Water Quality Planner/Project Manager III (Senior Data Steward)

Summary This posting is open to all qualified candidates.

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The ECSS section advances the values of King County and the Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) by protecting public health and the environment and providing equitable, inclusive services to residents and businesses across King County. To our agency, success means providing clean water safely and reliably to the next generation. It also means being accountable to our ratepayers and operating a well-managed agency. We are committed to the principles of equity and social justice. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.

About The Role:

The successful candidate will establish, monitor, and improve data quality and data management practices for the Environmental and Community Services Section. This position will lead efforts to ensure that section data is accurate, complete, consistent, timely, secure, and fit for operational, programmatic, regulatory, and public reporting needs. The candidate will also conduct data analyses, build data dashboards, and collaborate closely with teams to develop and implement data solutions to workflow challenges. The section’s Data Steward will work closely with program staff, information technology teams, analysts, records professionals, and section leadership. The successful candidate will have technical data management and analysis skills, strong communication skills, and project management abilities. The candidate will assist in managing the division’s outreach tracking and recording database, including user training and record maintenance. Similar responsibilities may also become necessary to support data management for the division’s local permitting, real estate, environmental permitting, and education teams.

About The Team:

The Environmental and Community Services Section makes sure WTD’s projects and programs proceed efficiently and successfully. In this position you will assist section staff efforts to promote projects with the public, permitters and regulators by ensuring section staff log and maintain their project data according to standards you will establish and be responsible for maintaining with the assistance and support of section people leaders. Ultimately your work will help WTD serve its 2 million ratepayers by encouraging a more coordinated, responsive and collaborative approach to the division’s critical work to project public health and the environment. WTD is a collaborative, inclusive environment. If you have the right technical skills and a strong commitment to serving others, you can become part of a team that makes meaningful contributions to the region’s well-being every day. King County offers competitive benefits and a pension plan. Successful WTD employees enjoy long careers working with talented, committed colleagues who share their interest in public service. 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

• Lead and support data quality improvement projects from planning through implementation. This includes working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to understand existing processes, identify gaps and limitations, evaluate potential solutions, and drive implementation. Provide guidance on data entry standards, validation controls, and quality assurance procedures.
• Develop and maintain section-wide data quality standards and procedures in alignment with division standards and policies. Practices will include defining data quality rules, metrics, thresholds, and reporting requirements. Practices must comply with applicable laws, regulations, accessibility requirements, records obligations, and division policies.
• Establish processes for monitoring data quality in databases, applications, reports, and data exchanges. Coordinate data cleaning, correction, documentation, and remediation activities. Activities will include identifying duplicate, incomplete, inaccurate, outdated, inconsistent, or improperly coded records. Support the development and maintenance of data dictionaries.
• Develop and deliver customized team trainings and 1:1 coaching on data-management best practices. Create and maintain reference materials to improve staff understanding of data responsibilities.
• Conduct data analyses to inform decision-making, evaluate program impacts, and respond to analytical requests from teams and division leadership. Develop and maintain data dashboards, scorecards, and performance reports - covering both data-quality metrics and broader analytical needs - in consultation with teams and division leadership.
• Design and implement systems and tools that streamline workflows by reducing manual data entry or data migrations.
• Publish and maintain datasets, reports, documents, and related digital content on SharePoint and internal or public-facing websites using content management systems (CMS), such as Sitecore, while following established accessibility, records management, and web publishing standards.
• Perform other related duties as assigned. Infrequently, work duties may require availability on weekends or outside of normal working hours.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Must Bring:

• Four years of progressively responsible experience in data quality, data management, data governance or data analysis, and maintaining PPI security.
• Experience developing data quality frameworks, standards, controls, and operating procedures.
• Experience leading projects independently, building relationships across diverse teams, and facilitating cross-functional workgroups.
• Ability to collaborate with non-technical teams to understand their data systems, elicit requirements, understand workflow challenges, and develop and implement appropriate data solutions. Experience clearly communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency with data analysis tools such as Microsoft Excel (including Power Query and VBA), SQL, Python, or R, and with data visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
• Ability to use software that supports the delivery of a work product, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, SharePoint and Zoom.

Competencies You Bring:

• Optimizes Work Processes: The position will identify, build and help maintain the processes necessary to ensure section data is properly managed for use across the division. Those processes will need to separate and/or combine activities into efficient workflows for users of various skill levels and aptitudes. This body of work will evolve, so the position will also be expected to find ways to improve processes, from small tweaks to complete reengineering.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Customer Focus: Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer-centric solutions. Gains insight into customer needs. Identifies opportunities that benefit the customer. Builds and delivers solutions that meet customer expectations. Establishes and maintains effective customer relationships
• Drives Results: Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances. Has a strong bottom-line orientation. Persists in accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks. Has a track record of exceeding goals successfully. Pushes self and helps others achieve results
• Interpersonal Savvy: Relates openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people. Relates comfortably with people across levels, functions, culture, and geography. Acts with diplomacy and tact. Builds rapport in an open, friendly, and accepting way. Builds constructive relationships with people both similar and different to self. Picks up on interpersonal and group dynamics.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Experience working in a large, complex organization with multiple teams and layered decision-making structures involving multiple levels of review or approval across varied stakeholders.
• Experience developing and delivering trainings or presentations on data-management best practices or data analysis techniques.
• Experience designing tools or workflows that replace manual data entry, data preparation, or reporting with automated systems.
• Familiarity with public records, accessibility, privacy, security, or regulatory requirements.
• Experience with cloud-based data engineering practices, including ETL workflows, working with APIs, and managing data in cloud environments.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: The Environmental Community Services unit 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 at the 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.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by 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.

Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment (subject to change):

• Technical Vetting Interviews (20 minutes): last two weeks in December
• TEAMS interviews: (50 minutes): first two weeks in January

Applications without the following required materials will not be considered for this position.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Responses to Supplemental Questions

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

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook (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 (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 Emiliya Makaryan at emiliya.makaryan@kingcounty.gov. 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.

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.