The Department of Natural Resources has an exciting opportunity within our Aquatic Resources Division. Come help us to manage state-owned aquatic lands (SOAL), so that people and orcas thrive, businesses and eelgrass meadows grow, and waterfront public access and salmon are preserved in perpetuity. We are seeking an Aquatic Land Technician to join our team of six professional staff who are based in beautiful Jefferson County, which stretches from the Olympic Coast to Puget Sound.  

The Aquatic Land Technician supports aquatic land management activities for the majestic rivers, lakes and marine waters of Clallam, Jefferson, West Island and North Kitsap counties by providing technical and administrative support to the Orca-Straits District Aquatic Land Managers, the Puget Sound Aquaculture Specialist and the Straits Unit District Manager.

The Aquatic Land Technician plays an important role in supporting state-owned aquatic lands management and we will entrust you with a diverse set of responsibilities including the following:

• Managing use agreements that authorize various uses of state-owned aquatic lands, including mooring buoys and rights-of-entry licenses.
• Communicating with applicants, business partners and the general public, providing technical information and assistance regarding contracts, aquatic land use, policies, laws and regulations.
• Tracking and managing contract requirements such as rent, insurance certificates, financial security and other general contract obligations.
• Assisting Land Managers with document preparation and processing of aquatic land use contracts.
• Tracking and maintaining billing accounts by inputting information into a financial database.
• Calculating annual rents using inflation index or tax adjustments.
• Tracking the flow of information and work through the use of spreadsheets, reports and other contract management software.
• Managing, organizing and auditing contract files, data and land surveys.
• Assisting Land Managers with field work, on occasion, including compliance checks and site inspections.

If you are captivated by the DNR’s mission, you may be the ideal candidate:

• Working together with a dynamic team responsible for managing state-owned aquatic lands.
• Mastering technical topics such as property legal descriptions and environmental protection statutes.
• Providing excellent customer service, both internally and externally.
• Working with private citizens, businesses, local, state and federal governments, tribes and stakeholders.
• Managing a dynamic scope of work with a high level of individual responsibility.
• Non-routine work; even experienced staff learn something new nearly every day.

Responsibilities:
You will be entrusted with an array of tasks including the following key responsibilities:

Property and Contract Management: Independently review, process and manage new and existing aquatic land use authorizations, including mooring buoy registrations and other aquatic land use authorizations, as assigned.

Financial Tracking and Management:  Oversee the management of financial databases and other routine aspects of aquatic land use authorizations, including rent, insurance and financial security.

Communication, Information Management and Equipment:  Perform work that is non-routine, multi-faceted and detail-oriented while providing excellent customer service, both internally and externally.

Manage communications, information, records, databases and equipment as follows:

• Assist in the collection, organization and management of formal records and document files.
• Respond to public inquiries regarding the use and management of SOAL.
• Provide routine information related to aquatic lands use programs, policies and guidelines, including instructions on how to apply for use of SOAL.
• Prepare and distribute form letters and documents related to public and internal service requests.
• Distribute correspondence to business partners and follow-up on routine contract requirements.
• Work with Land Manager staff and District Manager to support the processing, managing and signing of aquatic land use authorizations and other correspondence.
• Provide technical support to Land Manager staff and District Manager on custom database systems.
• Respond to inquiries and work with Aquatic Division staff in related fields.
• Communicate and coordinate with lessees on the signing of contract documents (wet signatures or electronic signatures) and as a licensed notary provide notary service (in person or remote), as needed. Transmit final correspondence and documents to all parties.
• Maintain and update the District work flow tracking system and/or develop other spreadsheets, databases or reports to track related work activities and functions, as needed.
• Coordinate file management with Title and Land Records (TRO) office to ensure District files are organized, complete and reconciled with TRO Division files.
• Perform closeout/archival process for cancelled or terminated agreements.