Salary: $78,867.00 – $89,821.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Department: Puget Sound Partnership
Job Number: 2023-PSP-006
Closing: 5/2/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

The Puget Sound Partnership is a non-regulatory state agency leading the region’s collective effort to restore and protect the Puget Sound natural ecosystems. We are also one of the Executive Cabinet agencies under Governor Inslee’s Office. The Partnership brings together hundreds of partners to mobilize action around a common agenda, advance Sound investments, and advance priority actions by supporting partners. For more information, visit our website: www.psp.wa.gov.

Position Details
This full-time unrepresented position is exempt from civil service law and has an official duty station at our Headquarters building in Olympia, Washington. This position is a member of the Salmon Recovery Team under the Integrated Planning Program and the External Programs Division. We are looking for someone that meets the experience and education requirements listed below, but we also are looking for lived experience. Please consider applying if your lived experience meets the competencies of the requirements.

The Partnership offers a modern hybrid work environment, which includes both remote and office settings in Olympia and Tacoma. Although it’s not an official duty station of the Partnership, the agency currently utilizes a co-workspace at a location in Seattle as a drop-in work environment option for staff. All staff are required to report for in-person work in group settings or for in-person work at an office building at least once a week, including this position. You may be required to work more frequently in an office setting than others if you’re unable to effectively conduct work remotely or as business needs arise. You will be expected to report to the Olympia office on your first day of employment for onboarding.

Travel throughout the Puget Sound area on a regular basis will likely be necessary and may not be eligible for mileage reimbursement depending on where you reside and the destination of the meeting. The Partnership offers agency vehicles for all staff when traveling to meetings, conferences, or other work-related events that are not part of the employee’s regular commute. Use of the vehicle and a gasoline card for fueling is at no cost to the employee.

Regular travel throughout the state will be necessary for this position. 

The annual range of compensation is between $78,867 – $89,821 depending upon qualifications, although the expected hiring salary will typically be less than the top of the range, to allow for growth and development movement.

We encourage applicants from outside of Washington to apply! The successful candidate would be required to relocate to Washington state within 30 days of the appointment date. The expectation of this position’s starting appointment date is in late spring of 2023. 

A little bit about the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Program
The Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) fund supports projects that recover salmon and protect and recover salmon habitat in Puget Sound. The state legislature appropriates money for PSAR every 2 years in the Capital Budget. PSAR is co-managed by the Puget Sound Partnership and the Recreation and Conservation Office. Local entities identify and propose PSAR projects and the Salmon Recovery Funding Board prioritizes projects for funding.

Duties
Some of the duties include:

• Leads development and implementation of a long-term strategic plan for a sustainable program, working internally and with key partners.
• Leads the development, negotiation, and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Recreation and Conservation Office.
• Develops, revises, and communicates PSAR program policies, including coordination of internal and external reviews.
• Tracks available funding and make decisions on allocating return funds.
• Leads development of the PSAR Large Capital program, including revisions to the Request for Proposals and creating a process for evaluation and ranking of projects.
• Provides support to the Salmon Recovery Manager on coordinating and analyzing regional and watershed reporting as it relates to the PSAR program (e.g. Four Year Workplans, annual regional report, etc.)
• Acts as point of contact for internal and external inquiries about the program.
• Works with the Partnership’s Communications Lead and Legislative Director to develop communication materials during the legislative session.
• Develops memorandums on policies and present recommendations to appropriate Partnership boards and advisory bodies as needed, including the PSSRC and Leadership Council.
• Acts as the point of contact for lead entities and project sponsors, including communication of policies, incorporating feedback, and responding to inquiries.
• Builds strong relationships with lead entities, regional partners, and other key stakeholders. 
• Coordinate with other capital funding programs in Puget Sound such as the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program, Puget Sound Nearshore and Estuary Program, NOAA’s Restoration Center, Floodplains by Design, and ALIGN workgroup.
• Supports the Salmon Recovery Manager with the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) process, the SRFB Targeted Investment Process, and annual regional report submission.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

• Six (6) years of professional experience in environmental science and/or natural resource management-related field
• Experience managing a grant program and program budgets
• Experience in managing contracts, monitoring, and tracking progress
• Able to work cooperatively and build relationships with a diverse group of agencies, Tribal communities, governments and stakeholders, scientists, planners, local jurisdictions, practitioners, and policymakers
• Experience with adaptive management (continuous improvement) and natural resource planning
• Familiarity with the state legislative process
• Knowledge of federal, state, and regional funding programs and annual/biennial funding cycles
• Careful attention and accuracy when working with complex financial information
• Detail-oriented in policy development and execution
• Strategic thinker with the ability to set a long-term vision for the program and support the execution of the vision
• Commitment to advancing justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives

CONDITIONS OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
   With or without accommodations, I am willing and able to:

• Work indoors, at a desk/workstation the majority of a workday, in an open office environment with possible conversation and other noise distractions 
• Work in a tobacco-free, drug-free, and alcohol-free environment
• Work a 40-hour work week (A flexible work schedule may be considered upon request and supervisory approval, after an initial review period)
• Occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and/or to adjust normally scheduled hours, which may include evenings and weekends, to meet program needs and critical deadlines
• Occasionally travel throughout the state, which may include overnight stays, as required, while performing the duties of this position
• Work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and competing deadlines
• Maintain confidentiality regarding information accessed or discussed while performing the duties of the position
• Interact and work with partners and staff in a positive, friendly, and supportive manner that meets the needs and standards of the office and the agency
• Permanently reside in Washington state and available to report in person at Puget Sound agency offices and meetings on a weekly basis.
• Be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

What does “EMS” mean? Exempt Management Service (EMS) is the term used to identify positions exempt from state civil service law. These positions do not have the same rights as classified positions. What does exempt from state civil service law mean?

If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every preferred qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. If you have lived experience that is equivalent to the required experience and education mentioned above, please apply! Tell us about it in your cover letter and how that experience qualifies you for this work. 

Contact Information
For questions about this recruitment, please contact Ebony.Ware@des.wa.gov or email jobs@des.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

To Apply
Please attach the following documents in order to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:  

• A letter of interest that describes why you are the successful candidate and how you meet the specific qualifications for this position. You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.
• A current resume, detailing experience, and education
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview)

 Things we ask you NOT include in your submission:

• Please remove any private or personal information such as your social security number, date of birth, marital status, family status, etc. 

• Do not attach documents that are password protected.
• Do not include your vaccination records or verification. 

NOTE:  By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify the information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed. A resume will not substitute for completing the “duties summary” section of the application.  Please do not say “refer to resume for detail” in your question responses, or your application may be disqualified.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4006458/puget-sound-acquisition-and-restoration-psar-program-manager-ems-1