King County Council Hearing Examiner

Seattle, Washington

OVERVIEW

King County, Washington is one of the largest, most dynamic counties in the United States, with 2.3 million residents and more than 2,000 square miles of urban, rural, farmland, and forested area. The legislative branch of King County government is represented by the Metropolitan King County Council, a nonpartisan, nine-member body that sets policies, enacts laws, and adopts budgets that guide an array of public services.

The King County Council is currently seeking a fair-minded, experienced administrative hearings professional to lead the Hearing Examiner's Office.

The Hearing Examiner's Office (HEO) is an independent agency within the legislative branch responsible for conducting impartial, efficient, and inclusive quasi-judicial administrative hearings in a variety of subject areas. Examples of cases include animal control, public health, and land use matters such as permitting, preliminary plat approval, and code enforcement. The HEO also provides legal and administrative support to the King County Personnel Board. To accomplish this work, the Hearing Examiner supervises a staff of three full-time employees and several pro tem Examiners.

The Hearing Examiner is appointed by the Council for a renewable term under the guidelines set forth in King County Code Section 20.22. The Hearing Examiner reports to the Chair of the King County Council, with a dotted-line relationship to the Council's Chief of Staff.

Job Duties

As the director of an independent agency, the Hearing Examiner serves in a high-visibility position with significant autonomy. Thus, the responsibilities of the office must be carried out with the utmost integrity and judiciousness.

Key duties include:

Schedule and conduct timely and efficient quasi-judicial hearings and pre-hearing proceedings on a variety of subject matters, including cases of original jurisdiction and appeals from agency decisions.

Draft legally sound and cogent findings of fact, decisions, or other communications for the HEO and the King County Personnel Board.

Supervise and support HEO staff and pro tem Examiners-assigning cases, overseeing management of case files, and ensuring that work is performed accurately and in compliance with applicable laws, standards, and best practices.

Engage in continuous improvement, reviewing and revising procedural rules for the conduct of public hearings as needed.

Advise the King County Council on areas where County regulations and policy can be revised, clarified, and strengthened.

Collaborate with Council staff, County agencies, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, and other interested parties as needed to research, clarify, and convey information.

Periodically provide public briefings at Council meetings and respond to requests for information.

Ensure smooth operations of the Hearing Examiner's Office, including preparing and administering the office budget.

Candidates must have at a minimum any combination of education and experience equivalent to the following:

A Juris Doctor from an accredited law school-or the successful completion of a Law Clerk program-and be an active attorney with membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar.

Five years of progressively responsible experience conducting or assisting with administrative hearings or other contested cases, or experience adjudicating matters in areas applicable to the County's hearing process.

Three years of supervisory or program management experience.

Candidates who have experience with planning and land use issues such as land development processes, zoning, permitting are preferred.

In addition to the above, the most successful applicants will demonstrate the following skills and abilities:

Advanced knowledge of King County and municipal code provisions; federal state, and local laws; court decisions; and other legal requirements relevant to quasi-judicial administrative hearings, including rules of evidence and procedure.

Project management skills to be able to organize and oversee complex assignments, implement policies and processes, and develop ideas from concept to completion.

Advanced verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write decisions, reports, and other documents that convey complex, sensitive issues in a thoughtful and accessible manner.

A high level of emotional intelligence and ability to work with diverse people in a variety of settings, including situations that are emotionally charged or controversial.

The ability to develop and foster a positive, professional working environment that respects people's differences, promotes professional development and well-being, and applies equity and social justice principles to all interactions.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for the Hearing Examiner position is $174,753 to $ 235,023, depending upon qualifications. King County offers an excellent benefits package, including retirement provided through the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), offered through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems; insurance options including medical, dental, vision, and life; paid vacation, sick leave, 12 holidays per year, and two personal holidays; a hybrid work schedule; and up to $15,000 in relocation expenses.

Ready to apply?

For additional recruitment details and timeline, interested candidates may submit an application through the King County online system no later than 11:59 PM on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Follow this link to apply: https://bit.ly/kccexaminer.