Salary: $103,906.08 - $133,517.65 Annually
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Career Service - Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26-00754
Department: Planning and Public Works
Division: PPW Long Range Planning
Opening Date: 07/17/2026
Closing Date: 8/2/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
This position is primarily remote, with the option to work in the office. Attendance at required in-person meetings and occasional travel to various work sites, businesses, and meeting locations is also expected.

Summary

In this role with the Long Range Planning Division, you will lead a housing planning team on priority housing efforts, which requires you to provide both subject matter expertise in housing planning and policy and strong program leadership to guide complex, multi-disciplinary projects that involve coordination across divisions, County departments, external agencies, and community and development partners.

The Housing Policy Supervisor serves as Pierce County's lead housing strategist and will be responsible for considering policy across the entire continuum of housing. You will be responsible for advancing housing production, affordability, attainability, preservation, and regulatory reform through policy development, incentive programs, intergovernmental coordination, and strategic partnerships with a focus on market-based and innovative solutions. You will provide leadership on housing policy, development process improvements, housing market analysis, developer engagement, and implementation of countywide housing initiatives to support the County's long-term housing and community development objectives. The position will also oversee the County's Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) program, including program administration, compliance monitoring, performance reporting, policy evaluation, and expansion opportunities. While not responsible for the County's federal grant program and administration, they will work closely on barrier removal and innovation to help enhance and leverage County investments.

Additionally, you will be responsible for:

• The housing component of the Comprehensive Plan and future updates
• Housing components of community plans, initially in Parkland and South Hill
• Developing materials and providing support for non-profit and for-profit affordable housing development that is not subsidized
• Developing and providing technical assistance for small and early-career developers creating "missing middle" attainable and affordable housing (both rental and homeownership opportunities)
• Tracking housing production across County subareas, housing types, and by income brackets. (How many, where, what kind, and for whom?)
• Leading inventory of developable lands and widely disseminating information to developers
• Regularly convening developers to promote housing production, assemblage, and incentives as well as to understand their barriers and needs
• Cross-department and County coordination and partnerships, especially with Human Services and Economic Development process improvements

Check out some of the projects our team is working on

How to be Successful in the Role:

Our team is looking for a collaborative and communicative leader to further strengthen housing policy and production in our unincorporated communities, and who can inspire a team while achieving multiple project planning goals. Experience managing or administering complex programs, grants, or initiatives involving multiple partners is highly valued, especially direct experience in housing development. Additionally, someone skilled in data collection and analysis, as well as public outreach and facilitation, and translating technical and policy concepts for diverse audiences. Strong project management and organizational skills, knowledge, and proven experience in affordable housing and housing production, and the ability to present information to a variety of stakeholders and the public will be key. Subject matter experience with affordable housing, market rate housing, displacement risk, transportation efficient communities, legislative code, development services, and real estate development will compliment technical and supervision skills.

Your Future in this Role:

You will have an opportunity to work alongside a diverse and talented team of PPW professionals, agencies, and community leaders to support housing activities by problem-solving and developing innovative solutions to ensure the best services possible for the citizens of Pierce County. Your work will directly shape how Pierce County communities grow by developing foundational guiding policy documents that guide County programs and plans over time.

Throughout the onboarding process, you will meet with the County Planning Manager regularly to discuss expectations and set goals for yourself as well as introduce you to the current policies and procedures, technology/software, and Pierce County Code. As a supervisor, you will be part of the PPW Expanded Management Team and Pierce County offers leadership and professional development throughout your career to ensure your success.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Supervise and coordinate work assignments for an assigned work unit to assure adherence to prescribed time lines and compliance with departmental procedures.
• Provide leadership and project management over larger and more significant projects and programs.
• Coordinate work with others across departments and organizations on the development of various plans.
• Oversee the professional development of employees and provide guidance and technical expertise, and training to staff.
• Provide guidance and oversight of research and analysis for various statistical and/or technical data to apply to a wide range of planning functions.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found

Minimum Qualifications

• Additional education or experience may substitute for the recruiting requirements
• Four years local, county, or state planning experience
• One year of lead worker and/or supervisory experience
• Bachelor's degree in planning or related field

• Please attach a current resume and cover letter with your application. Failure to attach these will result in an incomplete application

Preferred Qualifications:

• A Masters' Degree is preferred
• Experience administering or managing grants, contracts, or externally funded programs is desirable
• Direct experience developing housing and housing policy
• AICP Certification or the ability to obtain it within a year

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Supplemental Information
How to Apply:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or visiting
• If you have questions about this opportunity, email the Recruitment Team at and include the job number and title.
• Individuals who need accommodation in the application or interview process may contact Human Resources at (253) 798-7480 at least two days prior to the need.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Our Recruitment Practices:

This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our , and a County Book Club.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of and , , staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Our benefits:

Vacation (Annual Leave)
After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave.
Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows:

Vacation Accruals:
During years 1-3, 12 Days
During years 4-7, 16 Days
During years 8-13, 20 Days
During years 14-18, 23 Days
During years 19, 24 Days
During years 20, 25 Days
During years 21, 26 Days
During years 22, 27 Days
During years 23, 28 Days
During years 24, 29 Days
During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days

A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next.
Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.

Military Leave:
Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.

Holidays:
Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:
New Year's Day - January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday - Third Monday in January
President's Day - Third Monday in February
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Juneteenth - June 19
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - First Monday in September
Veteran's Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after
Christmas Day - December 25

Personal Holidays:
Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.

Furlough:
Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.

Sick Leave:
Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.

Insurance Benefits:
Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the website.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation:
Pierce County employees are members