Employee News
Telling the stories of King County employees
Please join us in honoring our nation’s foremost human rights leader and our County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme for this year is “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.” This year’s keynote speaker is Ijeoma Oluo, local New York Times bestselling author of “So You Want To Talk About Race.” The celebration will take place Thursday, January 10 from noon to 1 p.m at The Sanctuary Seattle, located at 811 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. Program includes music, spoken word, and comments from King County Executive Dow Constantine. For more… Read More
King County bus operator Nathan Vass was profiled in a recent KUOW article. It focused on his experiences driving a bus throughout different parts of Seattle and his community engagement work as a filmmaker, writer and photographer. The article quotes Nathan saying: “If I say hi to people on the 7, they will say something in response. I don’t drive that route because it’s more cool, or more dangerous, or something like that, but because the people are more friendly. If I’m going to spend eight hours in one neighborhood, I want… Read More
Salary: $102,777.38 – $130,276.64 Annually Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT) Department: King County Department of Information Technology Job Number: 2018-08628 Closing: 12/16/2018 11:59 PM Pacific King County Department of Information Technology (KCIT), the central information technology provider for King County, delivers smart and innovative technology solutions that engage, empower, and serve our residents, businesses, and communities. As our region has grown, we are looking for multiple IT Project Managers to join our team. In this role, you will provide project management support for various… Read More
Crossposted from the Downstream Blog On the night of Saturday, Nov. 10, a four-alarm fire started at a lumberyard right across from the King County Environmental Lab. The fire was the largest Seattle has seen since 2010 with flames shooting over 100 feet into the air, according to the Seattle Fire Department blog. In the end, the fire that burned two buildings to the ground and damaged three others was determined to be arson. That night, in addition to the 142 firefighters that helped fight the fire, King County employees were coordinating their own… Read More
RASKC partner Seattle Meowtropolitan was named “Best Cat Café in America” by a national online news magazine, Hoodline. The café in Wallingford was recognized for its work to find new homes for cats, as well as its financial contributions to animal welfare organizations. The ranking was also based on its Yelp reviews, which are some of the highest in the nation. RASKC shared the honors on its social media channels, and the Executive also shared the good news with his social followers, saying, “One of the ways we increased the pet adoption rate by a record… Read More
As part of King County’s recruitment efforts we have produced a series of videos featuring employees talking about why they chose a King County career and how they are making a difference in our community. Meet Yuka, Treatment Case Manager. Learn more about our careers at www.KingCounty.gov/jobs.
King County’s Supported Employment Program matches job seekers with developmental disabilities to jobs by identifying efficiencies and unmet needs throughout King County government. Roads Division partnered with Christina Davidson, Supported Employment Program Manager, to hire through the Program to meet their business needs. Matt Everson started working with the Roads Division in December of 2017 to provide support around recycling and other tasks. “[Matt] is just a part of the family now. People from front-line employees to management love to interact with Matt. He’s been a great addition to the team,” stated Jeremy Ferguson,… Read More
In 2017, the Washington state legislature passed a bill to create a mandatory statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) insurance program that will provide almost every Washington worker with partial wage replacement while on leave beginning January 1, 2020, to: Recover from a serious illness or injury; Bond with a new child (through birth, adoption, or foster placement); Take care of a seriously ill or injured family member; or Participate in certain military-connected events. Under the state PFML, eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of family or medical… Read More
Dear fellow King County employee, Starting January 11, 2019, after the evening commute, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close SR 99 through downtown Seattle for approximately three weeks, and permanently close the SR 99 Viaduct. Additional ramp closures mean this work could create up to six weeks of traffic disruption. No matter how you commute, or where from, you should expect significant delays during these closures and be prepared for crowded buses, trains, water taxis, and light rail. All buses coming into or through downtown Seattle will face delays…. Read More
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC This regal-looking fellow is Kingston, our Pet of the Week! Kingston is a German Shepherd/Australian Shepherd mix who is smart, playful, and protective of his people. Since he’s so spirited and fun-loving, he’s one of our “Rambunctious Red” pets. Read more at Tails from RASKC
Salary: $155,783.00 – $209,511.00 Annually Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Appointed Department: King County Council Job Number: 2018-08997 Closing: 1/1/2019 11:59 PM Pacific The Metropolitan King County Council is seeking an experienced, enthusiastic attorney with a passion for Public Policy, Leadership and Professionalism to join our team. The Chief Legal Counsel serves as a legal advisor to the Council and staff on a variety of matters dealing with public policy, legislation, and Council actions. The ideal candidate will be adept at municipal law, and the powers and duties of public officials and… Read More
How to Navigate Amidst Overwhelming Times, Dec. 11: The King County Office of Equity and Social Justice is hosting a workshop that centers on the lived experiences of native employees and employees of color. This session will pay special attention to the intersection of trauma and oppression especially that of indigenous and people of color lived experience and background. This will be a large a cross disciplinary gathering that works towards building a critical mass of those striving for sustainability. Register and learn more, use password affinitygroup. Lean Basics, Jan. 8: Have you heard about… Read More
On November 13, three representatives of London-based Arrow Media came to the King County Archives to see the Ted Bundy collection. Assistant Archivist Amanda Demeter laid out a selection of maps, photographs, and documents from the collection, and the crew also got footage of the collection in the vault. A documentary about Bundy is in production and slated for release some time next year. Arrow Media is expected to return to Archives soon for footage on a documentary about Gary Ridgway. Kudos to King County Archives for being a valuable international resource on Pacific Northwest history!
King County will pay you to volunteer: Eligible employees may use up to three days of sick leave each year to volunteer at any local school or any nonprofit organization participating in the King County Employee Giving Program. Learn more here.
The Maleng Regional Justice Center’s Janitorial Certificate Program was recently featured on KING5 News. A story highlighting the program aired on Nov. 2 that featured how the custodial program sparks positive change for inmates. Through an interview with Renton Technical College instructor Martin Douthit and current students, the video shows how programs like this provide people a second chance. View the below or at this link.
Balanced You offers a variety of health and well-being options to support employees so you can feel good, get the most out of life, and do your best work for the people of King County. If you’re looking to reduce stress, give one of our popular mindfulness classes a try. Practice mindfulness at County worksites, online, or in the community. There are still spots available in many upcoming classes. Contact Balanced You with questions at BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-9626.
KCIT Electronics Communications Specialist Ric Myers was assigned the task of finding a vendor to install a bi-directional Amplifier system (BDA) in the Shoreline Police Department’s new building, located at Shoreline City Hall. After he received the bids, Ric declared he would do the work himself. Ric, along with coworkers Aaron Oestmann and Sean Bachler, ran cable and installed antenna systems throughout the Shoreline Police headquarters, saving thousands of dollars and completing the project three months ahead of schedule. Because of Ric’s great attitude and great customer service, Shoreline Police have made him their… Read More
Crossposted from Balanced You Karin Collinsworth is a familiar face to many employees. For the past 10 years, she has taught yoga twice a week in the Chinook Building’s Activity Center. Teaching the stretching art to County employees is her way of giving back. “I learned early on how important exercise is to reduce stress and be healthy, so I enjoy showing my co-workers how they can achieve both through yoga,” says Karin. Karin is a systems analyst for King County Information Technology (KCIT). When she isn’t solving a systems crisis or teaching yoga,… Read More
Crossposted from The Centerline King County International Airport-Boeing Field will have new leadership in the New Year. John Parrott, who has four decades of experience in the aviation industry, has been selected as the airport’s next director as part of a highly competitive, nationwide recruiting effort. Parrott will begin his duties on January 14, 2019. “I’m excited to join the team at King County International Airport,” Parrott said. “The airport is a key driver of economic growth for the region, and I look forward to building on its legacy of success.” Parrott… Read More
On October 30, 2018, the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) held its 19th Annual Employee Awards Ceremony. King County Chief Operating Officer Casey Sixkiller attended the ceremony and recognized staff achievements. DAJD employees were also able to say goodbye to Director William Hayes as he entered retirement. This year 98 staff members were recognized for various awards, including lifesaving, meritorious achievements, distinguished service and one medal of valor given to an officer for a heroic act. We congratulate all those that were recognized and say a fond farewell to Director William Hayes.