Salary : $139,552.19 - $176,890.48 Annually
Location : King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service (Exec)
Job Number: 2026SN27770
Department: DLS - Dept. of Local Services
Division: DLS-Directors Office
Opening Date: 08/03/2026
Closing Date: 8/23/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time

Summary
Join Our Team as a Principal Planner & Demographer in the Department of Local Services (DLS) - King County

The Department of Local Services Director's Office is seeking an experienced planning professional to serve as Principal Planner & Demographer. This position will independently lead complex long-range planning, policy, legislative, and demographic initiatives that shape the future of unincorporated King County.

Working in close partnership with the Comprehensive Plan Manager, this position will serve as one of DLS's senior planning professionals and a trusted technical and policy advisor. You will lead a portfolio that may include Comprehensive Plan amendments, subarea planning, land use and zoning studies, code amendments, demographic analysis, and other high-profile initiatives. You will help set project direction, organize cross-departmental work, evaluate policy tradeoffs, and translate complex information into clear recommendations for department leaders and elected officials.

Approximately 20% of the position's work will focus on demographic analysis and coordination, although the proportion may vary somewhat based on the planning work cycle. You will serve as DLS's lead demographic resource, using population, housing, employment, migration, and related data to inform long-range planning, service delivery, and policy decisions. You will collaborate with countywide, regional, and state partners to support sound methods and consistent use of demographic information.

This role requires strong independent judgment, project leadership, and the ability to influence outcomes in a complex organization where many partners will not report directly to you. You will work with community members, planners, technical experts, department leadership, the King County Executive Office, Council staff, and other agencies to develop practical and implementable plans, policies, and legislation.

Some evening and weekend commitments may be required for community meetings and public presentations.

Job Duties
Applying equity and racial and social justice is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

Strategic Planning & Project Leadership

• Independently lead complex long-range planning, policy, and legislative initiatives from scoping through adoption and implementation.
• Lead or play a principal role in Comprehensive Plan amendments, subarea plans, land use and zoning studies, development code amendments, and related implementation efforts.
• Establish project scope, work plans, schedules, decision points, engagement approaches, and measures of success; identify risks and resolve challenges affecting delivery.
• Lead cross-departmental and interjurisdictional teams, often without direct supervisory authority, and build the alignment and accountability needed to keep work moving.
• Mentor planning staff and provide technical guidance, quality review, and support for consistent and effective planning practices.

Demographic Analysis & Data

• Serve as DLS's lead demographic resource, conducting and coordinating demographic and growth forecasting work, including Urban Growth Capacity and Buildable Lands analysis, growth targets, Census data, and analysis of population, housing, employment, migration, equity indicators, and related trends.
• Integrate demographic, geographic, financial, and operational data to inform planning, service delivery, policy development, and legislative decisions.
• Coordinate with County, regional, and state partners and communicate methods, findings, and limitations clearly through reports, maps, presentations, and other accessible products.

Policy, Code & Legislative Development

• Develop and recommend land use policies, development code amendments, legislative proposals, reports, and implementation strategies.
• Evaluate legal, operational, financial, equity, and political considerations; identify tradeoffs and recommend practical, implementable approaches.
• Prepare clear decision materials and technical products for senior leaders and elected officials, and collaborate with legal, operational, and policy partners to develop and review legislation.
• Monitor planning and policy developments affecting unincorporated communities and support alignment between Comprehensive Plan policies, regulations, and implementation.

Community Engagement, Collaboration & Representation

• Develop and implement inclusive engagement and communication strategies that center communities most affected by planning decisions and inform policy outcomes.
• Build effective relationships with communities, jurisdictions, agencies, and internal partners; facilitate difficult conversations and help groups with competing interests reach workable decisions.
• Represent DLS in interdepartmental, interjurisdictional, regional, legislative, and community forums, communicating County priorities clearly and professionally.

Professional Leadership & Work Management

• Exercise independent judgment, manage multiple complex assignments and shifting priorities, and elevate significant risks with clear options and recommendations.
• Communicate project status, decisions, dependencies, and changes in direction so staff, leadership, and partners remain aligned; fulfill commitments with integrity and professionalism.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Values (ACTIVATE)

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

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Education & Core Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in planning, urban studies, public policy, demography, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in long-range planning, public policy, demographic analysis, or related work, including responsibility for leading complex projects or major components of a broader program.
• Knowledge of Washington's planning framework, including the Growth Management Act, Shoreline Management Act, and State Environmental Policy Act, and a practical understanding of land use, development regulations, and permitting.

Planning, Policy & Project Leadership

• Experience independently leading or coordinating complex planning, policy, code, or legislative initiatives involving multiple departments, jurisdictions, disciplines, or partner organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize technical, legal, operational, political, and community information; evaluate competing priorities and risks; and develop sound, implementable recommendations.
• Experience building alignment and maintaining momentum when project partners do not report directly to you.
• Strong project management skills, including establishing scope, organizing work, managing risks and shifting priorities, meeting deadlines, and delivering high-quality outcomes.

Demographic & Analytical Skills

• Experience analyzing and interpreting demographic, housing, economic, geographic, financial, growth, or other quantitative data to inform planning or policy decisions.
• Ability to select appropriate data and methods, assess quality and limitations, and translate technical findings accurately for nontechnical audiences.

Communication, Engagement & Collaboration

• Demonstrated experience leading inclusive community engagement and working effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, organizations, and perspectives.
• Strong writing, presentation, facilitation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to explain complex information to elected officials, senior leaders, technical professionals, community members, and the public.
• Experience preparing or presenting policy, legislative, technical, or decision materials for senior leaders, elected officials, appointed bodies, or comparable audiences.

Technical Proficiency

• Proficiency with common tools used for planning, policy, project management, and collaborative work, and experience with quantitative or geographic analysis tools such as advanced Excel, GIS, statistical software, databases, or data visualization platforms.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's or professional degree in planning, public administration, demography, geography, public policy, or a related field; or equivalent experience.
• Experience serving as a principal planner, senior policy advisor, or technical lead for a major Comprehensive Plan, subarea planning, zoning, code development, or related initiative.
• Experience using U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Washington State Office of Financial Management, regional growth forecasts, growth targets, Urban Growth Capacity or Buildable Lands data, or comparable demographic and forecasting products.
• Experience using GIS, data visualization, or statistical analysis to communicate findings and support policy decisions.
• Knowledge of King County government and the regional and local policy landscape affecting King County.
• Experience mentoring professional staff or leading multidisciplinary teams without direct supervisory authority; AICP or another relevant professional credential is a plus.

Supplemental Information

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE:
Those applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited to participate in a 45-minute phone interviews in the week of 08/31/2026. If you are selected to move forward after the first phone interview, you will be invited for a 45 minute in-person interview in the week of 09/07/2026.

WHO MAY APPLY:
This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill current and or/future career service, term-limited temporary, short-term temporary, and or/special duty positions over the next six months.
Special duty opportunities are open only to current King County career service employees who have completed the initial probation. Special duty applicants must have approval from their current supervisor to accept an assignment. Current employees selected for special duty will be compensated based upon the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement, King County Personnel Guidelines, or Coalition Labor Agreement for their base assignment.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
A full and complete King County application is required. You may also provide a resume and cover letter, summarizing how you meet the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position.

Applications will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Minimum qualifications and answers to supplemental questions must be demonstrated in your application materials.

For interviewing tips, please see the STAR-LA method:
WORK SCHEDULE:
The work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but may at times require work outside of normal business hours and on weekends. This position is Exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.

EMERGENCY DESIGNATION STATUS:

This position has been designated as Non-Mission Critical -Employees who staff county functions or services that may be delayed, suspended, or diverted in an emergency while essential functions are prioritized Mission Critical.

UNION MEMBERSHIP:

This position is non-represented.

TELEWORKING REQUIREMENTS:

This is a hybrid position. 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.

Employees must reside in WashingtonStateand within a reason