Insurance Program Manager Jobs in Kirkland, WA (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $126,922.02 - $160,880.93 Annually
Location : King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service (Exec)
Job Number: 2026JI27561
Department: DES - Executive Services
Division: Risk Mgmt
Opening Date: 08/31/2026
Closing Date: 9/21/2026 12:00 AM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week
Summary
King County's Office of Risk Management Services (ORMS) is seeking a Risk Insurance Program Manager to perform a range of duties vital to insurance program development and maintenance, contractual risk transfer formulation tailored to various County engagements, and recovery claim oversight. The responsibilities of this classification include supervising assigned insurance and contract staff and providing coordination of all insurance for King County and insurance requirements for King County contracts with third parties.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the ORMS management team!
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES

• The Office of Risk Management Services provides external services to the community as well as internal services to King County agencies, including Insurance: King County administers a self-insurance program and purchases a variety of other insurance policies and related services consistent with sound risk management practices and the needs of the County.
• Contracts: ORMS advises King County agencies on insurance requirements in all types of contracts. ORMS actively negotiates these provisions and, together with the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, assists agencies in pursuing and tendering claims arising out of contractual relations.
• Recovery Services: ORMS is charged with seeking compensation for damage caused to King County property or injury to King County employees by negligent third parties.
• Enterprise Risk Management Program (ERM): ERM works to proactively identify and assess high priority risks and improve controls and provides relevant qualitative and quantitative data to King County departments to support their decision making and action planning.
• Claims: King County investigates, evaluates, and resolves claims made against the county in a fair and expeditious manner.
• Finance & Administration: provides a wide range of financial and administrative support services to the division including budget, accounting, and general office support.
• Open Government: Seeks to deliver government transparency, accountability, and accessibility through administration of the Public Records (Disclosure) Program, Ethics Program, Financial Disclosure Program, and Lobbyist Disclosure Program.

To learn more about ORMS, visit our website at:
Job Duties
Scope of Job Duties: At a minimum, the successful candidate must demonstrate knowledge, skill, and ability to:

• Manage and oversee the County's comprehensive self-insured liability insurance program and large commercial insurance portfolio, which encompass more than 20 various types of coverage. Ensure alignment of self-insurance and commercial insurance programs with the County's risk appetite and risk management strategies.
• Manage and facilitate insurance broker service contracts and relationships.
• Consult with and support client departments on how best to handle risk in alignment with the County's risk profile, initiatives, goals, and priority areas.
• Recommend, review, and negotiate insurance requirements and contractual risk transfer language with County attorneys, internal clients, contractors, and consultants for a range of contract types (construction, professional services, technology services, grants, leases, etc.) in support of the County's 60+ lines of business.
• Strategically develop boilerplate contract language for various County contracts. Develop and update policies and procedures related to contract insurance provisions.
• Facilitate large, complex property and ancillary claims with County insurance carriers.
• Advise County officials, employees, agents, and managers of serious or sensitive matters and collaborate on resolution of these matters.
• Identify and coordinate loss control projects with Risk Manager and internal client departments.
• Assist with budget development, allocations, resources, and staffing needs.
• Make policy decisions and recommendations on office operations and procedures.
• Supervise the work of section's staff members. Hire, assign and schedule work; evaluate performance and initiate disciplinary action when appropriate.

• Apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of this work.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
We are looking for candidates who:

• Have a strong background in managing complex insurance programs for large multifaceted organizations, providing risk analysis, and contractual language review and negotiation.
• Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to present accurate, concise analysis and negotiate skillfully in complex situations with both internal County clients and external groups.
• Have experience managing first-party and recovery claims.
• Are an effective manager who can operate within a complex, multicultural, and diverse government environment, to include public relations and/or a related environment.
• Have a continuous improvement mindset.
• Demonstrate a high level of self-awareness and are comfortable with their own strengths and weaknesses.
• Are champions for Equity and Social Justice. Understands that systemic racism and its long-term effects are pervasive in our society. Are comfortable having candid and sincere conversations with all employees about race and equity in the workplace and in the work.
• Can persevere and adapt as required while working in a multifaceted and sometimes ambiguous environment.
• Able to manage highly visible, complex, and sensitive projects and programs involving multiple stakeholders with conflicting priorities and political considerations.
• Committed to supporting their team in the daily work and employee development.
• Possess a relevant industry-related designation (e.g., ARM, CPCU, CRM).

Supplemental Information
Why King County?

• Competitive - healthcare plans
• Free - transportation options
• Manager Support - structured employee assistance program
• Paid - vacation time (in addition to paid holidays)
• Paid - sick leave
• Deferred - compensation plan
• Twelve - paid holidays
• Awesome Employee Giving Program!

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 Jen Irwin at Jirwin@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.
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
• 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
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 Priority Placement Program Participant who is a current or previous King County Employee impacted by layoff? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo 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 notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff
Required Question