A longtime community liaison, business advocate and former legislative aide is joining Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell’s office in the role of policy adviser to the mayor.

Bill Vadino, who formerly guided the Kirkland business community as executive director of both the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce and the Kirkland Downtown Association for more than a decade, will officially start in this full-time position on May 1.

Vadino is replacing Yarden Weidenfeld, who seved as the city’s senior policy adviser to the mayor for over two years. Weidenfeld left the city in late February for undisclosed reasons.

Weidenfeld’s annual salary was $118,000; Vadino’s salary will be $60,144 per year, according to the city.

Previously, Vadino worked in the Federal Way mayor’s office for more than a year as a senior intern.

Vadino, a Washington State University graduate, also worked as an administrator at both WSU and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, before relocating to the Puget Sound region. He also worked as communications director for King County Council member Jane Hague from 2012 to 2015. Additionally, he has worked as a legislative aide for King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer for the last three years.

“As a Marine Hills resident since 2001, I am delighted to take on a larger role with my community,” Vadino said in a press release from the city. “I look forward to utilizing my experience with King County, the Kirkland business community and higher education in this role to enhance the future of Federal Way.”

Vadino’s primary job duties will include directing, coordinating and facilitating city projects, programs and policies; policy interpretations, and resource allocation issues; serve as the Mayor’s Office liaison and coordinate between the mayor, city officials, governmental agencies, community organizations and the local business community.

Among the projects Vadino will be engaged in is air traffic noise, said Tyler Hemstreet, the city’s communications coordinator. Vadino has already been heading up the Veterans Committee and will continue to do so, he added.

Vadino will work on various constituency issues as they arise, and the resource allocation as it relates to each of those issues, examining if dedicating more funding is a viable solution, Hemstreet said.

“Bill’s experience working in a variety of different sectors that often converge within city government makes him a great fit for what we do in this office,” Ferrell said in the press release. “With Bill having already worked on a variety of constituent outreach projects in this office already — combined with his familiarity with Federal Way — he is an ideal fit for this position.”