What are the responsibilities and job description for the Stormwater Inspector position at King County?
Join Our Team and Help Protect King County’s Waterways – Two Stormwater Inspector Positions Available!
Are you passionate about protecting the environment and ensuring our communities thrive? King County’s Stormwater Services Section is hiring two motivated and skilled Stormwater Inspectors to help safeguard water quality and support vital drainage infrastructure. Bring your technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and commitment to environmental stewardship to a team that values collaboration, innovation, and making a lasting impact.
About the Role
This position is a key part of King County’s efforts to protect water quality and maintain compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Stormwater Permit. As a member of the Engineering Support and Response Unit, you will assess drainage and water quality facilities across the county, ensuring they are maintained to proper standards and function as designed. Your work will involve conducting field investigations, providing technical support to maintenance crews and property owners, and collecting critical asset management data.
In this role, you will have a direct impact on protecting our region’s waterways by identifying and prescribing maintenance needs for stormwater systems. You’ll engage with diverse communities to educate and advise on the importance of drainage infrastructure and environmental stewardship.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in the field, values technical excellence, and enjoys collaborative problem-solving. You’ll be part of a supportive team committed to continuous learning, innovation, and building an equitable and sustainable future for King County.
About the Team
The Engineering Support and Response Unit within King County’s Stormwater Services Section plays a vital role in protecting water quality and safeguarding our natural environment. Our team implements key components of King County’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Stormwater Permit, ensuring that flow control and water quality facilities effectively mitigate the impacts of the built environment. Through inspections, field investigations, and technical support, we help maintain the health of local waterways and ensure compliance with environmental standards.
The team is made up of high-performing inspectors, water quality planners, scientists, and engineers who are passionate about balancing development with environmental stewardship. Our work supports King County’s broader vision for sustainable communities and equitable environmental protection, providing critical drainage support and education to residents and businesses throughout the region.
We take pride in fostering a collaborative, knowledgeable, and service-oriented team culture. Team members bring a wealth of technical and scientific expertise and are committed to making a positive difference. If you’re excited about protecting water quality, working in a supportive environment, and engaging with diverse communities to strengthen our natural resources, you’ll find an inspiring home with the Engineering Support and Response Unit.
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 a Stormwater Inspector (Engineer I), you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.
Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) 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, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.
Assess drainage facilities for maintenance needs.
Field investigations of drainage and water quality inquiries and complaints as to origin, effect, and downstream impact.
Provide technical support to field maintenance crews, property owners, and other Division staff.
Perform asset management data collection in stormwater detention, water quality treatment, and flood control facilities.
Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.
- Possess general knowledge of stormwater detention and water quality treatment facilities per the guidelines of King County Surface Water Design Manual (SWDM) or equivalent manual.
- Experience reading and interpreting design plans, as-builts, plat drawings, specifications, and technical documents.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information clearly and concisely, both in writing and orally, to colleagues, outside agencies, and the public.
- Ability to create maps from field data; read and interpret maps, construction plans/profiles/details, and aerial photos for land use, land cover, topographic features, and drainage components.
- Ability to independently conduct fieldwork, which involves accurately taking and recording field measurements, applying knowledge of surface water and water quality control, and inspecting and recording maintenance needs with drainage facilities and field conditions.
Competencies You Bring:
- PLANS AND ALIGNS: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
- CUSTOMER FOCUSED: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
- COLLABORATES: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
- COMMUNICATES EFFECTIVELY: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
- ACTION ORIENTED: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
It Would Be Nice if You Also Bring:
- Understanding of municipal code as it pertains to stormwater.
- Understanding of Flow Control Best Management Practices.
- Experience with ARC/GIS Online platform and applications and tools as used for field mapping.
- Experience in effectively working with communities where English is a second language
- Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information clearly and concisely, both in writing and orally to colleagues, outside agencies and the public.
- Remote and Onsite Work Details:
Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite/field reporting requirements typically weekly. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work. - Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
- Work Schedule:This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
- Union Representation: This position is represented by PROTEC Local 17A.
- Necessary Special Requirements:
- Valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to obtain one prior to starting work if selected for this position.
- The final candidate will be required to successfully pass a pre-employment physical.
- Physical Requirements:
This position requires the ability to conduct physical site inspections and evaluations, including in times of inclement weather conditions. There is often a need to walk on uneven terrain, for extended periods of time. Field conditions include brushy, forested environments, river, stream and wetland corridors, and slippery, uneven surfaces and adverse outdoor weather conditions. Work tasks also may include in-water situations involving wading and the use of rafts. Ability to work long hours outside conducting field work and occasionally in inclement weather is necessary.
Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, but first consideration will be given to all current King County PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit employees eligible for a lateral transfer (transferring within the Engineer I classification and having passed probation). 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 (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
- Resume (Your resume should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
- Cover Letter (Your cover letter should detail your background and what you can bring to this position and will be used in the screening process; we’re looking for original writing that showcases your relevant job experience)
Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.
Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Jamie Jensen-Young at 206-263-8779 or jjensenyoung@kingcounty.gov.
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.
Salary : $85,712 - $108,645
