This program has allowed Snohomish and Pierce County to have employees in similar job categories to job shadow and learn from each other.

1. Snohomish County
Planning & Development Services
Pierce County
Planning and Land Services
February 2013
PROJECT CHARTER
Trading Places - Job Enrichment Program

2. 2
1. BACKGROUND
Opportunity Statement
Snohomish County Planning and Development Services (PDS) and Pierce County Planning and
Land Services (PALS) are very similar. Commonalities include department size, business lines,
laws and regulations we work under, and structure (both are charter counties).
We understand that we can be more efficient and effective as individual departments by working
together and sharing information and ideas. This collaboration already takes place at the
management level through our quarterly Four-County Meeting (with King, Kitsap, Pierce, and
Snohomish Counties), working together on common department measures/metrics/analytics, and
events between our two departments including the PDS vs. PALS challenge.
This will be an ongoing, multi-year project which may be refined or adjusted as the needs or
circumstances of our individual departments change. We believe there will be continued value in
dedicating resources to working together on common issues for the betterment of those we serve.
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2. PROJECT DEFINITION
Project Goal
Our goal for the Trading Places - Job Enrichment Program is simple: build on the relationships
we have already established at the management level to facilitate our departments working
together at every level. Specific goals include:
 provide an opportunity for PDS and PALS staff in similar job lines to meet, collaborate,
and share ideas,
 provide an opportunity for PDS and PALS staff to network and build relationships,
 provide an additional opportunity for PDS and PALS staff to train in their respective field,
 provide an opportunity for each department to learn from each other and implement new
ideas to become more efficient and effective,
 facilitate employee engagement.
How it will work
The project is designed to “match up” PDS and PALS employees with those who have similar
jobs. Each exchange will typically last one to three days, with each person spending that amount of
time at the other department. As an example, a PDS employee may go to PALS for one to three
days and two weeks later, the PALS employee will come to PDS for the same amount of time. The
length of time will depend on the scope of the exchange.
Prior to meeting, a scope and set of goals will be prepared and shared in order to outline the
objectives of the exchange. Each department hosting an employee from the other department will
work to design their visit to facilitate those objectives.
A report will also be prepared by each employee after the exchange is completed outlining what
was learned, ideas garnered, and suggestions to improve the program.

3. 3
Expected Outcomes
The project will be considered successful if the following outcomes are achieved:
 relationships between PDS and PALS staff are enhanced both during and after exchanges
are made.
 each department learns and garners ideas, protocols, and procedures to help make their
respective department more efficient and effective.
A project report will provide a summary of the project implementation at the end of 2013,
including conclusions and lessons learned, and attainment of success as assessed against the
indicators above.
3. ROLES AND WORK PLAN
Project Name
This project shall be called the Trading Places - Job Enrichment Program
Project Sponsors
The sponsors for this project shall be Clay White, Planning and Development Services (PDS)
Director and Dennis Hanberg, Planning and Land Services (PALS) Director. The sponsors agree that
this is a high priority program and that they will provide clear policy guidance, offer timely feedback
on program issues and priorities, and contribute the resources and time necessary to make the project
successful.
Project Manager
Clay White, PDS Director and Dennis Hanberg, PALS Director, are designated as co-managers of the
Trading Places - Job Enrichment Program. The project manager is responsible for the following:
 acting as point person for communication in and between the departments unless
otherwise designated,
 making the final decision on program participation and logistics,
 communicating the program to our respective departments,
 provide coordination with, and reporting mechanisms to, the Executive’s Office and
County Council when and if such coordination and reporting becomes necessary,
 program reporting, including the development of yearly goals for the program and
review of reports developed after each employee exchange.
Contact information for Clay White is: clay.white@snoco.org 425-388-3122.
Contact information for Dennis Hanberg is dhanber@co.pierce.wa.us 253-798-2754