City Relations Manager

About the Role

Under Executive Zahilay’s leadership, we are making King County a high performing, transparent government delivering services that improve residents’ lives. To advance this vision, we are seeking a strategic, collaborative and detail-oriented City Relations Manager.

The Government Relations team is responsible for supporting relationships, coordinating interactions and navigating complex policy and political landscapes between the Executive's Office, Federal and State agencies, the King County Council, and governing bodies and elected officials for 39 King County cities, towns and unincorporated areas, from Seattle and Bellevue to Skykomish and Milton. Under the direction of the Director of Government Relations, the City Relations Manager leads the Executive’s government relations work with King County cities, towns and unincorporated areas by developing and maintaining strong relationships with governing bodies, elected officials and their staff. 

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the city relations lead for the Executive. In this capacity, the City Relations Manager will work with the Director of Government Relations to: 
  • Represent the Executive’s Office in matters between King County and cities, towns and unincorporated areas in King County, including attending critical meetings, hearings, and workshops at City Council meetings.
  • Track all City issues in a tracker and ensure follow up regarding ongoing and emerging government relations issues and advocate for the Executive’s policies and priorities.
  • Have regular check-ins with the Sound Cities Association.
  • Draft and review briefing papers, proposed legislation, reports, talking points, correspondence, and testimony on behalf of the Executive.
  • Partner with the Budget, Policy & Innovation and Community Engagement and Response teams on outreach efforts with cities, towns and unincorporated areas.
  • Partner with King County agencies, and subject matter experts on issues, analysis, reports, presentations, and stakeholder engagement impacting cities, towns and unincorporated areas,
  • Work across jurisdictions on intergovernmental issues. Respond to inquiries from elected officials and agencies.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with governing bodies and elected officials for cities, towns and unincorporated areas, and their staff, community partners, and internal and external stakeholders.

Expectations

• A focus on being out in the region to connect and build relationships with those we serve and those with whom we partner.
• In the office a minimum of 3 days a week. Meetings may not have a call-in option for required in-person days, and the expectation is to be in the office.
• Be on time, respectful of others’ time, and responsive when needed.
• Bring an urgency to the work. We will start fast. The work will be intense, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.
• Meetings will have written expectations, including an agenda with the goals and outcomes. Owners and next steps will be clear.
• Processes and work will continuously improve.

Values

• Serve with integrity, humility and empathy.
• Show initiative and work hard.
• Prioritize outcomes over optics.
• Center those most impacted and put “boots on the ground.”
• Resolve challenges with a “yes, and” mindset.
• Work as one, adaptable, mission-driven team. 

Ideal Candidate

We are seeking a City Relations Manager who can collaborate across diverse organizations and communicate King County’s values and priorities effectively. The ideal candidate will have:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Washington state legislative engagement, or a degree in law, public policy, government, public administration, or political science OR the equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Demonstrate a deep and nuanced understanding of the legislative branch, the legislative process, and public engagement.
• Model a highly collaborative and relational work style with a focus on building and maintaining positive working relationships.
• Demonstrated success in legislative advocacy.
• Successfully navigate complex political, government, business and community environments.
• Strong ability to gather, synthesize, and communicate information to support sound decision making.

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to join an adaptable and mission-driven team that shapes how King County delivers for its residents and center those most impacted. TheCity Relations Manager will play a pivotal role in creating a more unified, efficient, and resident-centered government.

The King County Executive Department serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with integrity, transparency, and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and frugal stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. 

We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps. The team will represent the Executive with professionalism—including responsible social media conduct—and respond promptly when contacted. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive executive-level salary, commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive health, retirement, and leave benefits
• Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
• Ability to make a meaningful impact on how King County delivers for its residents

Application Process

To apply, please submit your résumé, a brief cover letter, and a statement of interest describing how your experience aligns with the Executive’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government.

Salary : $122,325 - $178,776