Capital Delivery Efficiency & Rule 171 Specialist (SDA)

About the role

This opportunity is open to current King County employees. External applicants are not being considered.

This recruitment is open only to current King County employees in a regular position who have completed their initial probation and will used to fill a Special Duty Assignment (SDA) with an anticipated 3 year duration. External applicants are not being considered.

Join our Capital Delivery team to drive multi-million-dollar efficiencies across King County’s wastewater infrastructure portfolio. We are seeking an analytical, forward-thinking, and collaborative professional to serve as our dedicated Rule 171 Tax Eligibility Specialist and Capital Efficiency Lead

About the Role

In this role, you will lead the systematic screening of capital projects under Washington State Tax Rule 171 (Public Road Construction) while shaping strategic, legislative, and policy efforts aimed at accelerating capital project delivery and optimizing public funds. You will serve as the programmatic expert—guiding project teams from pre-scoping through closeout, reforming internal procurement/project delivery standards, and advancing regional policy changes that reduce overhead and maximize legal tax savings on complex infrastructure assets.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

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. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Capital Delivery Efficiency & Rule 171 Specialist, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work.

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division 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.What You Will Be Doing:

Strategic Cost Optimization & Capital Delivery Efficiency

• Capital Portfolio Optimization: Align Rule 171 tax strategies with King County WTD’s broader cost optimization initiatives, identifying systemic schedule acceleration and cost-reduction opportunities across linear and facility projects.
• Alternative Project Delivery Integration: Partner with project teams using Progressive Design-Build (PDB), General Contractor/Construction Manager (GC/CM), and traditional Design-Bid-Build to optimize procurement timing, contract structuring, and tax treatment early in project development.
• Delivery Efficiency Metrics: Track, evaluate, and report key performance metrics related to tax savings, schedule reduction, and procurement efficiencies to WTD leadership and the King County Executive’s Office.

Legislative Advocacy & Policy Modernization Support

• Policy & Legislative Reform: Support WTD leadership and King County Intergovernmental Relations in identifying legislative barriers to efficient capital delivery; draft technical policy proposals, legislative briefing papers, and statutory language changes targeting tax rules, public works thresholds, and procurement streamlined authorities.
• DOR Engagement & Advisory: Serve as a technical liaison to the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) on excise tax rule updates (WAC 458-20-170 / 171), participating in administrative rule-making and state-level infrastructure working groups to advocate for clear, modernized tax definitions for utility construction.
• Regional & Agency Collaboration: Engage with municipal partners, transit agencies, and state associations (e.g., Washington State Association of Counties) to align legislative strategies for capital delivery reform and shared right-of-way infrastructure efficiencies.

Project Screening & Tax Eligibility Evaluation

• Screening Criteria: Develop written criteria in conjunction with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO) to screen projects with the highest likelihood of a successful Rule 171 tax exemption.
• Pre-Design Reviews: Review pre-charters, charters, 30% and 60% design plans, property agreements, and right-of-way (ROW) maps to confirm pipeline, force main, or stormwater segments eligible for Rule 171 status. Assist Project Managers in tailoring scopes to preserve tax-exempt status.
• Cost-Benefit Financial Modeling: Perform upfront financial modeling to calculate net tax savings under Rule 171 versus Rule 170 for split-scope projects, factoring in lifecycle administrative costs.
• Tax Determinations: Author formal Tax Eligibility Determinations and defend findings to senior leadership, legal counsel, and external auditors.

Contract Procurement & Bidding Support

• Specification & Bid Design: Collaborate with Procurement and Project Controls to draft explicit Rule 171 contract provisions and bid schedules that cleanly separate Rule 170 work (facilities/pump stations) from Rule 171 work (conveyance in public ROW).
• Bidding Clarifications: Direct pre-bid briefings to ensure bidding contractors understand tax liabilities and avoid double-counting sales tax in unit pricing.

Construction Administration & Change Management

• Pay App Audits & Change Orders: Audit monthly contractor payment estimates and review change orders on split-scope contracts to enforce proper sales tax application.
• Closeout & Audit Defense: Lead final contract tax reconciliations and maintain complete audit trails for Department of Revenue compliance.

Programmatic Standards, SOPs & Training

• WTD Guidelines: Maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), toolkits, and screening checklists for project managers across the capital pipeline.
• Internal Capacity Building: Design and conduct workshops for engineers, project managers, and contract administrators to embed cost-optimization principles and Rule 171 opportunity spot-checks into early project workflows.

Qualifications You Bring

• Experience: 5+ years in public works project controls, contract administration, capital delivery management, public procurement, or capital program policy development.
• Tax & Policy Knowledge: Strong understanding of WA Department of Revenue excise tax rules (WAC 458-20-170 and 171), state public works statutes (RCW 39.04), and legislative processes related to local government capital delivery.
• Technical Literacy: Ability to interpret engineering plan sets, utility profiles, right-of-way boundaries, and complex municipal funding structures.
• Cost Optimization Mindset: Demonstrated success in identifying process bottlenecks, implementing lean capital delivery strategies, or capturing soft/hard cost savings in large infrastructure programs.
• Soft Skills & Legislative Acumen: Exceptional diplomatic, negotiation, and communication skills; proven ability to advocate for policy changes with state/local stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams through procedural changes.

Competencies You Bring

• Business Insight: Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization’s goals.
• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Resourcefulness: Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently.
• Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Builds Networks: Effectively building formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Organizational Savvy: Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics.
• Drives Vision and Purpose: Painting a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.

Working Conditions

• Work Location:: The Strategy Quality Standards team works 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. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104. 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.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. [Select One] This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Technical Employees’ Association (TEA) - Wastewater Treatment Division

Application Instructions

• We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. 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.

Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment

• Panel interviews: Virtual week of December, 14, 2026

To apply, submit a

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

• Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.
• Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and our WTD Blog.
• Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.
• Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.
• 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 Mark Workinger at.

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.