Job Details

Program/Project Manager IV

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.

Are you a skilled program manager who is passionate about supporting solutions for people in our region experiencing homelessness and working through real world systems challenges to help shelter and housing projects succeed? Are you committed to centering equity and social justice in your work? Can you move quickly between big picture vision and project-level details? King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is looking for you!

The King County Department of Community and Human Services Housing and Community Development (HCD) Division plays a central role in addressing homelessness throughout the region with stakeholder partners, including developing and maintaining a continuum of services to obtain housing stability.

The Project/Program Manager IV will provide leadership for homeless service funding and contracting, partnering closely with other funders and HCD teams supporting our region's efforts to address homelessness. Candidates will need to have an understanding of the current homelessness response landscape.

The paramount goal of this program is to support individuals and households experiencing homelessness to access services and ultimately obtain housing. The work will include building a new team that will be responsible for effectively managing Federal, State, and Local funding for improved outcomes, consistency with regional plans, and regulatory compliance across outreach, shelter, transitional housing, and rapid rehousing programs.

This position reports to the Housing Services and Stability Manager within HCD.

Job Duties

• Develop strong working relationships and collaborate with internal and external partners including fiscal, compliance, provider organizations, other funders, and our local Continuum of Care in the administration of funding and implementation of programming.
• Supervise staff, providing direction and support to individuals and the team. This includes hiring, onboarding, and support in day-to-day work and longer-term career development.
• Serve as a resource for the team, addressing program implementation issues including financial and staff resource needs, internal/external conflicts, and needed program changes.
• Oversee the procurement, allocation, and contracting of fund sources and ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local laws and regulations, expenditure and program standards, and deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines at the same time, to move between the details of implementation and a broader system view, and to prioritize and re-prioritize work.
• Provide training and education to system and provider partners.
• Prepare proposals, briefing papers, speaking points, presentations, reports, applications, and/or other pertinent documents.
• Work to apply an equity and social justice approach to all aspects of the work in partnership with team members and other division and department staff.
• Gather and analyze data related to the homelessness response system and services for people experiencing to help continuous system improvement and to inform Request for Proposal(s) (RFP) processes.
• Write RFP documents, including guidelines, application forms and rating tools, and implement RFP processes.
• Assist with coordination with other funders and service providers to ensure integration of funded projects with related regional efforts.
• Coordinate and collaborate with the division's evaluation team to give input on evaluation efforts related to funded projects and larger initiatives.
• Represent team in departmental, inter-jurisdictional and multi-agency planning processes and work groups.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• Demonstrated commitment to Equity and Social Justice principles and practices.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and at least four years of experience in program management or public administration or an equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work.
• At least two years of supervisory experience, including managing teams engaged in the homeless and/or housing systems or human services.
• Experience successfully implementing projects with multiple and diverse partners.
• Experience with change management, supporting programs and staff through transition and optimizing opportunities.
• Demonstrated skills or track record of creative problem solving and consistent communication.
• Knowledge of and experience with the homeless crisis response and related systems.
• Deep understanding of homeless housing and service programs demonstrated by at least three years of experience in a direct service setting and/or managing homelessness response or service contracts.
• Demonstrated understanding of equity and social justice concepts and the effects of place, race and systems-based inequities and ability to apply an equity and social justice approach to all areas of the work, including communication and RFP processes.
• Demonstrated strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders, ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines, ability to move between the details of implementation and broader system view, and strong attention to detail.
• Project management experience with demonstrated success in implementing complex government programs under tight timelines.
• Strong facilitation and negotiation skills, and the demonstrated ability to develop partnerships to build consensus and develop reasonable solutions to issues and problems.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively and build relationships.
• Proficiency using MS Word, Excel, and Outlook (or another e-mail client).

Desired:

• Master's degree in social work, Public Administration, and/or related field
• Lived experience of homelessness.
• Knowledge of the local homelessness response continuum.
• Experience with RFP processes including development and management of review processes.
• Passion for system reform, racial justice, and helping people access resources to lead healthy and meaningful lives.
• Valid Washington State Driver's License or the ability to travel throughout the County in a timely manner.

This position has been designated 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.

The team 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 Chinook, 401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. 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.

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime. Typical hours are Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm.

This position is represented by Protec17-Non-Sups Staff (DCHS)

This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around September 8, 2026. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive. If you have any questions, please contact Alan Wedge, Alwedge@kingcounty.gov.

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.

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County's vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Alan Wedge at Alwedge@kingcounty.gov

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability.