Lead Geologist

Salary : $115,435.01 - $146,320.51 Annually
Location : King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service (Exec)
Job Number: 2026SS27427
Department: DNRP-Natural Resources & Parks
Division: SWD -Solid Waste
Opening Date: 10/14/2026
Closing Date: 10/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: C1 : PROTEC17-DES, DLS, DNRP
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week

Summary

This position is the Lead Geologist for all Solid Waste Division facilities. As the lead geologist for the Landfill Engineering, Geology, and Environmental Data (LEGEND) unit you will provide the direction for assessment, monitoring, and improvement of groundwater quality for essential public facilities in the King County Solid Waste Division. This work is exciting and innovative and serves as a very important role in the protection and preservation of clean water and health habitat for the environmental and communities surrounding our facilities.

We are filling one Career Service position and may use this recruitment to create a list of candidates for any potential vacancies in similar positions in the following 6 months. The classification of this position is Engineer III.

About this Role:

The Solid Waste Division of King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks is looking for a Lead Geologist. The primary function of this position will be senior level project manager and geotechnical duties associated with Solid Waste Division landfill projects.

This position will perform engineering, geotechnical, environmental assessment and project management duties with the Cedar Hills Landfill and Closed Landfills. This position will support Post Closure Maintenance, Capital Improvement Program, and Hydrogeologic report projects. Provide geotechnical services to support the evaluation, assessment, modification, and improvement of landfill groundwater and landfill gas monitoring systems. Manage environmental data from groundwater, surface water, wastewater, landfill gas and soil and perform water quality evaluations applying knowledge of air and aquatic chemistry, fate and transport, environmental analytical methods, environmental monitoring networks, environmental regulations and environmental control systems and will require patience and diligence in environmental data review.

This position will be responsible for overseeing diverse project teams composed of internal and consultant subject matter experts from a broad range of disciplines including engineering, geotechnical, community relations, property acquisition, permitting and operations and maintenance staff. Provide leadership to team and project members including providing technical and professional mentoring and assigning tasks to team members.

The position will be required to supervise the production of hydrogeologic evaluations of the division's landfills for the annual and quarterly reporting requirements as specified in WAC 173-304 and WAC 173-351 as the division's lead licensed geologist or hydrogeologist; these evaluations will be stamped by a licensed hydrogeologist. Includes review of engineering reports and design documents prepared by consultants, and other agencies as required. Other functions of this position will include: Preparing permit compliance reports; Preparing consultant and construction contracts; Managing geotechnical and engineering consultants and, construction contractors.

About the Team:

Environment Science and Compliance Section (ESCS) ensures compliance with regulations and permits that impact the environment while promoting environmental responsibility.
The Landfill Engineering Geology and Environmental Data Unit that this position is in, is a unit in ESCS, that manages the investigation, monitoring, evaluation and remediation of environmental systems at Solid Waste facilities to ensure regulatory compliance and operational integrity ensuring sound protection of citizens and their environment.

Job Duties
What You Will Be Doing:

• Manage environmental investigation and feasibility studies for the evaluation, monitoring, design, and construction of environmental control system improvements and/or termination of post closure of closed landfills.
• Provide routine geotechnical services, , necessary to plan, design, construct, commission, and maintain various landfill environmental control systems engineering elements, including groundwater and landfill gas monitoring and collection systems.
• Write technical reports and issue papers for various technical and non-technical audiences to summarize and convey project findings and meet regulatory compliance requirements.
• Present and discuss technical information with managers and staff, project managers, project teams, and landowners, regulatory agencies, public stakeholders, elected officials, and other jurisdictions and agencies.
• Provide technical and quality review for compliance reports.
• Provided guidance, mentoring, training, and direction in the preparation of reports and the compliance with local regulatory requirements.
• Determine consistency of well boring logs, well development plans and products with all appropriate industry standards, as well as local, state and federal laws and regulations, including Solid Waste Division policies and procedures.
• Provide leadership to project and team members including technical mentorship, assigning project tasks and support to team members to ensure project and tasks succeed in meeting the desired outcomes.
• Negotiate regulatory permit conditions needed for projects including groundwater, surface water, and operating permit regulatory requirements.
• Project Management of the Cedar Hills Hydrogeologic Report Update and Cedar Hills East Perched Zone capital improvement program projects

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Qualifications You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in earth science, geophysics, soil sciences, geology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, or closely related field, Licensed Geologist
• Demonstrated experience (5 years) in analyzing or reviewing various technical landfill related engineering elements, including environmental controls and monitoring systems independently and in leadership roles. Demonstrated experience (5 years) in permit applications at landfills and environmental remediation sites.
• Demonstrated experience (4 years) in preparing hydrogeologic evaluations under the direct supervision of a licensed geologist or hydrogeologist.
• Ability to lead and encourage engineering and/or scientific support staff to complete complex solid waste related environmental investigation and feasibility study projects.
• Demonstrated experience in project management methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience in effective communications management both in oral and writing formats with diverse groups of professionals, coworkers, and public.
• Intermediate working knowledge using Microsoft (MS) Project to develop schedules for public works projects; MS Excel, MS-Word, and MS PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary collaborative team settings and to actively engage in the development of project designs that encompass multiple project objectives, while accommodating site constraints.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively across department lines and with senior level managers, supervisors, technical leads, and operations staff.
• Ability to take initiative and function independently on assigned work, while keeping team members and stakeholders apprised of key issues and developments.
• Ability to communicate in a pleasant, non-judgmental, respectful, culturally sensitive manner under varying levels of stress.

Competencies You Bring:

• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Directs Work: Providing direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Develops Talent: Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization's goals
• Courage: Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said
• Racially Just: Identify and replace racists systems and structures with anti-racists and pro-equity approaches.

It Would be Great if You Also Bring:

• Professional Hydrogeologist within 1 year of hire date

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• The selected person will need a valid Washington State Driver's License to be able to travel throughout the County in a timely manner.
• The selected person will have a certificate of licensing as a geologist by the Washington State geologist licensing board.

Supplemental Information
Working Conditions:

• Physical Requirements: Must be able to perform duties involving physical labor including bending, kneeling, standing, reaching, climbing, stooping, squatting, pushing, twisting, visiting landfill sites and walk on uneven terrain. This position involves work at active and closed municipal solid waste facilities, which may pose environmental, chemical, and physical hazards, including but not limited to, odor, noise, dust, and traffic.

• Work Location: The team 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 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 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; Mon - Fri, core hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position is non - exempt and is overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by PROTEC17.

Application and Selection Process: We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives, and 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 a skills test and one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter.

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

Discover More About the Solid Waste Division: Visit our website at our website at and check us out at | | |

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our , explore an of our recent accomplishments and check us out at , , , , , and

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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.

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