Best Starts for Kids Project/Program Manager Strategy Lead (PPM III)

JOB
The Department of Community and Human Services values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences. King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community. Many young people possess resilience, creativity, leadership, and, even when they have had limited access to the protective supports that foster lifelong health and wellbeing, have been limited. Youth and young adults from communities that have been marginalized—experience systemic barriers while navigating education, employment, housing and legal system while brining valuable strengths, lived experience, and solutions improve community wellbeing and demonstrating strength, adaptability, and leadership.This position requires a strategic, collaborative, and visionary individual with demonstrated ability to partner with community stakeholders to improve outcomes for youth and young adults ages 5-24. A demonstrated leader who can build coalitions by aligning partners, working across systems to foster co-creation, using an anti-racist, equity, and social-justice-centered approach, the position advances strategies that promote opportunity, belonging, and promotive factors.The work emphasizes promotion, prevention, and early intervention; youth and young adult economic development; positive identity and cultural affirmation; and pathways that support healing, wellbeing, growth, and ensuring young people are supported to thrive, lead, and reach their full potential.WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around 3/25/2026.APPLICATION PROCESSIf you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy: NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.This selection process may also be used to create a pool of candidates for current and future career service, term-limited temporary, and special duty opportunities. The pool will be active for 6 months. WORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: This is for two (2) Career Service and one (1) Special Duty Assignment (SDA) or Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) position anticipated to end 3/1/2028, but subject to change dependent on operational need. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime. Typical hours are Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm. This position is represented by Protec17.MISSION CRITICAL POSITION STATUS: This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director, or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency.TELEWORKING REQUIREMENT: DCHS 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 TUKWILA at 645 Andover Park West, Tukwila, WA 98188. 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.RECRUITER: Greg Mallory, grmallory@kingcounty.gov

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Work with key stakeholders to develop a shared vision, outcomes, measures, and principles of practice to create pathways of success for young people. This includes implementing strategies and youth-centered programming based on this vision. Lead the Best Starts for Kids strategy team, which includes the Evaluation Lead, Business and Finance Officer, Contract Monitor, and other key County staff related to the 5-24 investment areas; This includes supervision of the Contract Monitor position.Closely monitor strategy budget and allocation for strategies.Work with key community partners to promote pathways of success.Work with community partners to provide access to services/programming that allow young people to create relationships and gain the skills needed for successful decision-making. Establish ongoing partnerships with community-based agencies providing services to young people involved or at-risk of involvement in the criminal justice system, ages 5-24 years. Ensure that agencies receiving County funding provide high-quality, outcome-based services to young people and have the support needed to meet County contracting requirements. Establish an ongoing partnership with key stakeholders, including but not limited to: young people, parents/families, King County Superior Court staff, King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office staff, community leaders, the Children and Youth Advisory Board, school district staff, etc. Support new program development and capacity building across programs, including but not limited to: executing requests for proposals, community outreach, youth voice, and using data to continuously improve services. Maintain up-to-date information on program service. Execute service contracts, including award, contract negotiation with service level, collect and review reports and client-level data when applicable, approve invoices, and impose sanctions as needed. Partner with key stakeholders on professional development/quality standards, help providers implement those standards, and provide technical assistance as needed. This may include the development of tools for professional development. Work closely with fiscal and performance measurement and evaluation teams. Work with partners to identify system barriers and strategies to drive continuous quality improvement that leads to better outcomes for youth/young adults (decreased involvement in the criminal legal system; completion of secondary credentials, enrollment into post-secondary, persistence in post-secondary, employment). Identify and share promising practices across programs. Other duties as assigned.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) EmployerNo person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.To ApplyIf you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.