Wastewater Utility Planner

King County, WA

$101K — $128K *
Energy & Utilities
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in environmental planning, engineering, or policy analysis.
  • Strong ability to evaluate technical studies and draw actionable insights.
  • Excellent written and verbal communicator, able to convey complex information to diverse audiences.
  • Familiarity with project and contract management principles.
  • Knowledge of environmental regulations relevant to wastewater treatment.

Responsibilities

  • Review regulations and policies for their impact on wastewater planning.
  • Develop planning documents including cost estimates and policy analyses.
  • Collaborate with internal units to integrate their needs into planning.
  • Incorporate sustainability and equity into planning projects.
  • Prepare reports and presentations to assist in decision-making.
  • Manage and organize documentation for project teams.

Benefits

  • Supportive and collaborative team environment.
  • Opportunities for professional growth and development.
  • Flexible work schedules with hybrid work model.
  • Diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
Full Job Description
Salary : $101,617.98 - $128,806.50 Annually
Location : King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA
Job Type: Term-Ltd
Job Number:
Department: DNRP-Natural Resources & Parks
Division: Wastewater Treatment
Opening Date: 08/10/2026
Closing Date: 8/24/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: W4 : TEA-WTD, DNRP-Staff
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week

Summary
This recruitment aims to fill four (4) Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) positions with an anticipated duration of up to 3 years with the possibility of extension. If the position is filled by a King County employee who has successfully completed their initial probation, they will be offered the role as a Special Duty Assignment.

About The Role:
As a Wastewater Utility Planner, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of King County's regional wastewater system, supporting essential infrastructure that protects public health, safeguards our waterways, and advances environmental equity across our communities. These positions are within the Combined System and Utility Planning group and the Treatment and Separated Conveyance Planning group. These positions will help chart both short- and long-range plans for upgrading and renewing critical infrastructure. Your work will help the County replace aging assets, address and prevent sewer overflows, and plan system improvements that provide sufficient capacity and meet current and future regulatory requirements.

You will collaborate across disciplines, working closely with engineers, scientists, consultants, and community partners, to develop conceptual capital projects that will drive billions of dollars in future investment. From planning upgrades to the combined sewer system to improving treatment plants and separated conveyance system, your contributions will directly influence how the County delivers reliable, sustainable wastewater services for generations to come.

This role is ideal for an excellent communicator who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment and is motivated by complex planning challenges that have real-world impact. You'll have the opportunity to apply your technical and analytical skills while supporting King County's commitment to innovation, equity, and environmental stewardship. Work is performed in a hybrid environment with a balance of remote collaboration and onsite engagement.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About The Team:
The Combined System and Utility Planning and Treatment and Separated Conveyance Planning groups serve a critical role at the leading edge of Wastewater Treatment's capital delivery pipeline by identifying future projects that help to shape the future of the region's wastewater system. Wastewater Treatment's capital delivery program has over 250 employees, is on track to deliver over $500M in capital projects this year and is anticipated to expand to deliver nearly $2B per year within a decade. Our work within the Planning Groups guides major investments that improve public health and protect water quality and the environment in the Puget Sound region for decades to come.

Our teams value adaptability and collaboration and we're committed to solutions that reflect King County's priorities for environmental stewardship, quality of service, social equity, and financial accountability. Our team members are empowered to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, learn and grow from each other, and drive innovative approaches to complex challenges.

Highlights of working with us include:
  • Supportive, collaborative colleagues
  • Professional growth and learning opportunities
  • Flexible schedules and work arrangements
  • A mix of independent and team-based work
As strategic partners in planning and project delivery, our staff help guide major decisions that strengthen King County's wastewater system now and for the future.

Job Duties

  • Review initiatives, plans, regulations, policies, technical studies, and documents for impacts on the wastewater system.
  • Assist in the coordination and development of various types of planning processes and documents, including but not limited project cost estimates, policy analyses, cost/benefit analysis, literature reviews, sustainability analyses, data analyses, and technology reviews.
  • Coordinate with other units within Wastewater Treatment to consider and incorporate other system needs, opportunities, and priorities as they relate to various planning programs.
  • Incorporate principles of sustainability and equity, as described in the County's Strategic Climate Action Plan and Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan, into planning programs and projects.
  • Prepare written reports, memos, presentations, spreadsheets, and other documents necessary to support various planning programs and inform decision making processes.
  • Support project teams by managing SharePoint sites, document reviews, meeting notes, decision logs, etc.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Must Bring:
  • Experience in planning, engineering, environmental science, public administration, environmental review, research, or policy analysis.
  • Experience reviewing, evaluating the feasibility of, and drawing logical conclusions from technical studies, plans, policies, or research findings.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for conveying technical information to a wide variety of expert and non-expert audiences.
  • Experience and/or knowledge of project management, contract management, and/or team management techniques, principles, and/or practices.

Competencies You Bring:
  • Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
  • Collaborates - Works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives. Represents own interests while being fair to others and their areas. Partners with others to get work done. Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments. Gains trust and support of others.
  • Action Oriented - Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
  • Interpersonal Savvy - Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
  • Nimble Learning - Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience and/or knowledge of planning techniques, principles, and practices to develop plans and solutions for complex projects
  • Knowledge of wastewater conveyance and/or treatment methods and techniques
  • Knowledge of environmental regulations, such as federal Clean Water Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:
  • Remote and Onsite Work Details: The Combined System and Utility Planning and Treatment and Separated Conveyance Planning Groups work 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 the Collaboration space at King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104 and King County Treatment Plants. 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 tools and resources 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, Monday - Friday. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
  • Union Representation: This position is represented by Technical Employees' Association (TEA) - Wastewater Treatment Division

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We value diverse perspectives, 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 one or more panel interviews. Applications without the following required materials will not be considered for this position.

To apply, submit a:
  • Complete Application
  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment (subject to change):
  • Virtual Technical Interviews (20 minutes) - Week of TBD
  • Panel Interviews with writing exercise (120 minutes) - Week of 9/28

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact: Mark Workinger -

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit ourwebsite?and check us out at Facebook, ,? ,?YouTube and our WTD Blog

Discover More about DNRP: Visit our website, explore aninteractive mapof our recent accomplishments and check us out atFacebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTubeand Keeping King County Green News

Sign up for to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Are you ready to make a difference? dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
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 Mark Workingerat

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