King County
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
State and Federal Government Relations Manager
(Manager).
Under the direction of the Director of Government Relations, the Manager advances King County’s values and legislative agenda by developing and executing strong relationships with state and federal elected officials and staff, agencies, and community partners.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as the state and federal government relations program lead. In this capacity, the Manager will work with the Director of Government Relations to:
Develop and implement
the County’s legislative agenda, work plan and post session implementation plan.
Serve as the lead , in-person representative during the state legislative session and interim assembly days in Olympia.
Oversee the County’s contract lobbyists , in partnership with the Director for the King County Council, to ensure execution of the state and federal agenda.
Research and assess
policy issues and make recommendations for the Executive’s leadership team.
Partner with the
Policy & Innovation and Community Engagement and Response teamson legislative strategy and outreach efforts. Work collaboratively with King County agencies, the King County Council, and subject matter experts on bills, analysis, reports, presentations, and stakeholder engagement.
Prepare and review
briefing materials, talking points, legislative correspondence, and testimony.
Testify on behalf of King County
in state legislative hearings and workgroups.
Track and analyze
proposed legislation and budgets affecting King County and advocate for the County’s interests.
Coordinate
feedback loop and produce timely legislative updates.
Represent the Executive at meetings with elected officials, their staff, and stakeholders. Work across jurisdictions on intergovernmental issues. Respond to inquiries from elected officials and agencies.
Establish and maintain relationships
with elected officials, their staff, community partners, and internal and external stakeholders.
Research issues and legislative proposals
and recommend strategies based on the impact to the County.
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 State and Federal Government 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. The State and Federal 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
State and Federal Government Relations Manager
(Manager).
Under the direction of the Director of Government Relations, the Manager advances King County’s values and legislative agenda by developing and executing strong relationships with state and federal elected officials and staff, agencies, and community partners.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as the state and federal government relations program lead. In this capacity, the Manager will work with the Director of Government Relations to:
Develop and implement
the County’s legislative agenda, work plan and post session implementation plan.
Serve as the lead , in-person representative during the state legislative session and interim assembly days in Olympia.
Oversee the County’s contract lobbyists , in partnership with the Director for the King County Council, to ensure execution of the state and federal agenda.
Research and assess
policy issues and make recommendations for the Executive’s leadership team.
Partner with the
Policy & Innovation and Community Engagement and Response teamson legislative strategy and outreach efforts. Work collaboratively with King County agencies, the King County Council, and subject matter experts on bills, analysis, reports, presentations, and stakeholder engagement.
Prepare and review
briefing materials, talking points, legislative correspondence, and testimony.
Testify on behalf of King County
in state legislative hearings and workgroups.
Track and analyze
proposed legislation and budgets affecting King County and advocate for the County’s interests.
Coordinate
feedback loop and produce timely legislative updates.
Represent the Executive at meetings with elected officials, their staff, and stakeholders. Work across jurisdictions on intergovernmental issues. Respond to inquiries from elected officials and agencies.
Establish and maintain relationships
with elected officials, their staff, community partners, and internal and external stakeholders.
Research issues and legislative proposals
and recommend strategies based on the impact to the County.
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 State and Federal Government 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. The State and Federal 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr