Nature and Purpose of the Position

Pierce Conservation District is seeking a full-time Habitat Improvement Program Director to lead an exciting new era of habitat restoration in Pierce County. This position plays a key leadership role in restoring ecosystems that are vital to the health and wellbeing of fish, wildlife, and people across our region. 

As a member of the District’s Leadership Team, you’ll guide our vision to create thriving ecosystems that support native habitat, healthy populations of salmon and orca, and greater community resilience to climate change. You’ll also help advance our environmental justice goals through equitable program delivery and strong partnerships. 

The Habitat Improvement Program Director oversees a dedicated team working to restore freshwater, riparian, and marine habitats, and manages a diverse portfolio of grants that fund on-the-ground restoration and stewardship. This is a chance to lead transformative projects, build lasting partnerships, and make a tangible difference in the future of Pierce County’s natural resources.

About Pierce Conservation District

Pierce Conservation District is government that works. Our mission is to equitably support community-driven solutions to our most pressing local environmental challenges. We work strategically and passionately to conserve and restore the natural resources of Pierce County. Our work improves both rural and urban communities to benefit the health and well-being of our citizens. We work in six core program areas: Water Quality Improvement, Farm Assistance, Habitat Restoration, Urban Agriculture, Environmental Education, and Climate Resiliency. When you join the Pierce Conservation District staff, you join a team of talented and committed people who are mission-driven and care deeply about improving our environment and our community. The Pierce Conservation District practices equity and inclusion by listening and learning from our valued and diverse communities and being ready to adapt and design more intentional or additional support so that we are equitable in the delivery of our programs and services. 

Pierce County includes 1,806 square miles of ceded lands of four Federally recognized Tribes: the Puyallup Tribe, the Nisqually Tribe, the Muckleshoot Tribe, and the Squaxin Island Tribe. We recognize that the traditional and current homelands of these Tribes and their territorial lands, waters, and air are contiguous and transcend U.S. government-established boundaries. This means the quality and abundance of the County’s natural resources directly affects the quality and abundance of natural resources of Tribal Nations. While Pierce Conservation District does not hold federal trust responsibilities, we work to conserve natural resources that are the foundation of a Tribes’ rights to their ceded land. We practice equity by understanding the historical and cultural context of the land we steward, and the people, cultures, and communities the health of the land impacts. By working to restore habitat that is vital to traditional food gathering and cultural practices, this position will help lead the way in our efforts to honor Tribal Treaty Rights.

Primary Job Responsibilities

The Habitat Improvement Program Director sets the direction for our Habitat Improvement Program, ensuring it aligns with the District’s mission, strategic plan, and equity goals. The Habitat Program Director reports directly to the Executive Director, and is responsible for the following:  

• Lead and support a team of four staff implementing riparian and marine habitat restoration projects.
• Manage five District-owned properties in various stages of restoration.
• Oversee, manage, and apply for grants to implement habitat restoration and stewardship projects. Specifically, manage $2.5 million grant award from the Department of Ecology to implement a knotweed treatment program in an important Pierce County watershed as well as a portfolio of smaller grants.
• Partner with executive leadership to shape the long-term vision for the District’s habitat restoration programs and implement that vision through projects and staffing.
• Oversee and lead major restoration projects from concept through design, permitting, implementation, and long-term maintenance.
• Manage the District’s City Forest Credits carbon crediting program. 
• Elevate awareness of the importance of this work as it relates to Tribal Treaty Rights and food sovereignty. 
• Hire, train, and mentor staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and accountability. Conduct annual performance evaluations.
• Ensure program operations comply with legal guidelines and internal policies.
• Represent the District on local and regional planning/partnership committees such as Floodplains by Design, Salmon Recovery Lead Entities and Local Integrating Organizations.
• Communicate and promote the Habitat Team’s work, impact, and alignment with the District’s values.
• Collaborate with the cross-program Data Team to evaluate project performance and apply adaptive management.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Secondary Job Responsibilities

• Respond to public inquiries related to habitat and habitat restoration; conduct or delegate site visits and provide recommendations on best management practices. 
• Oversee contracts, scheduling, and billing with the Washington Conservation Corps crew and crew-share partners. 
• Perform or delegate annual monitoring of Pierce County’s In-Lieu Fee sites; participate in development of future ILF sites as needed. 
• Contribute to District communications including newsletters, website, and social media.
• Participate in one of the District’s cross-programmatic teams(Equity, Data, Communications, Wellness & Encouragement).
• Maintain relationships with key partners andjurisdictions.

Professional Development

• Research and attend trainings to further personal professional development.
• Participate in PCD’s AmeriCorps Leadership Development seminar program.
• Attend meetings as a representative of the District and network with the environmental community.
• Other tasks assigned based on Member’s interest.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental or natural sciences, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in habitat restoration or a related field, including experience working with Tribes, public agencies, and private landowners.
  • Alternatively: 5 years in habitat restoration and 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience in project, program, and team management.
• Comprehensive understanding of Puget Sound ecosystems, riparian or marine environments, and salmon ecology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent team leadership and mentoring skills.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Ability to clearly communicate the importance and impact of restoration work to partners, funders, and the public.
• A commitment to protecting natural resources and advancing equity and environmental justice.
• Experience managing large restoration projects, including grant writing, permitting, procurement, subcontracting, and implementation.
• Demonstrated success leading projects with multi-benefit outcomes (e.g., farms–fish–floods, equity, or climate resilience).
• Strong collaborative skills and ability to work across jurisdictions and organizations.
• Knowledge of native and invasive plant species in western Washington.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with ArcGIS Online a plus.

Licenses, Certificates & Other Requirements

Valid Washington State driver’s license at time of appointment with maintenance thereafter, or evidence of equivalent mobility.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt, permanent position with an Annual Salary Range of $90,404 (Program Director I, Step 3)  to $103,442 (Program Director 2, Step 4), dependent on qualifications.

Benefits include 100% of premiums paid for medical/dental/vision insurance for you and your dependents, ORCA transit card, as well as accrued paid sick leave, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year (including three personal holidays), and a training budget. In lieu of Social Security, PCD participates in a FICA replacement plan through the State Department of Retirement Systems Deferred Compensation Program.

To Apply

Pierce Conservation District is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply for open positions

Apply

Position open until filled.

Projected Start Date

February 01, 2026

Contact Information

Dana Coggon
Executive Director
253-278-4320
DanaC@piercecd.org