Equitable Access Manager (PPM III)

Summary

King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community.

At King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), we believe in working as one team that solves problems—striving to be customer-focused and drive for the best results. We envision a welcoming community that is racially just. We believe the field of human services exists to undo and mitigate unfair structures. We seek to lead the way by working as respectful and responsible stewards for our community.

The Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) of DCHS is looking for an Equitable Access Program Manager to support investments in Equitable Access (EA). The King County Behavioral Health Sales Tax Fund invests approximately $100M per year in King County’s behavioral health system. This position will manage current and future Equitable Access strategy investments funded by the King County Behavioral Health Sales Tax Fund.

This recruitment is to fill a Special Duty Assignment (SDA) that is expected to last 18 months.

Job Duties

This Project/Program Manager (PPM) will oversee the development, implementation, contract management, and evaluation of King County Behavioral Health Sales Tax Fund investments related to Equitable Access. Work includes planning, procurement, performance monitoring, systems coordination, and ensuring investments advance King County’s equity and anti-racism goals.

To be considered minimally qualified applicant must demonstrate a background that provides the knowledge, skills and ability to:

• Oversee King County Behavioral Health Fund community-driven and rural investments.
• Lead development, procurement, and implementation of all Equitable Access strategy area investments, including programs that provide non-Medicaid behavioral health services as well as culturally and linguistically responsive services.
• Manage a portfolio of complex contracts with community-based organizations and behavioral health providers; negotiate scopes of work, monitor deliverables, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with County policies.
• Apply King County Behavioral Health Fund’s equity framework to all aspects of investment design, procurement, and contract oversight, ensuring services reduce behavioral health inequities related to race, language, immigration status, LGBTQIA identity, geography, and other factors.
• Conduct data-informed planning using evaluation findings, community engagement data, and system needs to shape future procurements and investment strategies.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, including BHRD teams, community-based providers, funders, and County departments to ensure Behavioral Health Sales Tax Fund procurements and investments align with Medicaid, BH-ASO, KCICN, CCC Levy, Best Starts for Kids, and other funding sources.
• Develop, implement, and manage Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for EA investments; facilitate equitable procurement processes; and support onboarding and capacity-building for contracted providers.
• Lead communication with providers, community partners, County leadership, and advisory bodies; prepare policy recommendations, briefing materials, and analytical reports.
• Coordinate evaluation and performance measurement for EA investments, including oversight of outcomes tied to Results-Based Accountability and equity-focused program metrics.
• Represent the EA strategy area in cross-division and interdepartmental workgroups; contribute to system coordination, policy development, and continuous improvement efforts.
  
  

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE:

• Knowledge of King County’s Behavioral Health Sales Tax Fund investments.
• Experience applying equity and social justice principles to program planning, contracting, community engagement, or service delivery.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects or programs in human services, behavioral health, public health, or a related field.
• Established professional experience in contract management, including developing, negotiating, and overseeing scopes of work, budgets, and performance expectations.
• Proven understanding of behavioral health service systems, including barriers to care for low-income, uninsured, immigrant, refugee, LGBTQIA , BIPOC, and rural communities.
• Skilled in analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to inform decisions, evaluate performance, and develop policy or program recommendations.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including developing work plans, coordinating multiple partners, and delivering products on schedule.
• Proven excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing analytical reports, policy recommendations, or presentations for diverse audiences.
• Shown ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary partners, community-based organizations, and culturally responsive providers.
  
  

Desired Qualifications

These are preferred but not required:

• Experience working in or alongside community-based organizations serving BIPOC, immigrant/refugee, LGBTQIA , or rural communities.
• Experience with government contracting, especially in procurement or RFP development.
• Knowledge of Medicaid, KCICN, BH-ASO, CCC Levy, and other behavioral health funding sources.
• Understanding of skill in performance measurement, RBA frameworks, or evaluation design.
• Experience facilitating community engagement, focus groups, or co-design processes.
• Lived experience or language skills relevant to communities most affected by behavioral health inequities.
• Experience leading teams or providing mentorship in a project or program context.
  
  

Additional Position Information

• This position has been designated Non-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 Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) 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 not represented by a union.
• Classification: Project/Program Manager III
  
  

Who May Apply

This position is open to current INTERNAL employees of King County that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around the week of August 24, 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 Alicia Larsen, alarsen@kingcounty.gov.

This selection process will fill our current vacancy but also create a pool of qualified candidates should additional Equitable Access Manager Positions (PPM III) positions open up within the next 6 months.

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.

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

Are you applying to this position as an eligible Priority Placement Program Participant who is a current or previous King County Employee impacted by layoff? 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.
  
  

02

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

03

Describe your knowledge of King County’s Behavioral Health Sales Tax Fund investments. Please include positions and work dates that provided you with this knowledge or experience. If you do not possess this knowledge or experience, please type N/A.

04

Describe your experience and approach to integrating race and social justice into program planning, contracting, community engagement, or service delivery. Please include positions and work dates that provided you with this knowledge or experience. If you do not possess this knowledge or experience, please type N/A.

05

How many years of experience managing complex projects or programs in human services, behavioral health, public health or a related field do you possess?

• Less than 1 year or I do not have this experience, but I am willing to learn.
• 1-2 years of experience
• 3-4 years of experience
• 5 years of experience
  
  

06

How many years of professional experience in contract management, including developing, negotiating, and overseeing scopes of work, budgets, and performance expectations do you possess?

• Less than 1 year or I do not have this experience, but I am willing to learn.
• 1-2 years of experience
• 3-4 years of experience
• 5 years of experience
  
  

07

This is a three-part question about equity and social justice, which is integral to the work we do in King County. a. How do you define equity? b. How have you worked to incorporate an equity lens in your current or previous jobs? c. How do you think equity relates to this position and the mental health and well-being of our communities, and how would you use an equity lens in this work?

• Required Question