King County'sDepartment of Community and Human Services (DCHS) values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences.
King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community.
DCHS is seeking a Career Service Municipal Relations & Community Engagement Manager to foster engagement with municipal elected officials, their staff, and other local partners regarding DCHS programs and policy goals. The Municipal & Community Relations Manager will primarily focus on successful siting of DCHS-funded capital projects, including but not limited to those funded through the Health through Housing and Crisis Care Centers initiatives.
The Municipal & Community Relations Manager reports to the Department’s Chief of Staff as a member of the Director’s Office External Affairs team. The position also coordinates closely with, and recommends strategies to, the DCHS Director, the Executive’s Office and the five divisions within DCHS.
The incumbent will be a strategic thought partner, bring outstanding relationship-building skills, and demonstrate commitment to advancing racial equity and social justice principles. The ability to be agile and adaptive are critical to success. Leading candidates will possess leadership skills and the ability to facilitate meetings, manage projects and teams, communicate with transparency and clarity, and work in a complex and constantly evolving environment.
As a member of the DCHS External Affairs Team, the Municipal & Community Relations Manager will be assigned a portfolio that will fluctuate over time based on workload and expertise. The primary responsibilities of this position will include:
- Lead negotiation of intergovernmental agreements.
- Organize, present at, and facilitate meetings with municipal partners to promote awareness and collaboration on DCHS programs, including organizing individual meetings, tours, briefings, and other events as needed.
- Partner with DCHS divisions and communications staff to plan and implement site-based community engagement strategies, including drafting materials and planning events.
- Track and promote implementation of intergovernmental initiatives, including monitoring and supporting compliance with commitments and requirements of intergovernmental agreements.
- Establish and maintain liaisons with local governments and other community partners.
- Work with key staff across divisions and external affairs team to develop a communications strategy for municipal siting priorities.
- Monitor, analyze, and report on city legislative activity related to DCHS issues and impacts.
- Create systems to keep relevant DCHS staff informed and appropriately engaged on DCHS’ municipal priorities.
- Support External Affairs Team efforts to identify and advance federal and state budget and policy priorities for the Department.
- Advise DCHS staff on how to advance their goals within the legislative environment.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE:
- Experience working to advance federal, state, or local policies, including but not limited to drafting legislation and legislative summaries, leading community engagement strategies, and/or equivalent education or experience.
- Experience working directly for or with city elected officials and their staff.
- Experience advancing equitable community engagement techniques and racial equity and social justice principles.
- Experience communicating complex subject matter and terminology into succinct, accessible information for elected officials and members of the public.
- Experience working effectively in a high volume, politically sensitive environment.
- Experience with human services issues, including behavioral health, affordable housing, homelessness or other related policy areas.
- Ability to work independently and as a team member.
- Commitment to contributing to a respectful workplace that values the contributions and backgrounds of diverse individuals with varying opinions.
- Committed to equity and race and social justice in developing municipal & community partnerships.
- Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
- Skilled in resolving conflict, making decisions, solving problems, collaborating and negotiating.
- Skilled in reading and interpreting programs, laws, regulations and guidelines written by federal, state and local agencies.
Desired Qualifications
- Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures for the King County, WA region, including knowledge of land use regulations and behavioral health licensing rules.
- Experience with siting complex public facilities (such as housing or behavioral health facilities).
- Experience working in the King County region.
ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:
- This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. 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.
- The 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 Chinook, 401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 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.
- This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime. Typical hours are Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm.
- This position is not represented by a union.
- Classification: Government Relations Administrator
WHO MAY APPLY:
This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around June 15, 2026. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive. If you have any questions, please contact Alicia Larsen, alarsen@kingcounty.gov.
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"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.
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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.
