital planning.
- Supplemental Information
Who May Apply
This position is open to the general public and all King County employees.
Required Application Materials
Applicants must submit a (1) King County Application, (2) Complete the supplemental questionnaire, and (3) Attach a Cover Letter describing how your experience has prepared you to be successful in this position.
This job posting will be used to fill two special duty (SDA) or term-limited temporary (TLT) positions for a 12 to 24 - month opportunity.
This recruitment will also be used to establish an eligibility pool to fill future career service, short-term temporary, term-limited temporary, and/or special duty assignment opportunities in the same classification. The eligibility pool will be valid for 12 months upon creation, or until exhausted, at the discretion of the hiring authority.
Application Process
Applicants should complete the online application, which includes the Supplemental Questions. NOTE: Please answer ALL questions in the online employment application itself, with each of your jobs listed (listing each position for each employer separately), duties explained, reasons for leaving, salary, etc. Your job history in the employment application should go back ten years (if you have ten years of employment). Earlier jobs should be included if they are relevant in some way to this job.
Selection Process
Application materials will be screened for qualifications, clarity, and completeness. Competitive applicants may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Final offers are contingent on the successful completion of reference checks.
Work Schedule
This position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore not eligible for overtime pay. The workweek is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, with additional hours as necessary, including evenings and weekends.
Class Code: 2501400 (Communications Specialist IV)
Grade: 64
Teleworking Requirement
The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly by teleworking, complemented by onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities.) Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.
For more information on this recruitment, please contact:
Tracy Bylund at tbylund@kingcounty.gov
Forbes recently 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.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
King County Executive Branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are the successful candidate for the position you applied for, the County will send you a conditional offer letter.
As a condition of employment, prior to a final offer of employment, you will be required to:- Submit proof of vaccination, or
- Have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
People are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving the final dose of a vaccination approved by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Executive Branch includes employees in the Executive branch, the Assessor's Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Executive Office.
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:
- 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
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.
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01Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
- Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
- No.
02If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff03Please describe how you would commit to applying King County's core values of inclusion, equity, and social justice in your work.04Tells us what interests you in a position that emphasizes community engagement.Required Question