Ruth Woo Fellowship

King County is proud to offer an exciting fellowship opportunity for those committed to exploring a career in public service. The Ruth Woo Emerging Leaders Fellowship is named after the revered community leader Ruth Woo who dedicated her life to public service. To learn more about Ruth Woo, visit: Northwest AsianWeekly. 

To honor her many contributions to our communities and state, King County is offering two paid, full-time Term Limited Temporary positions. In their assignments, Fellows will have an opportunity to develop or deepen their understanding of the impact and importance of civic engagement, appreciate the importance of public service in its many forms from elected officials to staff, partners and clients, and enhance their skills for building a career in public service.

Job Duties

Fellows will be assigned to work in a county agency for a period of twelve months. These agencies include King County Council (KCC); and Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). All projects will be subject to the specific needs of the host department at the time of the assignment. 

These assignments will provide the fellow with an opportunity to perform real work under the guidance of experienced County employees, learn new skills, and gain experience while furthering King County initiatives.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications:

• College degree (transcripts will be requested upon offer).

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing;
• Develop and maintain effective relations with diverse people and people from different backgrounds and across different sectors;
• Be flexible and be able to adapt to new situations while working in a multi-faceted and sometimes ambiguous environment, and;
• Remain neutral on issues where there are competing political agendas and use tact, discretion, and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive issues and concerned individuals.

Skilled in:

• Interpersonal communication;
• Managing and completing assigned work in a timely manner, and;
• Analytical and research skills, with the ability to learn new technologies and processes. 

Commitment to: 

Our focus and actions are based on four principles (4B’s): 

• Breaking the Cycle – of homelessness, addiction, trauma and incarceration
• Building for Affordability – Housing, childcare, and transit that are growing needs
• Be in the Community – for more customer and community service
• Better Government – services through fiscal responsibility, transparency, accountability and equity

Working Conditions: 

• This position is non-exempt (hourly) and eligible for overtime with supervisory pre-approval. Typical work hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (8-hour days) and may report to various King County locations. 
• The teams work 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.
• Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. 

Union affiliation: 

This position is not represented. 

Application Instructions: 

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Applicants should complete the online application and attach a resume and cover letter outlining why you are the most qualified to be selected as a fellow. 

There are two opportunities: 

King County Council (KCC)

Department of Natural Resources & Parks. 

Each applicant must indicate in which department(s) they are most interested in working; you can choose more than one department; however, the final decision will be that of the department managers. Click on the link(s) above to learn more about those departments or go to www.kingcounty.gov. 

Selection Process:

Priority will be given to economically disadvantaged college graduates from backgrounds that have lacked access to education, employment, and professional development opportunities. Additionally, the fellowship is open only to those who are new to King County employment. 

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. Materials should speak to your demonstrated commitment to public service and your background. Candidates should complete the online application, attach a resume, and a cover letter. Your cover letter should outline the following three areas: 

• Your background and how it lacked equitable access to education, employment, and professional development opportunities; 
• Barriers you've had to overcome and the actions you took to get through them; and 
• Why you are passionate and committed to public service.

The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. Reference and education verification checks will also be conducted. 

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 related to this recruitment process, please contact Christina Jamerson by email at cjamerso@kingcounty.gov. 

Supplemental Information

Available Fellowship Opportunities

King County Council (KCC): As the legislative branch of county government, the King County Council sets policies, enacts laws, and adopts budgets that guide an array of services for county residents. The Council's nine councilmembers are elected on a non-partisan basis and serve four-year terms. As the County’s primary policymaking body, the King County Council touches on every aspect of life in King County, from parks to public safety, transportation, public health, housing, and more.Ruth Woo Fellowships at the Council take a variety of forms depending on the Fellow’s interests. Fellows will work on the Council’s “central staff” to support all nine councilmembers in a variety of areas. Some examples include:

• Local & Regional Affairs: municipal and special purpose governments, elections oversight, local legislation and issues of interest to King County’s 39 cities and unincorporated areas
• Government Relations: state and federal governments, state legislation and issues of statewide interest, advocacy
• Equity and Social Justice: programs and policies that address inequities and increase access to government, community engagement, support for County boards and commissions related to ESJ

As the architect of the Ruth Woo Fellowship, the King County Council takes great pride in tailoring fellowships for success. Fellows have broad exposure to all aspects of the King County Council, including informational interviews with Councilmembers, directors, and other key staff.

TASKS TO BE ASSIGNED

While there is no “typical day” at the King County Council, Ruth Woo Fellows can expect to work on a variety of projects and tasks, including: 

• Attending meetings and reporting back on key issues of interest
• Conducting research, compiling data
• Preparing reports and presentations 
• Organizing special events and activities

The King County Council is committed to providing a welcoming, respectful workplace where employees are empowered to participate in building a thriving work environment. We hope you consider joining us as a Ruth Woo Fellow!

Department of Natural Resources & Parks

This role will support multiple initiatives under the Climate Equity and Workforce team including the JumpStart workforce program, the Climate Equity Community Task Force, the Community Climate Resilience Grant, and other activities related to helping King County achieve the priorities outlined in the Sustainable and Resilient Frontline Communities section of the 2025 – 2030 Strategic Climate Action Plan.

The fellow will help prepare grant materials, support youth leadership activities, develop communications content, assist with training facilitation, support data management and grant reporting, and help organize external events for stakeholders and the community. Fellows will build skills in project coordination, budget management, communication, community and stakeholder engagement, cross-agency and -sector collaboration, grant management, and continuous process improvement while advancing equitable climate solutions across King County.

Projects and Tasks assigned:

• Assist with preparing, publishing, and managing grant materials
• Support with youth leadership development on the Climate Equity Community Task Force
• Develop monthly newsletter content
• Training planning, preparation, and coordination
• Event planning and coordination
• Process and procedure improvement in program management
• Assist with grant reporting and documentation

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.