Asset R&R Planning Program Manager

This opportunity is open to current King County employees.

We are not accepting external applications at this time.

About the Role:

As the Program Manager for the Asset Renewal and Replacement Planning Program you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our regional wastewater system. As a senior leader within the Combined System and Utility Planning Group you will guide strategic planning efforts and coordinate across multiple technical disciplines. This position guides a team of talented professionals who are tackling some of the most challenging infrastructure management issues faced by utilities throughout the country and this role you will:

• Drive major planning efforts such as the Strategic Asset Management Plan and the Long-term Asset Renewal and Replacement Plan to provide a roadmap to guide capital investments for decades to come.
• Report on the status and progress of the planning program and asset renewal and replacement implementation.
• Facilitate and guideWastewater Treatments Asset Management Steering Committee to ensure high-priority issues are addressed by division leadership.
• Develop conceptual capital projects that progress into project delivery and drive large capital investments in wastewater infrastructure.
• Lead strategic planning processes and recommend policy guiding decision-making at the intersection of infrastructure environmental stewardship and equity.
• Build strong partnerships with other Wastewater Treatment programs component agencies and consultants.
• Oversee a teamof entry and mid-level staff by providing technical and strategic guidance direction and review.

About the Team:

King County Wastewater Treatments mission is to protect public health and the environment by collecting and cleaning wastewater while recovering valuable resources for a thriving Puget Sound. Our regional wastewater treatment system serves about 2 million residents and an area of about 424 square miles in the greater Seattle metropolitan area. The system operates around the clock to sustain a healthy environment and support economic development that enables our region to flourish. Wastewater Treatments Planning and Project Delivery Section has over 250 employees is on track to deliver nearly $500M in capital projects this year and is anticipated to deliver over $1B per year by the end of the decade. The Combined System and Utility Planning group within this section serves a critical role at the leading edge of the capital delivery pipeline by identifying future projects to be constructed.

Our Combined System and Utility Planning group develops short and long-range plans for upgrading the combined system adapting to climate change renewing and replacing aging assets and updating the agencys comprehensive sewer system plan. The Combined System and Utility Planning Group is committed to Wastewater Treatments core values of environmental stewardship quality of service and financial accountability. Team members are empowered to work collaboratively communicate effectively learn and grow from each other and create innovative solutions. Our commitment to equity and social justice consistent with King Countys values makes our teams stronger and allows us to serve King County residents more effectively especially related to environmental determinants of equity.

Working in the Combined System and Utility Planning Group offers:

• Highly collaborative and supportive colleagues
• Opportunities for professional growth and continuous learning
• Flexible schedules and work arrangements
• A mix of independent and team-based work
• Cross-divisional collaboration with staff across operations and other work units

Our staff are critical strategic partners in shaping the processes and deliverables that guide major investment decisions contributing directly to the long-term resilience and sustainability of King Countys wastewater system.

What YouWillBe Doing:

• Lead planning and analysis: Oversee coordinate and execute plans studies technical analyses cost estimates and policy evaluations to assess technical concepts and recommend short and long-term asset renewal and replacement planning and policy decisions.
• Foster collaboration: Work closely and coordinate across divisions sections and agencies to integrate system needs opportunities and priorities with capacity and regulatory planning. Build strong relationships with county staff leadership local sewer agencies regulators and other interested parties.
• Guide long-term planning initiatives: Lead a team in developing long-term plans and obtaining necessary approvals for implementation. Establish processes for engagement with senior leadership elected officials regulators tribal interests and/or the public.
• Prepare planning documentation: Lead or guide the creation of planning documents technical reports memos presentations and other materials that outline methods and strategies for long-term investment in treatment plants.
• Manage program work: Develop and track program work plans scopes budgets and schedules. Provide guidance direction and support to program staff and consultants to ensure successful project delivery.
• Facilitate meetings of the Asset Management Steering Committee and ensure high priority asset management issues are addressed.
• Guide and lead a team: Foster a collaborative inclusive and respectful team culture while providing mentorship guidance and clear direction to staff and consultants to support both individual growth and program success.
• Incorporate principles of sustainability and equity as described in the Countys Strategic Climate Action Plan and Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan into the Asset Renewal and Replacement Planning Program.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Professional work experience and/or education in planning engineering science business administration public administration or a related field with increasing responsibility for managing large and complex programs or projects.
• Experience conducting developing or leading long-term public-sector planning.
• Knowledge of asset management protocols and standards.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for conveying technical information to a wide variety of expert and non-expert audiences.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of project management contract management team management and planning techniques principles and practices.
• Experience working independently with minimal guidance where there may be ambiguity and established procedures and policies may not exist and must be developed to craft solutions and pathways leading to recommendations.

• Manages Complexity - Making sense of complex high quantity and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Plans and Aligns -Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Collaborates- Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively- Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Manages Ambiguity - Operating effectively even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.

• Knowledge of asset management best practices
• Knowledge of wastewater conveyance and treatment methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of local government processes public utility issues and communications.
• Experience using decision making criteria principles and practices including identifying issues needing management attention/input.