Forestry Biosolids Project Manager

This position is open to all qualified candidates
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The Resource Recovery unit within the Operations & Maintenance Section of King Countys W astewater T reatment D ivision strives to bring valuable resources, technology, and sound business practices together to deliver products and programs that inspire our customers to be part of an environmentally sustainable future.

This is a unique opportunity to support the forestry applications of Loop® biosolids-our nationally recognized, soil­ building product made from highly treated wastewater solids. For over 40 years, Loop has been transforming forests and farms across Washington, and this role ensures that important work continues.

As a member of the Resource Recovery Unit within the Operations & Maintenance Section , youll join a dynamic, mission-driven team working at the forefront of sustainable resource recovery. This is more than a technical role youll blend project management, stakeholder engagement, environmental compliance, and strategic planning to deliver real-world climate solutions. Your work will help keep biosolids out of landfills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve soil health in working forests across the region.

If you thrive in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment and want to make a tangible impact on sustainability, this is your opportunity. The Renewable Products & Services work group within the Resource Recovery Unit; surrounded by professionals who value innovation, performance, and transformation. Come make a tangible impact and be part of a team shaping the future of wastewater resource recovery .

About the Role:

The Biosolids Forestry Project Manager ensures the beneficial reuse of biosolidsmarketed as Loop® across publicly and privately owned forest land . By managing data tracking and reporting, coordinating application operations , and developing new application sites , the role supports King Countys sustainability objectives by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing soil health

Exciting opportunities in this role include collaborating with customers, University of Washington researchers , and regulators to safely apply biosolids, monitor soil nutrients, and safeguard public and environmental health through rigorous quality assurance, soil testing, and community engagement to ensure the biosolids program is equitable , science-based, and community-focused.

About the Team:

The Renewable Products & Services work group within the Resource Recovery Unit includes the Recycled Water and Biosolids Programs. This position would serve in the Biosolids Program. Biosolids are organic matter that our treatment plants recover from untreated wastewater. Once biosolids meet our rigorous standards , it is known by our product name, Loop® For over 40 years, our forest and farm customers across Washington have used Loop to enrich their soil for improved tree growth and more robust crops. Loop is one of WTD's best products, and it's our job to ensure it reaches customers and that we continue to distribute it for beneficial use keeping biosolids out of landfills. Loop is an important product because it helps ensure the balance of greenhouse gas emissions that help reduce our climate impact. Please see these videos for more information about our Loop product; how it is made, who we partner with, how it helps build soil, and why our customers love it: What is Loop? - Videos & Media | Loop® Biosolids (loopforyoursoil.com)

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice: King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at style="color: inherit; font-style: normal; text-indent: 0">. Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, c omprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.
What You Will Be Doing:

• • Manage detailed application data and spatial recordkeeping for forestry biosolids use, including mapping, site logs, and regulatory documentation, to ensure compliance with agronomic rates, forest health goals, and Washington Department of Ecology requirements. This work supports transparency, environmental stewardship, and King Countys resource recovery and climate commitments.

  • Coordinate with commercial and public forestry partners, hauling contractors, and King Countys transportation program to ensure timely , volume-appropriate delivery and application of biosolids across active and planned forestry sites, maintaining alignment with forest operations and ecological standards.

  • Develop and manage new forestry customer application sites and negotiate and manage forestry application contracts

  • Collaborate with researchers and regulators to evaluate soils, monitor site performance, and determine agronomic application rates that support forest productivity, soil health, and carbon sequestration, while maintaining rigorous environmental compliance.

  • Lead and support capital and operational projects related to biosolids forestry application, including procurement, maintenance, and repair of specialized application equipment. Serve as project manager to ensure efficient, safe, and strategic field operations aligned with broader biosolids program goals.

  • D eliver forest-based outreach and education efforts, including field tours for stakeholders, presentations to community and professional forestry groups, and serve as subject area expert for presentations and public-facing materials that explain the role of Loop® in sustainable forest management and climate resilience.

  • Support Biosolids Agricultural and Transportation programs by developing a working knowledge of parallel application program work and associated transportation oversight, cross-training with other application project managers to ensure biosolids program resiliency.

  • Participate in biosolids strategic plan development

Qualifications You Bring:

• Ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including regulators, forestry professionals, researchers, and contractors, while navigating competing interests, field conditions, and long-term planning needs
• Experience using environmental data to inform decisions , including maintaining detailed records, developing site histories, producing summaries or visualizations, and applying data to improve soil management or application strategies
• Demonstrated skill in project planning and coordination, including the ability to manage contractors, field logistics , equipment procurement, and cross-agency timelines to support large-scale biosolids forestry operations
• Knowledge of soil science, forest ecology, and biosolids land application practices, including principles of agronomic rate calculation, soil health assessment, and compliance with environmental regulations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing technical documents, regulatory reports, and outreach materials, and presenting complex field-based information to regulators, researchers, landowners, and the public
• Familiarity with spatial data management, experience creating, maintaining , and interpreting maps or similar records to support tracking, planning, and regulatory compliance for biosolids application sites

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience in forest operations, silviculture, or land application of biosolids, particularly within commercial or public-sector timberlands, including coordination with foresters, landowners, and regulators
• Demonstrated expertise in GIS mapping and spatial data analysis and project management tools (such as ArcGIS, Excel, and SharePoint) with the ability to develop and maintain geospatial records that support site planning, application tracking, regulatory reporting, and compliance verification
• Strong working knowledge of environmental regulations and permitting requirements related to biosolids land application in Washington State, including familiarity with Washington Department of Ecology standards for agronomic rate calculation, site suitability, and monitoring
• Experience managing or supporting environmental compliance programs, including data management, reporting, and coordination with regulatory agencies or research partners to meet operational and legal requirements

Competencies You Bring:

Manages Complexity : Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems
Action Oriented : Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
E nsures Accountability : Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments
Organizational Savvy : Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics
Manages Conflict : Handling conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.
Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements (1-2 days or more per week for team collaboration and field work). The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. On-site reporting locations may be at various King County worksites throughout the WTD service area, including Snoqualmie or Marckworth forests, the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104) and treatment plant facilities. This work arrangement promotes work-life balance and reduces carbon footprint under the departments vision of Green Where We Work.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week with a 5 days per week schedule Monday - Friday with occasional evenings and weekends to meet business needs. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
• Union Representation : This position is represented by the King County Technical Employees' Association (TEA) bargaining unit
• Physical Requirement : Incumbents w ill have to walk around uneven terrain, ma nually open and close access gates, may require lifting or use of tools forest , and be prone to potentially adverse weather conditions

Application and Selection Process: We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives, and life experience, and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness, and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Complete Supplemental Questions

Note: Additional documents will not be considered during minimum qualification screening. For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Dan Sherman HR Analyst ... Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube and our WTD Blog . Discover More About DNRP : Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News . Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes 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.

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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement.