Employee Spotlights
Airport employees earn prestigious award for snow removal during Snowmageddon
Daw to manage external relations for Department of Local Services
Employee takes passion for equity and social justice beyond King county
Derrick Wheeler-Smith to serve as Project Director of Zero Youth Detention
From Our Blog
Pet of the week: Oreo
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC This sweet guy is Oreo, our Pet of the Week! This handsome senior boy is playful and affectionate. He has lived in a home with other cats and a large dog, as well as with younger and older kids. While Oreo’s previous family feels he makes a good indoor/outdoor cat, he would need to be supervised while outside and would probably enjoy being on a harness. He loves string toys, batting at them when you play with him. Oreo is very sweet and likes lots of petting,… Read More
Featured Job: Communications and Community Relations Project Manager
Salary: $90,542.40 – $109,449.60 Annually Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week Department: DLS – Local Services Job Number: 2019MD10061 Closing: 6/23/2019 11:59 PM Pacific The Department of Local Services (DLS) represents a comprehensive effort to improve the efficient, effective, and timely delivery of municipal services to the nearly 250,000 people who live in unincorporated communities of King County. The Road Services Division designs, builds, operates and maintains roads and bridges in unincorporated areas of King County. The division is a 24 hour per day, 7 day a week… Read More
New discount for employees at upcoming Seattle Storm games
King County employees can now save up to 33% off Seattle Storm tickets on several games held June 30-Sept. 1. To access the discount visit http://stormgrouptix.com/KingCounty. The Seattle Storm is a three-time WNBA Championship team committed to bringing a premium professional basketball and entertainment experience to a fan base rich in tradition and support. See all available discounts at www.kingcounty.gov/employeediscounts.
Tips to keep cool
Crossposted from DES Express With temperatures already forecast to be above normal this week, keep these tips in mind to stay cool: Keep window blinds or curtains closed when outdoor temperatures skyrocket. This reduces indoor temps and reduces the strain on the HVAC equipment. Keep windows and doors closed in locations with HVAC. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! The county recommends against using indoor fans, as they can create “hot zones” in other places in the building and can create a fire hazard. Please don’t block or manipulate air vents or returns. Dress in layers… Read More
Apprenticeship rates at Children and Family Justice Center exceed requirements
Crossposted from DES Express By Alex Hurtado The Children and Family Justice Center (CFJC), now more than 80 percent complete, leads in total apprenticeship hours on King County projects and employs a diverse workforce earning family-wage jobs. As of December 2018, apprentices have performed 93,205 labor hours on the project. This project requires the use of state registered apprentices for 15 percent of all labor hours worked, and 17 percent participation from certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS). As of May, the CFJC project boasts a 25 percent apprenticeship rate and is meeting… Read More
Save the Date! Free screening of “The Most Dangerous Year” June 25
June is PRIDE Month! In honor of PRIDE, The Department of Executive Services, King County is proud to collaborate with the Meaningful Movies Project to bring the critically acclaimed documentary, “The Most Dangerous Year,” to our employee community for a screening and discussion. By Seattle writer and director, Vlada Knowlton, the film chronicles the journey by many Washington families with transgender children and the anti-transgender legislation in Washington in 2016. Knowlton, will be on hand to facilitate a Q & A session immediately after the screening. The film is 89 minutes. Tuesday, June 25 from 3:30 p.m…. Read More
Airport employees earn prestigious award for snow removal during Snowmageddon
Crossposted from DES Express This winter’s wild weather may just be a memory now, but employees at the King County International Airport (KCIA) are still celebrating a big win. They recently received a Balchen/Post Award for Excellence in the Performance of Airport Snow and Ice Control by the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives. The KCIA team was up against tough competition from more traditionally snow-bound cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, and Syracuse, New York. The award was presented at the annual International Aviation Snow Symposium in Buffalo, New York in… Read More
King County Personnel Board Election
Dear Colleagues, Today King County Elections mailed ballots for the King County Personnel Board Election. The Personnel Board conducts hearings on appeals of certain county personnel actions. It’s made up of five members, one of which is elected by county career service employees. If you are a career service employee you are eligible to vote for the open position on the King County Personnel Board. Like any other election, your ballot will be mailed to your home address. Ballots must be returned to King County Elections by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June… Read More
Stonewall + 50: King County Employees Tell the Story of LGBTQ+ Progress
2019 marks 50 years since the Stonewall Uprising in New York, considered by most to be the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. To mark this anniversary, King County and its employees are looking back at the milestones and landmark events that have happened since that night in late June 1969 – including the ways that our region has led the nation in recognizing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
King County Supported Employment Program highlighted at national conference
Christina Davidson and Jeff Casem from the Disability Services Section of the Department of Human Resources recently presented on King County’s Supported Employment Program at the National Associate of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) Directors Forum and Mid-Year Conference. The conference featured a national audience of approximately 200-250 state directors of services, senior management, policy makers, self-advocates, researchers and providers from all over the country in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their interest was in learning how to take on policies for the employment of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and embedding in… Read More
Pet of the Week: Hannah
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Put your hands in the air for Hannah, our Pet of the Week! This senior chow was brought in by her previous owner. Hannah is a very smart, sweet, and cuddly dog who is truly seeking to be your “one and only.” Hannah is deaf and therefore is sensitive to handling. Her personality color is “Bashful Blue,” so she prefers to take things slow. Hannah may also get nervous in new situations, so she is looking for a home where those around her understand that she may take… Read More
Featured Job: Veteran Fellow – Administrative and Professional Experiences
Salary: $16.60 – $30.03 Hourly Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Veteran Fellowship Department: DHR – Human Resources Job Number: 2019BHC King County is taking public service to a new level and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. King County as an organization has 40+ lines of business, 13,000+ employees and a $9+ billion biennial budget. Working here gives you a chance to have fun and make an impact in your community. Together, we’re innovating government in ways that give you the opportunity to use your talents, develop new skills, and see… Read More
The Worksite Fund supports mental health at work
Crossposted from Balanced You While May was Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s important to keep the conversation going all year long. The Balanced You Worksite Fund is one way to do just that! This mini-grant program provides funding up to $5,000, per awarded project, to improve health and well-being at your worksite. This is one way to address mental health for you and your colleagues. Applications for the 2019 Worksite Fund must be received by July 3 at 5 p.m. If you’re working on supporting mental health in your workplace, check out two projects below that were awarded… Read More
Tech Tip: Use your work badge
How to access the training: To start your Cyber Security Awareness Training please login at: https://sso.securingthehuman.org/kingcounty/ Your account for Securing the Human: Username: King County email address Password: King County email password For more information about Cyber Security please visit our Sharepoint site: https://kc1.sharepoint.com/teams/ITISRC/ISRCPUB
Felony mitigation specialists at DPD
By Leslie Brown, Department of Public Defense Ask the three mitigation specialists in one of the felony units at the Department of Public Defense what they love about their work, and Roopali Dhingra, Molly Hennessey, and Alix Willard speak quickly and passionately – tag-teaming each other in a flurry of words. They’re helping people who are vulnerable. They’re working to get judges, prosecutors, and others in the system to see the humanity of their clients. They’re sometimes making a huge difference in people’s lives. And these three women – all social workers who… Read More
Discounts available to Silverwood Theme Park
Employees can now purchase discounted tickets to Silverwood Theme Park, for use June 8-23. This is during Silverwood’s County Worker and Small Business Appreciation Days. To access the discount. Visit the website, http://www.silverwoodthemepark.com, purchase tickets and enter promo code SmallBiz2019. For more information, view this flyer. See all available discounts at www.kingcounty.gov/employeediscounts.
Rev Up For Retirement offered downtown Seattle June 12
Are you too young to think about retirement? Think again! With increasing concern over the future of Social Security and the stability of retirement plans, it’s a good idea to stay informed and prepare in advance. Please bring your lunch and join your King County Retirement team for a three-hour seminar featuring guest speakers from Social Security and Jean Cormier, an expert in Medicare choices and options. You’ll also learn about the resources available to you through King County. Space is available and registration is required. Please note: Attendance is strictly voluntary, on… Read More
Pride is coming! Order your t-shirt by June 14!
The 2019 Pride t-shirts are ready to order! Fill out the order form, get payment ready ($8.50 each shirt, cash or check preferred, no credit or debit cards) and return the completed form with payment to Mariah Taylor in person or via interoffice mail (CNK-PH-1250) by Friday, June 14. Orders without payment will not be submitted. If you work outside of the downtown core and want your shirt sent through interoffice mail, include your mailstop on your order form. As a reminder, we will have an additional 150 adult size t-shirts available at no cost on… Read More
King County employees featured in film at SIFF
King County’s Environmental Lab and the Roads Services Division will be featured in a free public screening of the film, “Engineering with Nature – An Ode to Water, Wood, and Stone” on Saturday, June 8 at 2 p.m. An entry in this year’s Seattle International Film Festival, the film is the story of Seattle Public Utilities’ Thornton Creek Project to reduce flooding and restore Chinook spawning habitat. The Environmental Lab did the analysis and testing to monitor how well the project worked, while the Roads Services Division also worked on the project and are interviewed… Read More
PSB staff set newly planted trees up for success!
On Friday, May 3, staff from the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget (PSB) volunteered at the Cougar-Squak Animal Migration Corridor. This busy hiking area, formerly a private camp ground, was acquired by King County in 2016. Earlier this year, numerous trees and shrubs were planted to fill in the spaces that had previously been campsites. Our work for the day was to place mulch around the plantings to protect them and increase their chance of survival. The team got right to work and exceeded expectations! In fact, King County Parks staff had… Read More
King County Executive and employees volunteer at Jefferson Day Center
Recently, Executive Constantine and members of his office staff volunteered at the Jefferson Day Center. “We brought and served breakfast and, more importantly, got to spend time with some of our neighbors who we are helping to transition out of homelessness,” he said.” Hear more about the experience in this video, posted to Executive Constantine’s Facebook.
PeopleSoft weekend outage beginning 3 p.m. Friday, June 7
To allow for system maintenance, the PeopleSoft system will not be available this weekend beginning 3 p.m. Friday, June 7. During this planned outage, the Business Resource Center (BRC) will apply vendor updates and maintenance. This work will begin on Friday, June 7, at 3 p.m. and is scheduled to be completed by 6:30 a.m. on Monday, June 10. The system will not be available for access by any County staff during this outage window. There will be a communication sent out to all County staff when the system becomes available. We realize that this outage impacts PeopleSoft… Read More
Supporting and advancing immigrant rights
Bookda Gheisar has been the Immigrant and Refugee Policy Advisor for King County in the Office of Equity and Social Justice (OESJ). This is Bookda’s last week before she transitions to take a new position at the Port of Seattle as their first Senior Director for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. In this article, Bookda shares some of her reflections and learnings while at the County and provides resources that are available to support King County employees as we all work towards more equitable work places and communities. In 2015, the King County Council and King County Executive formed the… Read More
Mark Rowe is the new Deputy Director for King County Local Services Permitting Division
Crossposted from Local Services Recently, King County Local Services Permitting Division welcomed Mark Rowe as its new Deputy Director. It’s somewhat of a homecoming for Rowe, who had two prior stints with the county. He first spent six years as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist for Public Health-Seattle & King County before joining AT&T Broadband, where he managed the teams that established high-speed data and voice networks in the state. In 2003, he rejoined Public Health as Program Manager for Emergency Preparedness, then as Food Protection and Water Recreation Facilities Section Manager. Read… Read More
Solidarity with our Virginia Beach colleagues
Dear fellow King County employee, On Friday, our nation witnessed another mass shooting, this time at a municipal building in Virginia Beach. Most of the people who lost their lives were public employees, dutifully serving the people of their community. Public service is important work, and it only compounds the tragedy that these individuals died while working to improve the lives of their fellow Virginia Beach residents. Each time a shooting occurs and lives are senselessly cut short, it erodes our sense of safety. Sometimes it is worshipers. Sometimes schoolchildren. This time… Read More
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King County has more than 14,000 employees who work to make a difference in our community every day.
We strive to tell stories that highlight the work we do and that also supports our residents, builds strong communities, and helps to make our region a great place to live and work.
