The work you will enjoy doing includes:

• Researching, updating, and creating policy related to the work of the funding boards, emerging issues such as equity and outdoor recreation, and other policy related to salmon recovery, recreation, and conservation.
• Managing assigned special projects, which may include management of contractors, such as development of policies related to outdoor recreation equity grants, climate change, or improving access for youth athletics.
• Coordinating advisory groups and other stakeholders that provide input on policy development.
• Coordinating the agency’s rule development work, including submitting the bi-annual rules agenda, tracking agency fillings with the Washington State Register, and managing the process of developing and adopting Washington Administration Code.
• Assisting with drafting, reviewing, or preparing testimony on legislation or for legislative hearings.

What you need to qualify:
Experience and Knowledge:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in public administration, public policy, or other natural resource policy area.
• 3 years of professional experience developing and writing policies.
• 3 years of professional experience working with managers, boards, elected officials, or other decision-making agencies or organizations on natural resource policy issues.
• 3 years of professional experience soliciting feedback from the general public or key stakeholders on proposed public policy issues.
• 3 years of experience engaging with diverse communities and tribes and an understanding of effective community engagement strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and develop statewide programs and policies, including analyzing and interpreting guiding laws and principles.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a complex authorizing environment that demands political sensitivity, good judgment, and the ability to establish and maintain collaborative working partnerships with a variety of constituencies.
• Ability to understand a broad spectrum of information from the scientific to the broad policy issues and be able to apply the information, as well as to communicate to broad audiences such as the public, media, elected officials, managers, board members, and scientists. This will require excellent verbal, writing and presentation skills.

Competencies:

• Demonstrated leadership skills in guiding the direction of an organization’s programs and staff to attain strategic plan goals or objectives, as well as skills to lead or facilitate teams that deliver results.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and develop statewide programs and policies, including analyzing and interpreting guiding laws and principles.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a complex authorizing environment that demands political sensitivity, good judgment, and the ability to establish and maintain collaborative working partnerships with a variety of constituencies.
• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and develop strategies, policies and fiscal impacts for the future direction for investments in conservation, recreation or salmon recovery and related programs.
• Ability to understand a broad spectrum of information from the scientific to the broad policy issues and be able to apply the information, as well as to communicate to broad audiences such as the public, media, elected officials, managers, board members, and scientists. This will require excellent verbal, writing and presentation skills.

What we desire:

• Basic knowledge of the state’s legislative and budgeting process.
• 3 years professional experience developing and writing natural resource policies.
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in public administration, public policy, or other natural resource policy area.
• Professional experience working with managers, boards, elected officials, or other decision-making agencies or organizations on natural resource policy issues.
• Professional experience soliciting feedback from the general public or key stakeholders on proposed public policy issues.
• Experience engaging with diverse communities and tribes and an understanding of effective community engagement strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and develop statewide programs and policies, including analyzing and interpreting guiding laws and principles.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a complex authorizing environment that demands political sensitivity, good judgment, and the ability to establish and maintain collaborative working partnerships with a variety of constituencies.
• Ability to understand a broad spectrum of information from the scientific to the broad policy issues and be able to apply the information, as well as to communicate to broad audiences such as the public, media, elected officials, managers, board members, and scientists. This will require excellent verbal, writing and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of research methods and experience in research in areas relevant to this position.

Skills to:

• Synthesize large amounts of complex information to quickly assess policy issues and analyze and develop options and recommendations.
• Communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, to a wide variety of audiences including delivering public presentations.
• Effectively use various public involvement methods and processes.

Things to consider before applying:

• You must be willing and able to occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and may travel for short periods that may include overnight stays.
• The RCO headquarters is located in Olympia, WA, however the agency is willing to accept applicants who live and wish to work remote from any part of Washington State.
• You must have and maintain a valid driver’s license free from serious traffic violations.
• RCO may hire only those who are legally authorized to work in the United States.

Please attach the following documents in order to be considered, failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:

• A letter of interest (no more than 2 pages) that shows your personality and voice to describe why you are the successful candidate and how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
• Current resume, detailing experience, and education.
• You will want to ensure you have a current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information attached or available to provide at the time of interview.

By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.
Persons with a disability who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.
If you have questions about this opportunity, please email HR@rco.wa.gov or call (360) 902-3000.

Should you have any questions regarding the online application, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or jobs@des.wa.gov.