King County Parks is seeking an energetic and motivated people leader to provide high level guidance and management for the daily operations of the Community Investments and Engagement (CIE) Section.

About the Role: The Community Investments and Engagement (CIE) Section Manager leads five dynamic teams that connect King County communities to parks and public spaces in meaningful and equitable ways:

• Communications 
• Community Outreach and Engagement 
• Grants Administration & Operations
• Grants Development and Management 
• Parks Volunteer Program

Together, these teams advance a shared mission: to invest in and improve community access to parks and recreation by creating a transparent, accessible, and inclusive parks and trails system informed by community voices, and designed to foster welcoming, safe environments for all.

As a key member of the Parks Management team, this position contributes to division-wide priorities and decision-making. The Section Manager oversees the implementation of   multi-million-dollar grants programs, manages the operational budget for the CIE section, and champions a thriving workplace culture that nurtures employee development and belonging.

This role requires a strategic leader who can navigate complex, sensitive issues with a strong racial and social justice lens. The Section Manager regularly engages with Parks leadership to communicate the work and goals of the CIE team, gather input, and ensure alignment with broader Parks initiatives-including the King County Parks Levy. They are responsible for equipping their teams with the resources and planning needed to deliver impactful, community-centered programs across the system.

This position performs work remotely and onsite.  

About the Team: The CIE Section plays a pivotal role within the division, overseeing key investment initiatives that expand access to parks, open space, and recreation opportunities across King County. This includes administration of grant programs funded by the voter-approved 2020-2025 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Levy and the Youth and Amateur Sports Grants program. 

The section houses our Communications Unit and Community Outreach and Engagement Unit, which both work cross-functionally to foster inclusive community participation, amplify the benefits of parks and trails, and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders through communications, outreach, and exceptional customer service.

This section also houses the Parks Volunteer Program which provides meaningful opportunities to connect people of all ages to our parks through hands-on service learning, environmental education, and paid teen career pathway development programming, the Youth Conservation Corps.  

CIE is instrumental to the division's commitment to leading with equity. The section exemplifies how equity is embedded into agency decision-making processes, while also creating meaningful pathways for community members to connect with and shape the future of King County's parks and public spaces.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice: 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 the Community Investments and Engagement Section Manager you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Apply now and join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities.  Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

What You Will Be Doing: 

• Lead, manage, supervise and support a dedicated team with a shared vision and sense of purpose, creating ongoing opportunities for learning, growth, innovation, and creativity. 
• Guide strategic planning initiatives and decision-making to build on the team's strengths and opportunities.  
• Establish measures of success, determine performance indicators and use findings to redirect programs as necessary.
• Foster a collaborative, supportive, inclusive and diverse culture for the section. Build, engage, empower, coach, mentor, and develop future leaders.   
• Make informed decisions in a timely matter to resolve complex issues.
• Oversee multiple priorities, provide strategic direction, delegate and assign work, and remove obstacles to get work done effectively.
• Oversee the financial administration and management of the Section, including preparation, review, and oversight of the Section's budget and compliance with all local, state, and federal requirements. Develop, implement and monitor biennial program budget.
• Provide strategic thinking to improve equitable access to parks and recreation through section programmatic areas: communications, engagement, volunteer program, grantmaking, grant administration, etc.
• Collaborate and build relationships across a range of stakeholders including cities, tribes, park districts, environmental non-profits, community groups and elected officials.

Qualifications You Bring: 

• At least five years of progressively responsible management experience in public or private sector supervising multi-functional teams.
• Working knowledge of grant programs, community engagement, and communication strategies across a large organization.
• Demonstrated experience in financial oversight and budget management, including the development and administration of complex program budgets with a strong understanding of compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Demonstrated skill in organizational positioning and customer relations, including developing and maintaining working relationships with other agencies, tribes, jurisdictions, residents, and businesses. 
• Proficiency in setting and prioritizing work plans, making timely tough decisions, and implementing necessary tasks to support them.
• Experience communicating clearly and effectively with people of varying technical and cultural backgrounds, including elected officials.  
• Demonstrated skill in establishing and maintaining work relationships with a diverse group of people and community members.
• Demonstrated skills in incorporating and implementing equity and social justice best practices in community outreach and grant making.

• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Directs Work: Providing direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Drives Engagement: Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically weekly. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department's vision of Green Where We Work.  
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements. 
• 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 Patty Jurgens at patty.jurgens@kingcounty.gov.

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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.