Economic Recovery Specialist
The King County Department of Local Services (DLS) Director’s Office is hiring an Economic Recovery Specialist. The Urban Economic Recovery Specialist will support economic recovery for businesses in unincorporated King County impacted local emergencies, such as the White Center fires, and COVID-19. Urban unincorporated King County includes, amongst others, the communities of White Center, Skyway, East Federal Way, Fairwood, and E. Renton. This position will provide direct technical support to businesses and property owners in White Center recently impacted by a string of five structural fires in the central business district.
This position is a Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) and is expected to last up to one year subject to funding availability.
Our ideal candidate will establish collaborative relationships with our economic development partners and will build effective public/private partnerships, trust, and credibility throughout the business and development community. We are looking for someone to serve as a liaison between unincorporated urban businesses, particularly those in White Center impacted by the fires. The Economic Recovery Specialist will work to implement both existing and new strategies that support economic development and work to identify resources for challenged businesses. Individuals interested in joining our team must be committed to racial, social, and economic equality for ALL people in King County. We welcome applications from people who will help us consistently demonstrate the values of equity, respect, and partnership.
Interviews are tentatively scheduled for December 20th and 22nd
Scope of Job Duties: To be considered for this opportunity, you must, at a minimum, demonstrate knowledge, skill, and ability to:
- Do on the ground, storefront to storefront outreach to businesses and property owners impacted by the fires in White Center;
- Provide one-to-one technical and practical assistance to businesses and property owners;
- Connect businesses to SBA and other technical assistance to help their businesses rebound and thrive;
- Use expertise in business district revitalization techniques, budgeting, contracting, organizational capacity building, and compliance to assist small businesses;
- Promote collaboration on approaches to economic recovery through positive and proactive relationships with representatives of area economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, and business and industry associations;
- Identify gaps in assistance and develop strategies to fill gaps by working with local community-based organizations and forming partnerships with assistance providers;
- Convene UKC business support organizations to develop COVID-19 economic recovery strategies;
- Develop and implement strategies and resources that enhance neighborhood business districts through small business support, marketing, and events;
- Identify and implement strategies that will advance and actively apply the King County Equity and Social Justice Plan and priorities to enhance economic recovery for businesses;
- Build one-to-one relationships with local businesses and partner with their owners to assess short, mid- and long-term COVID-19 recovery needs;
- Match priority business needs with available technical assistance;
- Assist businesses and community-based organizations in securing additional federal, state, and/or local funding sources to support economic recovery;
- Support existing COVD-19-impacted businesses going through lease renewals or re-location;
- Connect business property owners impacted by COVID-19-caused vacancies with businesses that are complimentary to the existing business mix and culture of the district;
- Coordinate a multi-lingual small business recovery workshop series with community-based organizations and technical support contractors.
We are looking for candidates who have:
- Experience in public administration, economic development, community building, non-profit, community-based organizations or outreach focused on economic development;
- Excellent people/public relations, communication, mediation, and negotiation skills;
- Ability to network with communities, civic leaders, economic development professionals, private sector partners, businesses, and a wide variety of other organizations and constituents;
- The ability to use innovative thinking and identify best practices to approach problems, resolve conflicts, and implement programs;
- Knowledge of land use planning, real estate development, zoning, and municipal infrastructure;
- Experience working with and supporting the needs of ethnic businesses and business districts;
- An understanding of available grant sources;
- Proficiency in conducting presentations in different settings, including public community meetings, businesses, nonprofit organization meetings, and small groups;
- Skill conducting research to identify emerging needs, trends, and services that impact community development;
- Experience effectively managing competing priorities, accomplishing tasks, and monitoring performance metrics;
- Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, multi-lingual environments and veterans;
- Knowledge of working within the unique challenges and experiences of immigrant and refugee business owners;
- Comfortable and able to engage in multi-lingual environments;
- Advanced ability with Excel, Power BI or equivalent tools;
- Knowledge of LEAN process improvement practices and other process improvement principals.
Why King County?
- Competitive – healthcare plans
- Free – transportation options
- Manager Support – structured employee assistance program
- Paid – vacation time (in addition to paid holidays)
- Paid – sick leave
- Paid – parental leave
- Deferred – compensation plan
- Ten – paid holidays
- Awesome Employee Giving Program!
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
King County is the local service provider for the roughly quarter-million people who live in the unincorporated areas of the county. Taken together, the population in unincorporated King County would be the second-largest city in the state. The Department of Local Services includes a Director's Office and the Road Services and Permitting Divisions. The Director’s Office includes a robust Community Service Area group focused on identifying and responding to the needs of urban and rural unincorporated King County residents and businesses. The department provides a single executive point of accountability for delivery of local services to all of the unincorporated areas.
Supplemental Information
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. 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.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
King County Executive Branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are the successful candidate for the position you applied for, the County will send you a conditional offer letter.
As a condition of employment, prior to a final offer of employment, you will be required to:
- submit proof of vaccination, or
- have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
People are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving the final dose of a vaccination approved by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Executive Branch includes employees in the Executive branch, the Assessor's Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Executive Office.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
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 your recruiter listed on this job announcement.
The recruitment for this position is open to all applicants. A completed King County Application is required. We highly recommend that you also provide a cover letter and resume.
If you have any questions, please contact Jen Irwin, Senior HR Analyst, by e-mail at jirwin@kingcounty.gov, or by phone at 206-263-0601. Connect with Jen on LinkedIn