Wastewater Utility Planner

Job Description:

Wastewater Utility Planner

Description

Summary

This recruitment aims to fill four (4) Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) positions with an anticipated duration of up to 3 years with the possibility of extension. If the position is filled by a King County employee who has successfully completed their initial probation, they will be offered the role as a Special Duty Assignment.

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Clean Water in King County
Are you passionate about protecting the environment and ensuring a sustainable future for our communities? King County Wastewater Treatment is seeking four (4) Wastewater Utility Planners (Water Quality Planner/Project Manager II) to help shape the next generation of regional water infrastructure. Be a part of the long-term planning teams that are at the forefront of planning the upgrades and investments needed to keep our regional sewer system reliable, resilient, and environmentally sound for decades to come.

These positions offer an opportunity to influence how the region meets evolving environmental regulations and maintains the health of Puget Sound. You will work alongside a talented team of planners on complex, meaningful projects that directly protect public health and improve water quality. The work provides technical challenges and interdisciplinary collaboration while offering fulfilling long-term impact and exceptional growth potential. You’ll work on strategic planning, infrastructure investment planning, and interagency coordination - experience that positions you for advancement within one of the nation’s most forward-thinking wastewater utilities. Whether your interests lie in policy, project management, or environmental systems planning, you’ll have the chance to help set the direction for the future of clean water in our region.

About The Role:
As a Wastewater Utility Planner, you’ll play a key role in shaping the future of King County’s regional wastewater system, supporting essential infrastructure that protects public health, safeguards our waterways, and advances environmental equity across our communities. These positions are within the Combined System and Utility Planning group and the Treatment and Separated Conveyance Planning group. These positions will help chart both short- and long-range plans for upgrading and renewing critical infrastructure. Your work will help the County replace aging assets, address and prevent sewer overflows, and plan system improvements that provide sufficient capacity and meet current and future regulatory requirements.

You will collaborate across disciplines, working closely with engineers, scientists, consultants, and community partners, to develop conceptual capital projects that will drive billions of dollars in future investment. From planning upgrades to the combined sewer system to improving treatment plants and separated conveyance system, your contributions will directly influence how the County delivers reliable, sustainable wastewater services for generations to come.

This role is ideal for an excellent communicator who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment and is motivated by complex planning challenges that have real-world impact. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your technical and analytical skills while supporting King County’s commitment to innovation, equity, and environmental stewardship. Work is performed in a hybrid environment with a balance of remote collaboration and onsite engagement.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About The Team:
The Combined System and Utility Planning and Treatment and Separated Conveyance Planning groups serve a critical role at the leading edge of Wastewater Treatment’s capital delivery pipeline by identifying future projects that help to shape the future of the region’s wastewater system. Wastewater Treatment’s capital delivery program has over 250 employees, is on track to deliver over $500M in capital projects this year and is anticipated to expand to deliver nearly $2B per year within a decade. Our work within the Planning Groups guides major investments that improve public health and protect water quality and the environment in the Puget Sound region for decades to come.

Our teams value adaptability and collaboration and we’re committed to solutions that reflect King County’s priorities for environmental stewardship, quality of service, social equity, and financial accountability. Our team members are empowered to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, learn and grow from each other, and drive innovative approaches to complex challenges.

Highlights of working with us include:

• Supportive, collaborative colleagues
• Professional growth and learning opportunities
• Flexible schedules and work arrangements
• A mix of independent and team-based work

As strategic partners in planning and project delivery, our staff help guide major decisions that strengthen King County’s wastewater system now and for the future.

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. In this role, 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 for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). 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.

Job Duties

• Review initiatives, plans, regulations, policies, technical studies, and documents for impacts on the wastewater system.
• Assist in the coordination and development of various types of planning processes and documents, including but not limited project cost estimates, policy analyses, cost/benefit analysis, literature reviews, sustainability analyses, data analyses, and technology reviews.
• Coordinate with other units within Wastewater Treatment to consider and incorporate other system needs, opportunities, and priorities as they relate to various planning programs.
• Incorporate principles of sustainability and equity, as described in the County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan and Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan, into planning programs and projects.
• Prepare written reports, memos, presentations, spreadsheets, and other documents necessary to support various planning programs and inform decision making processes.
• Support project teams by managing SharePoint sites, document reviews, meeting notes, decision logs, etc.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Must Bring:

• Experience in planning, engineering, environmental science, public administration, environmental review, research, or policy analysis.
• Experience reviewing, evaluating the feasibility of, and drawing logical conclusions from technical studies, plans, policies, or research findings.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for conveying technical information to a wide variety of expert and non-expert audiences.
• Experience and/or knowledge of project management, contract management, and/or team management techniques, principles, and/or practices.

Competencies You Bring:

• Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Collaborates - Works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives. Represents own interests while being fair to others and their areas. Partners with others to get work done. Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments. Gains trust and support of others.
• Action Oriented - Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
• Interpersonal Savvy - Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
• Nimble Learning - Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience and/or knowledge of planning techniques, principles, and practices to develop plans and solutions for complex projects
• Knowledge of wastewater conveyance and/or treatment methods and techniques
• Knowledge of environmental regulations, such as federal Clean Water Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: The Combined System and Utility Planning and Treatment and Separated Conveyance Planning Groups work 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 the Collaboration space at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104 and King County Treatment Plants . 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, Monday - Friday. 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 represented by Technical Employees’ Association (TEA) - Wastewater Treatment Division

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We value diverse perspectives, life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds 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. Applications without the following required materials will not be considered for this position.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

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

Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment (subject to change):

• Virtual Technical Interviews (20 minutes) - Week of TBD
• Panel Interviews with writing exercise (120 minutes) - Week of 9/28

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Mark Workinger - [email protected]

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website ?and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) ,? Instagram ,? YouTube and our WTD Blog .

Discover More about DNRP: Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

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.
Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Mark Workinger at [email protected]

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here .

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

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.

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
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal 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.

Closing Date/Time: 8/24/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$101,617.98 - $128,806.50 Annually