State Policy Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $146,331.12 - $185,482.96 Annually
Location : Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Seattle, WA
Job Type: Appt/Exempt
Job Number: 2026BHC01
Department: EXEC - Executive's Office
Division: Administration
Opening Date: 08/18/2026
Closing Date: 9/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week
Summary
King County is launching an ambitious effort to ensure that government delivers high-quality, efficient and equitable services to every resident. To support this work, we are seeking a collaborative, strategic, and deeply knowledgeable Natural Resources and Parks Policy Advisor.
The Natural Resources and Parks Policy Advisor will be a member of the newly created Policy and Innovation team. This role will serve with a team of policy leads, each representing a specific priority of Executive Zahilay. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Policy and Innovation, the Natural Resources and Parks Policy Advisor will help guide policy direction for their portfolio and work closely with County departments to integrate and align policy priorities across the enterprise.
The ideal candidate brings not only policy subject matter expertise, but also a strong understanding of how to translate policy to implementation. Success in this role requires subject matter expertise, familiarity with community and government relations, and the ability to lead policy solutions that advance the Executive's goals.
Job Duties

• Work in partnership with the Climate Policy Advisor to develop and implement the Executive's environmental policy priorities.
• Closely monitor and track environmental and natural resource policy related to King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (including work of the Water and Land, Solid Waste, Wastewater, and Parks Divisions).
• Monitor, track, and help advance priority issues, including emerging policy, political, and operational developments related to natural resources, utilities, and parks at the local, state and national level.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with tribal governments, stakeholders and key partners. Coordinate with legislative, regulatory, and intergovernmental partners, including government-to-government coordination with federally recognized Tribes on natural resource and utility policy issues.

• Represent the Executive in meetings and working groups related to natural resources and utility policy.
• Support cross-departmental collaboration to advance equitable environmental policy.
• Work with the Director of Policy and Innovation, Deputy Director of Policy and Innovation, other policy leads and members of the Executive's Office on strategies to integrate policy priorities into broader organizational strategy and cross-functional initiatives.
• Work with the Tribal Relations Manager to engage with federally recognized tribes as co-managers of natural and cultural resources.

Expectations

• A focus on being out in the county to connect and build relationships with those we serve and those with whom we partner.
• In the office a minimum of 3 days a week (, Tuesday, ). There may be additional in-person days required. Meetings may not have a call-in option for required in-person days, and the expectation is to be in the office.
• Be on time, respectful of others' time, and responsive when needed.
• Bring an urgency to the work. We will start fast. The work will be intense, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.
• Meetings will have written expectations, including an agenda with the goals and outcomes. Owners and next steps will be clear.
• Processes and work will continuously improve.?

Our Values

• Accountable
• Collaborative
• Timely
• Impactful
• Value Employees
• Accessible

• Trusted
• Equitable

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
We are looking for a Natural Resources Policy Advisor who can collaborate across diverse organizations and communicate King County's values and priorities effectively. The ideal candidate will have:

• Significant experience (8+ years) working in natural resources or environmental policy, public policy, or related roles. Preference for experience in tribal, federal, state, or local government.
• An understanding of federal and state policy and regulatory requirements for clean water, environmental health, and salmon recovery, as well as county roles related to wastewater treatment facilities, waster education and prevention; regional planning of the solid waste system, land conservation and recreation.
• Experience working with tribal governments and a working knowledge of tribal sovereignty, tribal treaty rights and how they shape natural resource management and cultural resource protection.
• A proven record of leading and facilitating efforts to translate policy into measurable results.
• A deep commitment to transparency, equity, and service excellence in government.
• Experience engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including local governments, environmental regulatory bodies, and environmental advocacy organizations.
• Strong relationship-building skills with experience engaging elected officials, senior leaders, and strategic partners.
• Excellent analytical and written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with a demonstrated record of follow-through, attention to detail, and accountability in managing deadlines and deliverables.

Key Attributes

• Strategic and Analytical: Sees the big picture, uses data to inform decisions, and can develop and deploy effective strategy.
• Equity-Centered: Embeds fairness, inclusion, and community impact into policy work.
• Collaborative: Works across departments and builds strong partnerships to drive the policy agenda.

• Results-Oriented: Connects policy to action, driving measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.

Supplemental Information
Why Join Us
This is a rare opportunity to shape how King County delivers for its residents. The Natural Resources and Parks Policy Advisor will help bring Executive Zahilay's vision to life-turning bold ideas into accountable, transparent, and effective government action.
The King County Executive Office serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with integrity, 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 frugal stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve.?
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. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive executive-level salary, commensurate with experience
Comprehensive health, retirement, and leave benefits
Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
Ability to make a meaningful impact on how King County delivers for its residents
Application Process
To apply, please submit your résumé and a brief cover letter describing how your experience aligns Executive Zahilay's priorities and goals.
If you have questions about this selection process, please contact Brittany Hagen Crosser or 206-477-4035.
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.