Project/Program Manager IV (Best Starts for Kids Prenatal to Five Team Lead)

Summary

Community Health Services operates King County's Public Health Centers and delivers various health services through its programs, partnerships, and comprehensive services. We embody King County's vision of health, well-being, and racial equity daily for everyone. We aim to strengthen our community's safety net services and partnerships to deliver equitable and responsive health care for marginalized communities. Today, we have nearly 650 employees, constituting one-third of Public Health as the largest division in the department. This site is for all of us. Please find links to employment resources, inclusion, wellness, updates, and opportunities on our Intranet page.

This position will attract candidates who are passionate about equity, community impact, and professional growth. King County is committed to diversity and social justice, fostering an inclusive environment where employees can lead systemic change. As part of the Best Starts for Kids initiative, this role offers the opportunity to shape and implement programs that directly improve outcomes for children, families, and caregivers. The Prenatal to Five team is built on collaboration, continuous learning, and data-driven strategies, creating a supportive and innovative workplace. With a strong focus on culturally responsive, community-designed solutions, this role is ideal for professionals eager to work at the intersection of public health, early childhood development, and social policy—as well as the private and public sectors. By bridging these systems, the position plays a key role in developing sustainable, high-impact solutions for King County families. Based in the dynamic Seattle-King County region, this position provides a unique combination of meaningful work, leadership opportunities, and community impact, making it an exciting opportunity for those committed to advancing health equity for young children and families.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is seeking a Project/Program Manager IV (Prenatal to Five Team Lead) to support the Best Starts for Kids Prenatal to Five team within the Community Health Services (CHS) Division. This role provides strategic leadership and oversight of programs that reach children and families in their prenatal to five years, ensuring access to high-quality services in homes, child care settings, and community spaces.

The Team Lead will partner with project/program managers to guide the implementation of the following strategies: Home-Based Services, Community-Based Parenting Supports, Child Care Health Consultation, and Help Me Grow. This position will supervise program staff, manage administrative functions, and lead collaboration with cross-sector partners to strengthen promotion, prevention, and early intervention services for children under five. The role is central to advancing an integrated system of early learning within King County under the Help Me Grow framework.

Working in close partnership with the Maternal and Parent-Child Policy and Systems Lead, Best Starts Implementation Manager, and Prenatal to Five Policy and Program Manager, as well as leadership across Public Health – Seattle & King County and the Department of Community and Human Services, this position will align Best Starts services with broader Parent-Child Health efforts within the Community Health Services Division. The Team Lead will play a key role in strengthening program connections, facilitating cross-referrals, and ensuring families receive coordinated and culturally responsive support. This is an opportunity for a leader committed to health equity, early childhood development, and community-driven solutions. The ideal candidate will bring experience in program management, systems-building, and partnership development to drive meaningful change for young children and families in King County.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

This is a full-time, career-service position. The standard workweek is Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Some evenings and weekends work may be required to meet program demands.

Work Location

Hybrid model. At least three times a month, but this may change in the coming years.

Chinook Building - 401 5th Ave. Seattle, WA 98104

• If Teleworking:
  
  

(Some of the work associated with this position will be performed through teleworking, and will report to office location and to meetings as needed. Travel to other work locations may be necessary. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. To support employees during this time King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team.)

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Job Duties

Program Leadership:

• Lead a diverse, multilingual, and collaborative team focused on family-centered, strengths-based best practices.
• Foster innovation through qualitative and quantitative data, cross-system partnerships, and a commitment to equity, social justice, and trauma-informed care.
• Ensure that all programs align with King County’s Equity and Social Justice Plan, working closely with the Prenatal to Five team.
  
  

Program Improvement

• Set annual goals to align these programs within prenatal-to-five services in the Community Health Services (CHS) Division.
• Manage program budgets, ensure effective spending, and oversee program evaluation efforts in partnership with Public Health’s Assessment, Policy, Development, and Evaluation unit.
• Work closely with partners to continuously improve services based on feedback.
• Ensure compliance with contracting, fiscal, and program monitoring requirements.
  
  

Coordinating And Systems Building

• Strengthen cross-departmental partnerships to improve how families access services, particularly through Help Me Grow and broader Public Health initiatives. Identify areas for continuous quality improvement to ensure a seamless experience for community members.
  
  

Partnership, Communications, and Community Engagement:

• Represent Best Starts for Kids in coalitions, committees, and workgroups at local and state levels.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with community organizations, service providers, government agencies, and advocacy groups to align efforts and leverage resources.
• Develop reports, communications, and presentations to keep interested parties informed.
• Design and facilitate meetings that engage diverse partners—including families and grassroots organizations—to ensure services are culturally responsive and reflect community needs.
  
  

Policy Research And Development

• Conduct policy analysis and research relevant to the program areas.
• Track and provide feedback on state policy during legislative sessions.
• Brief Public Health leadership and participate in policy discussions with community coalitions.
• Partner with Maternal and Parent-Child Policy and System Lead, Policy Director, and Public Health leadership to identify opportunities for policy alignment.
  
  

Innovation And Dissemination

• Document and share best practices in Prenatal to Five programs at local, state, and national levels.
• Represent Best Starts for Kids and Public Health – Seattle & King County in professional networks and forums.
  
  

Team Building

• Create a collaborative and supportive work environment that promotes open communication, teamwork, and continuous learning.
• Act as a thought partner to team members, helping them navigate challenges and opportunities.
  
  

Other Duties As Assigned

• Perform additional related duties as needed.
  
  

Ideal Candidate

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

The ideal candidate possesses the core skills and experience needed for this role, including:

• Deep understanding of equity and social justice, including how place, race, and policy impact communities.
• Experience in early childhood systems, such as prenatal-to-five programs, early learning, social services, child welfare, child care, or home-based services.
• Expertise in implementation science and/or program design, particularly in evaluating and improving services.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including negotiation, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
• Proven ability to build authentic relationships with community members and grassroots organizations to ensure programs are responsive to community needs.
• Demonstrated experience working at the intersection of public and private institutions, including cross-sector collaboration to advance program goals.
• Experience using data to drive program improvements, inform decision-making, and engage stakeholders.
• Supervisory experience, with at least two years of leading and supporting a team.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a focus on long-term systems change.
• Excellent communication skills, including writing, presenting, and facilitating discussions with diverse audiences.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, navigating complex systems and building consensus.
  
  

Desired Candidate

In addition to meeting the ideal qualifications, the desired candidate will have:

• Knowledge of county and state government operations, with experience working across sectors to improve outcomes.
• Familiarity with King County and Washington State early learning systems, including established relationships with local organizations.
• Experience coordinating, implementing, and monitoring grant- or contract-funded services.
• Project and resource management expertise, including budgeting, planning, and analysis.
  
  

Supplemental Information

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.

Who May Apply

Anyone that is qualified for the role

Application Process

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)
• Resume
• Cover Letter/Letter of Interest
  
  

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.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR ( if applicable).
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment. (and Pre-employment Physical, if applicable).
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.
• If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.
  
  

Union Membership

Non Represented

Contact

(include Analyst name and email address)

Benefits

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• 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
  
  

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

01

Do you have deep knowledge or lived experience of equity and social justice principles and practices and understanding of the effects of place, race, and policy and systems-based inequities on marginalized communities and populations? Please explain.

• Yes
• No
  
  

02

If you answered yes to the previous question, please briefly describe where you got that knowledge, and how you've used it in your previous roles. If you do not have this experience, type n/a.

03

Do you have demonstrated experience with project and resource management techniques and principles, analysis, planning and organization?

• Yes
• No
  
  

04

If you answered yes to the previous question, please briefly describe that experience and include in your response where you performed those duties. If you do not have this experience, type n/a.

05

Do you have at least five (5) years of work experience in prenatal-to-five programs, early learning, or systems of care such as social services, child welfare, child care, or home-based services?

• Yes
• No
  
  

06

If yes, please describe your experience and how it aligns with this role. If no, type n/a

07

Do you have at least two (2) years of experience supervising staff in a public health, social services, or early childhood setting?

• Yes
• No
  
  

08

If yes, please describe your supervisory approach, including how you support staff development, manage performance, and foster an inclusive team culture. If no, type n/a.

09

Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? AND Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?

• Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
• No.
  
  

10

If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff

• Required Question