Mid Level Project Director Jobs

Summary

Work with leadership in the Director’s Office (DO) of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks to coordinate special projects that positively impact the organization and management systems of our four large divisions. You’ll gain an inside perspective on King County and intradepartmental initiatives and issues. You’ll work independently with highly talented leaders and staff to implement initiatives and improvements to existing processes, develop new guidance and processes, and lead one-off projects. If you are self-motivated, curious, and able to jump into new topics and issues; enjoy having a variety of ever-changing projects to complete; exercise sound judgement; and have a leadership perspective, this position will expose you to the wide range of challenges facing a large and complex department within a large, local governmental environment.

In this role, you will be the lynchpin for internal Director’s Office initiatives impacting organizational policy, process, workforce and deliverables to our divisions. You will collaborate with the department’s Chief Administrative Officer and the DO leadership team to manage projects for the department. A person successful in this role will be a trusted self-starter and independent problem solver that understands how to bring plans to fruition. This critical role will be leveraged to lead varying types of projects, from simple data collection to coordinating the development of complex internal policy.

"We are seeking a highly skilled, self-directed Project Manager who can lead a wide range of complex initiatives from concept to completion. This role requires someone who excels at partnering with leadership, coordinating cross-functional teams, and communicating progress and results with clarity and confidence. The ideal candidate is proactive, adaptable, and able to operate with minimal oversight while driving projects forward and ensuring high-quality outcomes."

Projects may include managing Director’s Office process improvement efforts, supporting division-level initiatives, and providing high-level project support on behalf of the Chief Administrative Officer and DO leadership team members such as the Director of Human Resources.

The Director’s Office is a high-performing, creative team that provides strategic direction for one of the nation’s largest metropolitan natural resource agencies. Experts in clean water, habitat restoration, climate action, local food, and historic preservation unify the work of our four divisions to promote healthy, resilient, connected communities.

We provide a wide range of centralized services – emergency management, human resources, finance, government relations, and public affairs – that support our workforce of 2,400 professionals. We collaborate with the Office of the Executive and the Metropolitan King County Council to contribute to King County’s True North.

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 Senior Internal Project Manager, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects from initiation through completion
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight while maintaining high accountability
• Strong skills in planning, coordinating, and facilitating cross-functional and division-level project teams
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with leadership, including directors and senior administrators
• Experience supporting department-wide initiatives and division-specific projects
• Ability to manage high-level administrative assignments supporting senior leaders
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to synthesize information and report progress clearly
• Strong problem-solving ability and comfort navigating ambiguity or changing priorities
• High level of organization, attention to detail, and ability to track multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, foster collaboration, and support team success across the department

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• 5–7+ years of experience leading complex projects or programs in a complex government agency
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional projects and coordinating with multiple departments or divisions.
• Experience preparing executive-level briefings, reports, and strategic recommendations.
• Experience working with or supporting senior leadership (director, deputy director, chief officers, etc.)
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; able to handle multiple competing priorities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially for executive audiences
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and make progress in environments with shifting priorities.

• Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Organizational Savvy: Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

• Strategic Planning experience

• Event planning and management experience

• Experience with group facilitation

• Experience working with Human Resources

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: The Directors Office team 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, Seattle, Washington 98104. 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 works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all background 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.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Mark Workinger at mworkinger@kingcounty.gov.

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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement.