Job Description

Posting number: 2026AO28274

Department: DPH - Public Health

Division: Community Health Services

Job classification: Health Services Administrator I (Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines)

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Public Health

Summary

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The Best Starts for Kids Initiative is seeking a Maternal & Parent Child Health Policy and Systems Lead. The Maternal & Parent Child Health Policy and Systems lead will work across both PHSKC and DCHS to provide systems support for Best Starts focused on Maternal Child Parent Health. They will work within the Community Health Services division to provide a role of assurance for maternal and parent wellness and partner closely with staff working deeply in this area across both PHSKC and DCHS.

Special Duty Opportunity, positions are “at will” positions but are eligible for benefits. This SDA is currently anticipated to last 12/31/2027. One factor that could affect the end date of the position is an unanticipated change in funding.

Special Duty Assignments are open to Career Service, Career Service Exempt or other regular (non-temporary) employee in King County who has completed their initial County probation. You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment.

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

Monday-Friday between the hours of 8am-6pm.

Remote and Onsite Work:

The Best Start for Kids team works in a hybrid model, with a minimum of 3 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 building name and address.

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.

Examples of duties

• Provide strategic leadership in developing, implementing, and advancing maternal and parent-child health policies, priorities, and systems improvement initiatives across PHSKC and partner departments.
• Collaborate with staff, colleagues and Parent Child Health Lead in developing and implementing new program initiatives; ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
• Direct the daily operations of the Best Starts for Kids Prenatal-5 Strategy including developing, prioritizing and implementing program goals and objectives, monitoring implementation, and ensuring alignment with department and countywide priorities.
• Lead and support policy analysis, strategic planning, and systems improvement efforts to strengthen access to services, improve coordination across programs, and advance equitable health outcomes for families and communities.
• Provide leadership and oversight for community-based programs and investments, including contract development, implementation, performance monitoring, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community-based organizations, government agencies, and other partners to inform policy and program decisions and strengthen community-centered approaches.
• Coordinate with finance, contracting, and program teams to support budget development, resource allocation, fiscal accountability, and compliance with applicable policies and requirements.
• Represent maternal and parent-child health priorities in cross-divisional, cross-departmental, and external workgroups, committees, and collaborative initiatives.
• Supervise and evaluate direct report staff including hiring, training, coaching, and addressing performance concerns as needed.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• At least 3 years’ experience supervising a diverse team of people with varying expertise.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the of the Best Starts for Kids initiative and Prenatal-5 programming.
• Experience convening multiple partners/collaborators, cross-departmental teams, and facilitating meetings to achieve project objectives.

Desired:

• At least 5 years’ recent experience in a leadership position supervising people, managing investments supporting Maternal/Parent Child Health programs, and subject matter expertise in State or local MCH policy and programming.
• Experience in Community engagement.
• Demonstrated experience leading, collaborating, and working across teams, programs, divisions, and/or departments.
• Skilled at listening, facilitating, and gathering input from multiple sources to inform decisions with political sensitivity and potentially conflict laden situations.
• Knowledge of Best Starts for Kids vision, principles, and cross-departmental (PHSKC & DCHS) implementation strategy.
• Demonstrated experience advancing equity and social justice principles and practices that address the effects of place, race, policy, and systemic inequities on communities and populations.

Supplemental information

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.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Alexis Owens at Alowens@kingcounty.gov.

Who May Apply

Internal Applicant (Career Service)

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)

(Please note: Cover letters, resumes, and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above).

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.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with 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 stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

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.

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.
• 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 CLA 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 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.

Union Membership

Non-represented