Job Type: Permanent
Salary Details: $77,024 – $84,726
Deadline: Jun 23, 2021
Required Experience: 7+ years

Find full details at: https://www.conservationjobboard.com/job-listing-habitat-improvement-program-director-puyallup-wa-washington/3234308018

Nature & Purpose of the Position 

Pierce Conservation District is seeking a full-time Habitat Improvement Program Director to lead an exciting new era of our work to restore habitat that is vital to the health and wellbeing of fish and wildlife, as well as the people of Pierce County. This position will be part of the District’s Leadership Team and will help us achieve our long-term vision of creating thriving ecosystems that support native habitat for healthy populations of salmon, orca, and other wildlife, while also creating greater resiliency to climate change and helping achieve our environmental justice goals. This position will lead current staff working to restore both freshwater riparian and marine habitat and will also co-create positions and hire new team members to help deliver the habitat goals of the District’s new 5-year Strategic Plan.

This position will be leading the Habitat Team’s effort to implement our next major restoration projects and helping create a pipeline of future projects both large and small. This position will help realize the vision for our Habitat Program by working with a broad range of local partners, including but not limited to local Tribes, divisions of Pierce County government, state agencies, non-profits, and local landowners. The Habitat Improvement Program Director will have a profound impact on our programming, our organization, and most importantly, our community.

Qualifications 

At a minimum, the person in this position must have a bachelor’s degree with academic training in environmental, natural sciences, or related fields. At least 10-years of experience working in habitat restoration or a related field, as well as experience working with Tribal partners, public agencies, and private landowners. Experience could also be a minimum of 5-years in habitat restoration and 5-years in a leadership role. Proven project, program, and team management experience is also required.  Candidates should have a thorough and comprehensive understanding of Puget Sound ecosystems, riparian environments, and salmon ecology. 

The ideal candidate will have excellent team leadership skills, attention to detail, ability to lead and manage multiple projects at different stages of development, and the ability to clearly communicate the impacts of our work to the public, partners, and elected officials.

Additionally, the person in this position should be a high-achieving, hard-working, self-motivating individual who is committed to protecting Pierce County’s natural resources.  Other qualifications for this position include:

• Experience managing major restoration projects, including grant writing, design, permitting, cultural resources review, subcontracting, and implementation.
• Experience in leadership of programs, projects, staff, and volunteers.
• Track record of implementing projects that have multi-benefit outcomes such as farms – fish – floods, and/or equity and climate resiliency.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and in highly collaboratively settings with multiple jurisdictions and organizations to achieve a common goal.
• Knowledge of a broad range of soil and water conservation and environmental principles, techniques, and methods, and demonstrated ability to apply and install habitat restoration practices which involve complex and diverse ecological interactions.
• Sound knowledge of and experience identifying plant species endemic to western Washington, as well as common invasive weed species.
• Dedication to equity and environmental justice goals.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to address groups, to prepare and explain restoration plans, write informational articles, and to prepare summary work reports.
• Proficiency in standard business software suites such as Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work closely and collaboratively with others in a public office environment and in a remote work setting.
• Self-motivated, ability to organize and plan own schedule of activities related to work plan goals approved by the Executive Director.
• Ability to maintain accurate records regarding time-keeping and authorized expenses.
• Honesty, integrity, and commitment to excellence.
• Service oriented attitude and constructive problem-solving skills.

Desired Skills  

• Interest in delivering programs using community centered design concepts.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS Online. 
• Understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion and how to implement programs equitably. 
• Flexible and able to work well under pressure.
• Ability to develop a positive working relationship with a variety of people including landowners, elected officials, staff and community volunteers.
• Successful experience working independently and in groups in both office and field settings.

Compensation & Benefits  

This is a fulltime, exempt Director level position, with an annual salary between $77,024 – $84,726, depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits include retirement, 100% of premiums paid for medical/dental/vision for you and your dependents as well as accrued paid sick leave, annual leave, 10 paid holidays per year, District paid state family medical leave premium, an ORCA card and a training budget. 

Pierce Conservation District is an equal opportunity employer, and we make an effort to recruit people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply for open positions.   

HOW TO APPLY

To Apply: 

Visit www.piercecd.org/Jobs.aspx and within the Habitat Improvement Program Director job description follow the “Apply Now” link and fill out the form, attaching both a cover letter and resume complete with three (3) professional references. 

Application Process: Applications will be reviewed by a diverse hiring panel of District leadership and key partners to the Habitat Program. The panel will make recommendations for candidates to be interviewed starting June 23rd, with initial interviews with the hiring panel scheduled the week of June 28th. The hiring panel will make recommendations to the District’s executive leadership for follow up interviews for finalists. The position will remain open until filled.

Interviews will be 30 – 60 minutes, and will consist of questions from each of the panelists to inform the panel of experience and knowledge in habitat restoration, supervising a staff team, grant writing, commitment and contribution to our equity goals, and other topics. The interview is also the candidate’s opportunity to ask the panel probing questions to gauge if the District and the position is a good fit for them.

Position open until filled.  First review of applicants is:  June 23, 2021 

First round of interviews: to be scheduled week of June 28, 2021

Projected Start Date: August 1, 2021