Summary
- This position is only open to current King County employees. **
King County Road Services Division, Strategic Business Operations Section (SBOS) is looking for a
Grants Planning and Strategy Manager (Strategic Planning Manager I) to join our dynamic division! Our successful candidate will provide management and direction for Road Services Division staff responsible for strategic planning, grants administration, and transportation planning. This position will facilitate the development and administration of the Division’s long-term strategic, business, and transportation planning, and the division’s grants program.
Our commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice
The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity, Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people, partners, and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge this journey is ongoing, and were main steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike.
Job Duties
- Supervise a diverse technical and professional group that is comprised of transportation planners and project/program managers.
- Responsibly direct and lead strategic planning for complex projects, ensuring work complies with all relevant laws, regulations, and County policies.
- Contribute to a work environment that embraces and encourages diversity; where differences are valued by demonstrating behaviors that include fairness, respect and inclusiveness.
- Build and nurture trust and rapport with various staff groups across business lines to understand their strengths and challenges and ensure smooth progress of programs and projects.
- Support the development and delivery of documentation and reporting of performance measures, key indicators, quality assurance, and improvement measures across the Division.
- Develop, manage and/or assist with the development of the Road Services Division annual business plan.
- Develop, manage and/or assist with the preparation of planning studies; review complex technical reports and make recommendations.
- Oversee and assist with the preparation of grant applications and devise strategies to secure new grants.
- Facilitate staff development and growth through training and mentoring initiatives that fosters a collaborative work environment capable of effectively adapting to change.
- Analyze legal, technical, financial, political, and other related aspects of assigned projects. Formulate and develop recommendations and/or legislation based on issues analysis and input from both internal and external customer and the community.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Values
- Serve with integrity.
- Show initiative and work hard.
- Prioritize outcomes over optics.
- Center those most impacted and put “boots on the ground.”
- Solve problems with a “yes, and” mindset
- Work as one, adaptable, mission-driven team
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in strategic planning and development and/or operational planning, transportation planning, public administration, or government affairs.
- Experience supervising staff, developing, and implementing work plans, and evaluating staff performance.
- Knowledge of transportation planning, grants administration, budget development, and business planning.
- Exceptional analytical, communication, writing, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of participants, from staff to community partners, including making formal presentations to groups and committees.
- A proven record of translating policy into measurable results.
- Strong organizational, time management and planning skills while also demonstrating skills in making timely quality decisions.
- Strong problem-solving, conflict resolution, negotiating and decision making.
- Experience managing and leading multi-discipline work teams; skill in working with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
It Would Be Great If You Also Bring
- Experience managing projects for a large organization with diverse business operations, strategic information requirements and priorities.
- Regulatory strategic ability including regulatory interpretation, compliance risk assessment, negotiation, interaction with regulators and experience crafting and implementing regulatory mechanisms.
- Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
- Experience in successfully managing competing priorities and deadlines where goals and interests may conflict.
- A deep commitment to transparency, equity, and service excellence in government.
Supplemental Information
INTERVIEW SCHEDULE: Those applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to participate in an interview the week of 2/16/2026.
WHO MAY APPLY: This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill current and or/future career service, term-limited temporary, short-term temporary, and or/special duty positions over the next six months.
APPLICATION PROCESS: A full and complete King County application is required. You may also provide a resume and cover letter, summarizing how you meet the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position. Applicants will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews.
For interviewing tips, please see the STAR-LA method: star-la_interview_method.pdf
WORK SCHEDULE: The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8.00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and adjustments to the schedule may be discussed with your supervisor. This position is Exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION STATUS: This position has been designated Mission-Critical. Those employees who provide, maintain, and re-establish essential county functions as described in agency Continuity of Operations plans.
Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency.
UNION MEMBERSHIP: This position is not represented.
TELEWORKING REQUIREMENT: We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps.
WORK LOCATION: Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Your primary onsite workspace will be at King Street Center, 201 S Jackson St, Seattle.
Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
To learn more about the Department of Local Services, please visit our website at: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/local-services
Forbes 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.
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.
For More Information Regarding This Recruitment, Please Contact
Janice Antonio
Human Resource Analyst
206-263-2003
jantonio@kingcounty.gov
Benefits
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:
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
- 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: eligible King County employees may 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
- 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite activity centers
- Employee Giving Program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.
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.
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.
01
Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee 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 Career Service 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.
02
If 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 layoff
03
In your previous role(s) how have you contributed to the development and implementation of strategic planning for complex projects, where you had to ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and organizational policies? If this is not applicable to you, please state “N/A”.
04
Grants administration plays a crucial role in funding transportation projects. Please describe your experience managing or overseeing grants administration for transportation related initiatives? If this is not applicable to you, please state “N/A”.
05
Do you have experience developing project scopes, schedules, and budgets?
06
If you answered yes to the above question, please indicate the type(s) of projects you worked with and where you gained the experience. If this is not applicable to you, please state “N/A”.
