Salary: $4,656.00 – $6,260.00 Monthly
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Department: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Job Number: 2023-03963
Closing: Continuous
Please note: This recruitment is posted until filled, with a first review of applications to take place on May 10, 2023.  Application review will be ongoing, and therefore, we encourage you to submit your application materials as soon as possible.  The hiring manager reserves the right to close the posting at any time once a selection has been made.

Are you passionate about preserving, protecting, and perpetuating fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities? The Department protects fish and fish habitat through the administration of the Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) process. The HPA Processing Unit Supervisor manages a small team of Hydrualic Permit Specialists who review HPA applications statewide for statutory completeness. This position and team provide technical assistance to regional habitat biologists and managers, compliance inspectors, permit applicants, and other local, state, tribal, and public entities.

Picture yourself providing technical assistance for highly complex inquiries that require a comprehensive understanding of the HPA authority and associated rules, regulations, and statutory requirements, including compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

In this dynamic role, you will review and evaluate HPA applications, plans, and supplemental materials for accuracy and administrative statutory completeness under the applicable statutes, rules, agency policies, and guidance.

With your experience, you will lead in resolving and training other permit specialists on troubleshooting technical issues that arise in the HPA online permitting software. 

You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, modeling successful behavior, high-performance work ethic, and constant self-improvement, and will foster a  productive and positive work environment where every member feels that they contribute value.

Duties
Our HPA Processing Unit Supervisor,

• Reviews and evaluates HPA applications, plans, and supplemental materials for accuracy and statutory completeness per applicable statutes, rules, agency policy, and guidance. 
• Provides technical assistance for high-priority and complex inquiries that require deviating from standard procedures.
• Leads the resolution of nuanced HPA issues whose resolution isn’t clearly articulated in existing rules and regulations and identifies issues that may have legal or other ramifications outside of the scope of the HPA Processing Unit.
• Provides internal and external customer service on the agency’s online HPA permitting system – Aquatic Protection Permitting System (APPS).
• As one of the agency’s APPS experts, leads troubleshooting, communicating, and tracking of the progress of any technical issues that arise in APPS.
• Delegates and oversees the fulfillment of Public Records Requests (PRR) and ensures the proper disposition of records.
• Leads onboarding and training of Hydraulic Permit Specialists to ensure a complete, consistent, and proficient understanding of their position duties and tasks. Ensures unit staff are completing assigned duties to the required standards of quality and timeliness.
• Supports personal staff growth by engaging staff in a twice-weekly huddle and regular coaching sessions. Develops additional training as necessary.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  1. Work is performed mostly indoors in an office environment. Office hazards include working under fluorescent light, repetitively entering data into a computer, looking at a computer monitor for long periods, and sitting or standing for long periods.
  2. Occasionally work is performed outdoors to review hydraulic projects or shadow other Department staff. This may include fieldwork in, on, or around water, over uneven terrain, and in variable temperate and weather conditions.
  3. Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  1. Standard business hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, but the incumbent may need to adjust the work schedule to meet business needs.
  2. The department will consider a flexible work schedule at the incumbent’s request; however, this is subject to the supervisor’s approval.
• Travel Requirements:
  1. Some travel is required to meet with regional staff or conduct other business or attend training.
• Tools and Equipment:
  1. Duties require the use of standard office furniture and equipment.
• Customer Interactions:
  1. Daily contact with internal and external customers. Contact is primarily via email or phone, but face-to-face contact is also common.

Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

And

• Three years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
  1. A Master’s degree in one of the above fields may substitute for 1 year of the required experience.

Or

License:

• Valid driver’s license.

Demonstrated ability and proficiency to:

• Interpret and apply complex rules and policies.
• Manage complex records.
• Accurately and efficiently enter information into log sheets and database forms.
• Use common computer functions and programs like Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Use standard office equipment.
• Understand and learn fish and wildlife habitat management.
• Communicate effectively.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Functional knowledge of the requirements of SEPA as they pertain to the Hydraulic Code.
• Ability to independently analyzes and weighs the risks versus benefits in decisions and recommendations related to fish and wildlife resources and habitat issues.
• Ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills when communicating with difficult people under difficult circumstances.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT: WDFW requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment.   You will be required to provide proof of vaccination as part of the hiring process.  Please do not upload your vaccination documentation with your application materials – your vaccination status will be verified by your supervisor before you will be allowed to work.  Exemptions may be granted for religious or medical purposes.

To Apply
Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• A current resume. 
• Three professional references. 

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3965747/hpa-processing-unit-supervisor-environmental-specialist-4-permanent-03963