Salary: $75,120.00 – $101,052.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Other, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2023-5-7493-06065
Department: Dept. of Natural Resources
Opening Date: 05/03/2023
Closing Date: 5/17/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Co-lead the cross-agency The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) team, co-led by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR), to advance habitat protection and restoration in Puget Sound under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Duties
Responsibilities:

  • Provide vision and guidance for the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) Team
  • Supervise DNR HSIL staff
  • Support the Puget Sound Action Agenda development and implementation
  • Coordinate with diverse recovery partners and the Puget Sound Partnership Management Conference to achieve Puget Sound programmatic goals
  • Operationalize and implement Implementation Strategies (Land Development and Cover, Shoreline Armoring, Floodplains and Estuaries, and Marine Vegetation) through activities such as:
    • Recruiting, convening, and facilitating the Habitat Strategic Initiative Advisory Team
    • Providing policy-level coordination and “big picture” perspectives on the Implementation Strategies
    • Guiding and supporting a coordinated approach across Strategic Initiatives on issues such as Marine Water Quality, Land Use, Environmental Justice, Socio-Ecological Resilience, and Climate Change
  • Co-develop engagement policies and processes with key partners, including tribes, Local Integrating Organizations, and state and federal agencies.
  • Communicate and coordinate Habitat Implementation Strategy activities with relevant state agency ongoing programs.  
  • Develop the overarching coordinated vision and program framework for the Puget Sound Strategic Initiative Request for Proposal and subaward process
  • Review overall subaward progress and contract risk management to ensure robust outcomes for National Estuary Program investments
  • Communicate and coordinate regularly with EPA Project Officer, including completing all programmatic reporting and annual updates of the workplan (including budget and staffing plan).

Qualifications
Required Qualifications: 

  • A Bachelor’s degree or above with major emphasis in natural sciences, environmental, or natural resource planning, or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field. (four years of experience in the above fields may substitute for a degree)
    AND an additional three years of professional experience in these areas.
  • Experience leading an interdisciplinary team to achieve desired and productive outcomes.
  • Experience leading and facilitating large and diverse work groups including participants from multiple levels of government (local, state, and federal), tribes, NGOs, and industry.
  • Use of Microsoft Office programs (including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint).
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Strong verbal and written communications skills, including prior experience and success with presenting complex or controversial information in a way that is understandable and non-confrontational.
  • Ability to manage the administrative aspects of a program, including budget management, contract management and reporting requirements.
  • Strong organization and time management skills to effectively prioritize workload and maximize efficiency.
  • Ability to seek and act on opportunities to improve, streamline, and reinvent work processes.
  • Ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
  • DNR Core Competencies: 
    • Personal Accountability 
    • Value Others 
    • Compassionate Communication 
    • Inspire Others 
    • Commitment to Excellence 

Special Requirements and Conditions of Employment:

  • Travel is required (frequency will be assessed as pandemic and virtual alternatives evolve), and is typically local or regional (Puget Sound-wide), to meet with partners, conduct business, or attend or provide training.
  • Employees of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are required to complete their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines (be fully vaccinated against COVID-19) or be approved for a medical or religious accommodation as a condition of employment. Please note, any offer of employment is contingent and no start date will be approved until you have either verified your vaccine status or have an approved accommodation. “Fully vaccinated” means the following: An employee is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax) or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen) authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the FDA or listed for emergency use, or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization. 

Desired Qualifications: 

  • A Master’s Degree or above with major emphasis in natural sciences, environmental, or natural resource planning, or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field. (two years of professional experience in the above fields may substitute for a Master’s degree, if a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is also obtained)
    AND an additional five years of experience in these areas.
  • Knowledge of the Puget Sound Action Agenda and Puget Sound recovery goals including environmental planning principles, techniques, and current trends of resource development and management in Puget Sound.
  • Knowledge of natural resource laws, policies, and programs and how these affect and/or enable fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation in Washington State, and the ability to interpret and apply them in order to achieve expected results.
  • Experience integrating climate change; diversity, equity, inclusion; and socio-ecological resilience considerations into daily and longterm decision making.
  • Governmental administrative structure, environmental laws, policies, and governmental programs related to natural resource conservation and management at local, state and federal levels.
  • Environmental social, political, and economic factors affecting development and implementation of local and state environmental resource programs.
  • HSIL Competencies:
    • Collaborative and productive
    • Honest and transparent
    • Tactful and politically sensitive
    • Self-motivated and self-directed
    • Professional, polite, and courteous
    • Accessible, timely, and responsive

Questions?
Please contact Cynthia Catton at Cynthia.Catton@dnr.wa.gov/360-485-2528 or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov

Application Requirements

  • To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov. You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.
  • Attach a letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile and the position required, desired and special requirements.
  • Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.
  • Provide three to five professional references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.
  • Important: Do not attach any documents that include photos or private information (social security number, year of birth, etc.).
  • Complete all supplemental questions.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4028044/habitat-strategic-initiative-policy-co-lead-environmental-planner-5

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