Best Starts for Kids Project/Program Manager Strategy ...

Salary $110,087.54 - $139,542.21 Annually Location WA 98188, WA Job Type Career Service (Exec) Job Number 2025GM26136 Department DCHS - Community & Human Srvcs Division Children Youth & Young Adult Opening Date 02/27/2026 Closing Date 3/14/2026 11:59 PM Pacific FLSA Exempt Bargaining Unit C23 : PROTEC17-Non-Sups Staff (DCHS) Full- or Part-Time Full Time Hours/Week 40 hours/week Summary 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 PROCESS If 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, Job 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. Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Education, Public Administration, or related field. Relevant experience may be substituted for formal education. Five years of recent experience in program management for youth/young adults aged 5-24 years, including managing contracts; with increasingly responsible experience in program management, planning, program development, and program implementation. Recent is defined as five years within the last eight. Strong racial, equity, and social justice lens with an emphasis on identifying institutional and structural racism and disrupting the systems that cause young people harm. Strong formal written skills, including the ability to write a variety of documents for various audiences. Experience convening diverse community partners to build coalitions, solidarity, and operationalize collective commitments and strategies, including implementing services, meeting outcomes, and organizing efforts. Recent experience and proven ability to work with non-profit partners and community leaders reflective of populations most harmed by structural racism, build trustworthiness, and establish agreements/outcomes while also providing/receiving support to effectively serve young people and their families. Demonstrated experience in strategy development and implementation, including releasing requests for proposals, negotiating contracts, and managing contracts. Experience balancing the tension between government and community expectations. Ability to multitask and work in stressful situations involving changing deadlines and expectations. Demonstrated critical analysis and ability to speak to power structures, oppression, equity, justice, and systemic racism. Strong leadership and management skills, and the ability to engage in conflict and recognize power dynamics. Demonstrated ability to build solidarity, trust, and effective team-building skills to work with internal and external teams and leadership. Demonstrated knowledge of and work experience with budget management, fiscal reviews, and program monitoring and development, specifically in the youth service environment. Demonstrated experience in ensuring program compliance with contract policies, procedures, program requirements, and regulations. Demonstrated experience in gathering, maintaining, and analyzing data for reporting and continuous quality improvement, and helping decolonize data accordingly. Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with stakeholders. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word for Windows, Excel, Access, Email, and the Internet. Valid Washington State Driver's License or the ability to travel throughout the county in a timely manner. Willingness to submit to a Washington State Patrol background check. Desired Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills Proven track record of strategic vision, planning, and leadership in designing and managing innovative programs for youth and young adults furthest from opportunity, including those impacted by the criminal legal system or facing significant barriers. Strong preference given to candidates who have successfully driven measurable impact and positive outcomes within these communities. Proven ability to identify gaps in systems and processes, and to develop effective strategies for ongoing quality improvement. 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) Employer No 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 Apply If 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. King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs: Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan Transportation program and ORCA transit pass 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays Generous vacation and paid sick leave Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves Flexible Spending Account Wellness programs Onsite activity centers Employee Giving Program Employee assistance programs Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position Training and career development programs For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page . This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass. For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting. recblid rk9l4jj7rzpkgghk8crmimvxjb1bfo

Created: 2026-03-04