Senior Treatment Planner / WQPPM III
- Summary
King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s (WTD’s) Comprehensive Planning Unit has an exciting opportunity for a senior planner to help develop and implement the county’s wastewater Treatment Planning Program. This position will provide senior level analysis, planning, and policy development expertise in support of WTD’s Treatment Planning Program. This position will also provide senior guidance, input, and review on other planning efforts, including comprehensive system planning, combined sewer overflow control planning, conveyance system capacity planning, inflow and infiltration control planning, and asset management planning. WTD is looking for an innovative wastewater utility planner with experience managing capital projects and programs in a municipal setting. This position requires both working independently and working as a Treatment Planning team member that supports various leads, project managers, and operations staff. The position may involve making decisions with minimal guidance on issues that may not have established or clearly defined guidelines, procedures, or policies. This position will be responsible for elements of the Treatment Planning Program, including representing the Program within the county and to outside agencies and the public. WTD currently operates three large regional treatment plants, two smaller local treatment plants, one community septic system, and four wet-weather treatment stations, with a fifth wet-weather treatment station currently under construction. The individual in this position will have a key role in conducting the planning necessary to ensure that treatment capacity is maintained and expanded as required due to population growth and regulatory requirements, that effluent quality is maintained or improved as required by state and federal permit conditions, and that good use is made of the public’s dollar.
WTD is 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. WTD strives to provide equitable services to residents and businesses across King County.
Who is Eligible: This position is open to all qualified Technical Employees Association (TEA) Wastewater Treatment Division employees.Permanent Telecommuting Requirement
The work associated with this position will be performed remotely on a permanent basis. There will be situations where the employee is required to report to a County worksite. Employees must reside in WA 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 by the department in alignment with the Public Health Directive from the Seattle & King County Public Health Officer. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
To support employees during this time 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.
Work Location: This position will work remotely (home style work environment). There will be an expectation to travel to various worksites throughout King and South Snohomish County as needed for your work.
Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. This full-time position works a 40-hour work week., Monday through Friday.
To learn more about the Wastewater Treatment Division click on the below links:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/About.aspx
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/About/Vision.aspx- Job Duties
- Help lead the development and implementation of the newly-created Treatment Planning Program within the Wastewater Treatment Division, including the development and implementation of a long-term, comprehensive treatment plan.
- Participate on various internal and external teams as a treatment planning representative, offering expertise and needed information on treatment capacity and regulatory issues in the larger context of WTD comprehensive planning, the Regional Wastewater Service Plan, and the Clean Water Plan.
- Review initiatives, plans, regulations, policies, technical studies, and documents for impacts on the regional treatment system and treatment planning program.
- Manage treatment planning projects regarding various treatment processes, including special studies, planning alternative analyses, problem definition, program reviews, and plan updates. Develop and manage project goals and objectives, scope of work, schedule, budget, and public involvement. Develop and provide direction to collaborative, cross-divisional teams making day-to-day decisions regarding tasks, assignments, and conflicts. Develop and manage consultant contracts. Ensure thorough communication between management, program managers, project teams, and support staff.
- Coordinate various types of planning, technical, costing, and policy analyses, including level of treatment, benefit/cost, literature reviews, sustainability, and data statistical analyses to evaluate technical concepts and recommend policies and decisions for the Treatment Planning Program.
- Assist with development of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit renewal applications.
- Coordinate cross-divisionally to consider the nexus and context of other system needs, opportunities, and priorities with treatment capacity and regulatory planning needs, including asset management, operations, resource recovery, technology assessment, sustainability, etc.
- Develop and successfully manage diverse teams that include technical experts from multiple county Sections or Departments.
- Establish and maintain interpersonal relationships. Effectively manage conflict.
- Make oral presentations to elected officials, community groups, and the general public.
- Support the county's Equity and Social Justice Initiative.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in planning or engineering discipline, environmental science, or closely related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Increasingly responsible relevant planning, environmental review, and/or policy development experience.
- Knowledge of secondary treatment of municipal wastewater as well as advanced treatment methods, including nutrient removal.
- Experience implementing various project management and utility planning techniques, principles, and practices.
- Experience using decision making criteria, principles and practices, including supporting/ leading decision-making processes with Executive leadership
- Experience managing consultant contract scopes of work and budgets.
- Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, meeting established deadlines.
- Demonstrated experience working with minimal guidance where there may be ambiguity and established procedures and policies may not exist and must be developed.
- Ability to identify issues needing management attention and input.
- Demonstrated experience evaluating the feasibility of technical concepts, environmental or water quality plans, policies, or research findings.
- Demonstrated ability to think conceptually, observe and evaluate trends, and to analyze and draw logical conclusions.
- Experience with following policy guidance, regulations, and laws, including knowledge of environmental regulations, such as federal Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
- Demonstrated skills verbally communicating complex technical information with colleagues, senior managers, elected officials, other agencies, contractors, stakeholders, advisory groups, and the general public.
- Demonstrated experience producing technical and planning documents for both technical and non-technical audiences; skills include planning, writing, reviewing, and editing for content and readability.
- Demonstrated ability to work successfully with a diverse group of stakeholders, including the public and elected representatives.
- Advanced team building, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills to facilitate the effective exchange of information, problem solving, and the ability to use collaborative processes to successfully execute projects involving a diverse group of individuals from a matrix organization.
- Ability to remain calm and focused while under periods of stress or conflict.
- A working knowledge and proficiency using Microsoft Office software.
Technical Expertise – Provides senior technical expertise and guidance and review to staff and contractors regarding wastewater treatment facilities, wastewater conveyance, and outfalls.
Planning - Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks and projects, sets objective and goals, breaks down work into the process steps, develops schedules and task/people assignments, anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks, measures performance against goals, evaluates results, can effectively manage multiple highly complex projects and programs at the same time as a routine work load.
Building Effective Teams – Blends people into teams when needed, creates strong morale and spirit in their team, shares wins and successes, fosters open dialogue, lets people finish and be responsible for their work, defines success in terms of the whole team, creates a feeling of belonging in the team.
Interpersonal Savvy – Relates well to all kinds of people – up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization, builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective relationships, uses diplomacy and tact, can defuse even high-tension situations comfortably, remains calm under stress, is highly effective in managing conflict.
Informing – Provides the information people need to know to do their jobs and to feel good about being a member of the team, unit, and/or organization; provides individuals information so that they can make accurate decisions, is timely with information.
Strategic Agility – Sees ahead clearly, can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately has broad knowledge and perspective, is future oriented, can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods, can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.
License/Certification: Valid Washington State Driver's License
Highly Desired:- Knowledge of King County’s treatment plants and regional treatment system.
- Knowledge of local government processes, public utility issues, and communications.
Work Environment: Work is performed in both a home office environment and in the field at wastewater treatment facilities of various types throughout King County. These sites may not be served by public transit.- Supplemental Information
Application and Selection Process: Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness including online application, cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.
King County application
Resume
Cover Letter detailing your background and what you can bring to this position
Responses to supplemental questions
Union Representation: This position is represented by the Technical Employee's Association (TEA).
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Diana Eberly
Senior Human Resource Analyst
206-477-6899
Diana.eberly@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.
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 your 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.
-
01Are you applying to this position as a Priority Placement Program Participant And 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 AND 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. AND 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 layoff03Are you a current TEA Wastewater Treatment Division employee?- Yes
- No
Required Question