WHO MAY APPLY:
This lateral recruitment is OPEN ONLY TO ALL CURRENT PROTEC, LOCAL 17A KING COUNTY EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE FOR LATERAL TRANSER (this means you must be a career service King County employee, in the same classification and not on probation). This position is not open to the general public at this time.

Job Summary

This Ecologist position will be part of a team of environmental scientists collaborating with river engineers, planners, geologists and other disciplines in the River and Floodplain Management Section (RFMS) in the Water and Land Resources Division. This position will perform a broad range and scope of work for design, permitting, monitoring, construction management, and technical analyses to support projects and programs identified in the King County Flood Hazard Management Plan in support of the King County Flood Control District. Information on the District is available at: https://Kingcountyfloodcontrol.org/ and the adopted 2006 King County Flood Hazard Management Plan and its 2013 Progress Report is available on King County’s web site.

Job Duties

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. You will also:

• Coordinate with design teams to provide ecological support in planning, designing, permitting, constructing, and monitoring on capital improvement projects including the repair and reconstruction of levees and revetments and floodplain restoration.
• Coordinate with internal King County staff from multiple disciplines and programs to work collaboratively on river and floodplain management issues.
• Support landscape management activities and quality assurance for landscape services during the site establishment of restoration projects.
• Participate in effectiveness monitoring work including the development of plans, field and remote data collection, reporting, and planning and tracking budgets.
• Analyze impacts of river and floodplain management project actions on fish and wildlife species and their habitats and conduct data analyses using commonly acceptable techniques and software.
• Assist in determining regulatory compliance strategies for projects, and obtain and manage necessary permits from appropriate federal, state, and local agencies.
• Contribute to and prepare technical reports and issue papers for various audiences to summarize and convey project findings.
• Present and communicate project elements and technical information effectively with staff, project teams, tribal biologists, cultural resource specialists, landowners, elected officials, other jurisdictions and agencies.
• Participate in flood warning and emergency response programs and activities and support senior engineering and technical staff in flood emergency response actions, such as conducting problem site investigations and documenting flood damages to County flood protection facilities.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree OR any equivalent education/experience in aquatic biology, ecology, fisheries, environmental science, natural resource management, and/or landscape architecture, which provide the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform all the duties described in this job announcement.
• Knowledge and experience within a subject area/s of river and watershed ecology, e.g.; fisheries biology, geomorphology, plant ecology. Understanding of natural resource issues currently facing Pacific Northwest rivers and floodplains.
• Knowledge and experience with environmental projects including planning, design, development, or maintenance and monitoring phases.
• Experience with environmental permits and familiarity with local environmental laws and regulations applicable to river and floodplain management projects and programs.
• Developing or implementing monitoring plans including study design, planning, data collection and reporting.
• Supporting projects or studies; experience with developing scopes, budgets and schedules.
• Developing, analyzing, and conveying technical information, using common computer software (such as Word, Excel, GIS, etc.).
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other employees, other government agencies, non-profit organizations, Tribes, landowners, and consultants.

Competitive candidates will demonstrate some or all of the following competencies:

• Collaborative relationship-building: can build partnerships and work collaboratively; relates openly and comfortably with diverse groups; handles conflict situations with a minimum of noise.
• Values diversity: able to recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Will commit to King County’s Equity and Social Justice initiative and cultural competence growth.
• Shows resourcefulness and initiative; secures and deploys resources effectively and efficiently, able to take on challenges and opportunities with enthusiasm and energy.

Desired Qualifications

• Professional certification in ecology, wetland delineation, fisheries biology, erosion and sediment control, and/or other related fields relevant to the design, implementation or monitoring of rivers and floodplains.
• Developing or managing consultant work orders, contracts and/or construction management and inspection.
• Familiarity with key issues, entities, and agencies – both internal and external to King County government – involved in floodplain management and flood hazard reduction.

Necessary Special Requirements a valid Washington State Driver’s License or the ability to travel throughout the County in a timely manner. A final offer of employment will be contingent upon successfully passing a pre-employment physical examination. Additionally this position requires the ability to conduct occasional physical site inspections and evaluation. There is an intermittent need to walk on uneven terrain, for limited periods of time. Field conditions include brushy, forested environments; river, stream and wetland corridors; and slippery, uneven surfaces and dynamic conditions in the outdoors. Work tasks also likely will include in-water situations involving wading and the use of rafts or canoes. Ability to complete King County provided Swift water Rescue Training course following employment when the training is made available.
Supplemental Information

Required Application Materials
1. King County application including the supplemental questionnaire
2. Resume
3. Cover Letter– Your letter should include how your skills and experiences makes you qualified for this position.

NOTE: Please answer ALL questions in the online employment application itself, with each of your jobs during the last 10 years listed (listing each position for each employer separately), duties explained, reasons for leaving etc. Earlier jobs should be included if they are relevant in some way to this job. Applications that are not complete, or do not include all required materials may be rejected as incomplete, and not advanced in the process. Applicants who are unable to apply online should follow the instructions under Application Tips and FAQs at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs. If you need an accommodation in the recruitment process or an alternate format of this announcement, please inquire directly with the Human Resources contact for this job announcement.

Selection Process
Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews and possibly other selection process elements such as a writing exercise and/or other test. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks.

About King County
As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King Jr, one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation’s history, King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. Together we are changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents, regardless of their race or income. All of these qualities make this King County one of the nation’s best places to live, work and play.

Competitive Benefits
https://kingcounty.gov/audience/employees/benefits.aspx

Work Schedule
This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is eligible for overtime pay. Work schedule is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Alternative work schedules may be considered. Work outside of the normal workday is required periodically.

Work Location
This position will primarily work remotely. Employees must reside in WA state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. There will be situations where the employee is required to report to a County worksite or perform field work, site inspections or participate in flood warning and emergency response programs. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required by the department in alignment with the Public Health Directive from the Seattle & King County Public Health Officer.

King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint. To support employees during this time King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Helen Hackley, HR Analyst, 206-477-0087, hhackley@kingcounty.gov

Union Membership
Positions in this classification will be represented by Professional and Technical Employees, PROTEC17.

Class Code: 7520200

Forbes recently 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 your recruiter listed on this job announcement.