Housing Policy Manager

King County (WA)•Seattle, WA

44d•Hybrid

About The Position

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. At the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) Housing and Community Development Division (HCD), we are working toward a future where all King County residents live in healthy, stable, and affordable housing in thriving, connected, and inclusive communities. Our mission is to increase housing stability and develop strong communities. HCD is looking for a pro-equity and anti-racist leader, housing planner and policy analyst, effective communicator, and collaborative project manager to join the Policy, Planning, and Special Projects section. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences. HCD encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, refugees, queer and trans people, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences with housing instability. The Housing Policy Manager (PPMIV) will lead a small team focused on housing and community development in unincorporated King County and countywide policy research and development. This team helps to guide policies and investments to equitably address community needs while maintaining accountability by regularly reporting on our work and continuously improving our processes and approaches. The work of this team includes: implementing housing-related actions from the King County Comprehensive Plan, advancing community stability in alignment with the Skyway-West Hill and North Highline Anti-Displacement Strategies Report, reducing barriers to and affirmatively furthering fair housing in alignment with the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, tracking and analyzing relevant State legislation, and supporting research and reporting on Council-directed initiatives and community requests. HCD is looking for an individual with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, a passion for advancing housing equity, and an empathic and relational approach to leadership. The Housing Policy Manager will lead complex projects that require effective communication and collaboration with internal and external partners. This position will supervise two to three employees and cultivate a positive and supportive workplace culture. Skills in project management, relationship building, effective written and oral communication, and equity impact analysis are essential for this position. The ideal candidate would have experience with planning within the Washington Growth Management Action framework, housing development and financial feasibility analysis, and familiarity with the housing and human services landscape in King County, Washington, but anyone who meets the minimum qualifications and has a willingness to learn and adapt are encouraged to apply. WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified candidates who meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around 1/12/2026. 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. WORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: 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 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 the Chinook Building at 401 Fifth Avenue, 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. RECRUITER: Greg Mallory, [email protected]

Requirements

Three or more years of experience working on affordable housing and/or community stability research, policy, or programs
Experience developing and reviewing public policy or legislation
Experience conducting inclusive outreach and community engagement processes and effectively collaborating with people most affected by inequity
Foundational understanding of housing policy, affordable housing programs, and relevant federal, state, and local regulations and familiarity with the role of local governments in housing preservation and production
Knowledge of equity, racial and social justice principles and practices and the impact of systemic inequities on health, housing, and economic outcomes
Skills in scoping, planning, and managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to distill complex information for different audiences, including elected officials, county administrators, regional partners, and community members
Empathic and relational leadership skills, including the ability to work effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds
Ability to support multiple projects and tasks simultaneously, organize and prioritize work quickly in response to changing needs, and meet deadlines
Ability to research best practices, gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative data, synthesize findings, and write reports summarizing findings
Ability to understand the financial feasibility and effectiveness of affordable housing policy and financing tools
Ability to understand local land use and development regulations and their impact on housing access, stability, affordability, and equity
High-level understanding of the connections between affordable housing and human services, public health, environmental justice, economic development, and transportation
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and web-based research methods.

Nice To Haves

5 or more years of experience working on affordable housing and/or housing stability issues, with a primary focus on housing policy or planning
Knowledge of the history of racially exclusive and discriminatory land use and housing practices in King County
Experience collaborating with communities disproportionately impacted by housing instability in King County
Experience either working for a local government/public agency or an organization that works on land use planning or public policy issues, particularly within the Puget Sound region
Experience developing and/or implementing housing or land use plans, policies, and/or actions
Experience developing and/or financing affordable housing

Responsibilities

Scope, schedule, and manage complex projects to develop housing and community development plans and policy recommendations within given time and resource constraints
Conduct in-depth research to understand housing and community needs and disparities
Analyze the potential impacts of federal, state, and local housing policies
Utilize an outcome-oriented framework and practice continuous improvement and accountability
Use pro-equity and anti-racist frameworks to conduct research and analysis, engage with community, and guide policies and investment decisions
Build and sustain relationships with internal and external partners
Communicate clearly through written technical reports, legislation, and plain language summaries as well as oral presentations and discussion for various audiences, including elected officials, county administrators, partner agencies, community members, and more
Represent King County in public meetings and conduct outreach and community engagement
Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations
Ethically manage community and/or consultant contracts
Supervise two to three people and actively support their well-being and professional development
Perform other duties as assigned

Benefits

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
12 paid holidays each year plus two personal 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