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Featured Job: Executive Program Assistant
Closing Date/Time: Wed. 03/23/16 4:30 PM Salary: $26.49 – $33.58 Hourly, $55,099.20 – $69,846.40 Annually Job Type: Appointed Location: Chinook Building – 401 5th Ave, Seattle, Washington Department: King County Executive – Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget Description: King County’s Office of Performance, Strategy, & Budget (PSB) is seeking a seasoned professional to provide executive-level meeting planning and logistical support to senior management and committee and operations leadership. This role serves as a key member of the joint Executive office and PSB administrative support team. Our ideal candidate will have a strong… Read More
IT Governance: What it is and why it matters
This article is featured courtesy of Bill Kehoe, Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology Governor Inslee’s investigation into the Department of Corrections’ early prisoner release issue cited “IT Governance” as a key contributing factor. What exactly is IT Governance? In short, it analyzes the need, researches the solution, takes advice from public and private sector experts, and creates an open environment to expose and fix errors quickly. More technically, IT Governance is an approach to IT solutions that integrates business needs, technology trends, innovation, best practices and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC)… Read More
DES employees know hard work is worth the effort
More than 400 Department of Executive Services (DES) employees came together over two sessions on March 3 for the third annual DES All-Hands Meeting to build understanding of how DES employees contribute to the success of King County, support key priorities and how the department and the County can help them be more successful. Department Director Caroline Whalen wanted to bring the department’s employees together to build on the responses from the recent King County Employee Survey, share some successes from the department’s focus on customer service, and hear from King County… Read More
Changing management of animal services sees giant leap in adoptions
On Wednesday Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) celebrated an impressive feat: reducing the County’s shelter euthanasia rate for dogs and cats to 12 percent, down from 40 in 2008. King County Executive Dow Constantine met with animal welfare advocates at a Petco in Kirkland to commend the dramatic turnaround. The store has partnered with RASKC to showcase animals that are available for adoption, and has helped increase outreach and awareness to the overall community. “The people of King County want to know that every cat and dog has a safe,… Read More
Retirement means no coffee breaks for this outgoing employee
When most people retire they plan a big trip or some time to relax, but not outgoing Educator Consultant Chuck Davis. With his 27 years of change management and organizational development work under his belt, he is looking forward to channeling his passion into a private consulting practice. “I’ve learned and grown and matured while with the County, and I brought a certain skill set to my position, so this opportunity will be a nice marriage of the two,” he said. “I worked with employees to be more effective as a team,… Read More
New thinking finds forever homes for more animals
Helping animals find forever homes has always been the goal for Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) but employees knew that they needed a shift in thinking if they were to save more animals. “I know it sounds corny but really there’s nobody there for these animals,” Lori Mason, Foster Care Coordinator and Licensed Veterinary Technician, said. “They were abandoned here for whatever reason and so all they have is us and the foster parents to find them a new life.” RASKC was formed in 2010 as a partnership between King… Read More
Featured Job: Executive Assistant – CAO
Closing Date/Time: Fri. 03/04/16 4:30 PM Salary: $69,846.40 – $88,524.80 Annually Job Type: Appointed Location: Chinook Building – 401 5th Ave, Seattle, Washington Department: Department of Executive Services Description: The Department of Executive Services – Director’s Office is searching for a seasoned professional to provide executive-level support to the County Administrative Officer and Deputy Director. This role involves daily interaction with the organization at all levels as well as external contacts. Successful candidates for this role will be self-starters who have excellent interpersonal skills, a keen attention to detail, an ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and… Read More
Walk in the Shoes of a King County Employee – Family Law Facilitator Program
My job as King County Executive requires advocating for and balancing the needs of residents, employees, and the region as a whole. My years as an attorney working on behalf of clients taught me that fighting it out until there is a winner and a loser is usually less productive than figuring out what would work best for everyone involved. So I was excited for my first Walk in the Shoes this year – with legal staff in King County Superior Court’s Family Law Facilitator Program.
First Poetry-Based Symposium on Race and Racism Elicits Thoughtful Questions and Answers
by Donna Miscolta, Department of Natural Resources and Parks. “I didn’t expect to feel so much.” This testament to the power of the spoken word was one of several offered by the audience at the first of four symposiums on “Reflecting on Race and Racism through Spoken Word, Story, and Conversation” on January 12. This project, innovative in its approach to an understanding of racism, is made possible by the King County ESJ Opportunity Fund. Two poets, Quenton Baker and Casandra Lopez, presented their work to a group of 50 employees. It… Read More
Employee training spurs life changing decision
King County is inspiring. Its beauty, its people and its mission inspire King County employees to make a difference in their communities. It has even inspired outgoing employee Autumn Salamack to make a difference far away in Mascota, Mexico, about 2 hours east of Puerto Vallarta. She has taken her work with equity and social justice to heart and will soon leave King County for an adventure in the Peace Corps. Since August 2013 Autumn has served as the Sustainability Program Coordinator for King County Metro Transit. Her role soon grew to… Read More
A great place to look for love
Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) has recently partnered with Petco in Kirkland to bring pet adoption services to the region through the new Eastside Adoption Center facility. “We were approached by Petco to think more broadly about how we can reach the animal-loving public in King County, and an opportunity to bring dogs and cats to our pet-loving public,” said RASKC Director Gene Mueller. Located inside the Petco store, the 1,100 square foot location services many cities in the north King County region. Each animal available for adoption is originally… Read More
Invite to the OLEO Candidates “Meet and Greet”
King County has been recruiting for a new Director of the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight and has set aside dates for King County residents to meet and provide feedback on the final candidates. Join us to “Meet the Candidates” on either: Tuesday, February 16 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the TAF Center/Bethaday Community Learning Space, 605 SW 108th Street, Seattle (White Center); or Wednesday, February 17 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Lake Wilderness Lodge 22500 SE 248th St, Maple Valley We are planning the two different events to give residents in… Read More
Eat healthy & support local farmers through Farm Fresh Local
Healthy IncentivesSM began on Tuesday, Feb. 2. and the program has a number of ways to help you eat healthy, including a new focus area, Farm Fresh Local. Through the Farm Fresh Local Text for Well-Being Individual Action Plan, you’ll receive tips and inspiration for eating local and making a difference—directly to your phone. During this Text for Well-Being program, you’ll learn fun facts about local food in King County, find out what’s in season, and get motivated to eat farm fresh food. Look for Community Supported Agriculture this spring As part of… Read More
Employees talk about importance of paid parental leave
Several employees are featured in a new King County TV video talking about the importance of bonding with a new-born child and how King County’s Paid Parental Leave pilot program will help them create that bond. “All the study shows that if you have that dedicated time that’s focused on a child you have better health outcomes for the child but also for the parents,” Councilmember Rod Dembowski said in the video. “And in this case, the program we’re talking about here, the parents are King County employees and we want to have good… Read More
Healthy Incentives is now underway
Healthy IncentivesSM is now underway! This year’s program offers the same great options and features as last year to help you achieve your health goals and be your best every day—while saving on your 2017 health care expenses. We invite you to think about your reason for being healthy and celebrate the reasons of your coworkers. You’re our reason for offering this program—to help you live a long, full life doing the things you love. By now, you should have received a welcome letter at your home with your Healthy Incentives ID and instructions… Read More
Disability doesn’t stop dancing employee
If you happen to see a man busting a move while cleaning up hedge trimmings or emptying a trash can at Marymoor Park, it’s probably Parks Specialist Dwight Lewis. Dwight has been with parks for 17 years and his enthusiasm for the work is showing no signs of waning. “He actually makes people on our crew want to be better at what they do,” Andy Boland, Parks Maintenance Coordinator, said. “He pushes us, he comes in with a lot of energy, positive attitude, and it’s really what we need; he’s a spark… Read More
Featured Job: Business and Finance Officer I
Opening Date/Time: Fri. 01/22/16 12:00 AM Pacific Time Closing Date/Time: Wed. 02/03/16 4:30 PM Pacific Time Salary: $29.82 – $37.80 Hourly Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week Location: Chinook Building, 401 5th Avenue, Seattle, Washington Department: Department of Community & Human Services Description: The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, self-reliant and connected to community. This position is being created to support the new Best Starts for Kids fund. The position will be responsible for day to day accounting transactions,… Read More
Five Questions with Heather Barr, Public Health Nurse
1. When did you start as a Public Health Nurse with King County? 30-plus years ago. I started out in the Jail as a Registered Nurse in 1984. I met a nurse there (Kathryn Crawford) who asked me what I wanted to do with my career. I told her I liked to work with homeless people, and people with addictions. She said “I have the perfect job for you, I am leaving a position at the tuberculosis clinic running a drug trial for the Centers for Disease Control, most of my patients are alcoholic… Read More
What the Trainings Told Us
Last week we wrapped up trainings preparing managers and supervisors to lead their groups in responding to survey results. 498 (let’s call it 500) managers and supervisors participated in this training and still more are taking it online. That’s an incredible grassroots force out there leading culture change by having conversations with their work groups about how to improve engagement in the county. Evaluations from the trainings (scores are out of 5 where 1 is strongly disagree and 5 is strongly agree) show that: People will be able to apply what they’ve learned (4.14) They… Read More
Team keeps Metro buses moving
Whenever something out of the ordinary happens on a Metro Transit bus, King County’s Transit Control Center (TCC) gets a call. Janice Berlin, one of three chiefs in the TCC, works to prepare for any situation that could happen on a bus. The TCC monitors everything from a bus breakdown to a medical emergency to a security threat so commuters are kept safe and issues are addressed quickly. If a bus breaks down, TCC is notified and the responding coordinator dispatches assistance, generally a coach change, field supervisor and mechanic. Priorities are always safety and accommodating the passengers.
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