Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?

The Department of Natural Resources Rights of Way Program is actively seeking a Rights of Way Program Manager to join our team. This position works out of the Natural Resources Building in Olympia Washington as a part of the Product Sales & Leasing Division. The Rights of Way Program provides support and coordination across all regions of the state and across Divisions within the agency to acquire access for state land management activities, grant rights to use state lands, and find solutions to complex land management problems. The Rights of Way Program intersects many parts of the agency and provides a unique ability to learn about DNR and the wide range of activities that happen on state lands.

Responsibilities:
This position is responsible for administering the Rights-of-way Granting and Acquisition Programs within the Leasing and Business Management Section of the Product Sales and Leasing Division. This includes: serving as the agency rights-of-way expert; supervising five division rights-of-way staff; proposing policies; drafting procedures; providing consultation services to other agency programs; working with other agency experts to resolve problems related to rights-of-way granting and acquisition; consulting on and reviewing region projects; providing training and mentoring to program and statewide staff; representing the program on agency committees; and identifying and resolving statewide rights-of-way issues.

Required Qualifications:

• Four (4) years professional experience working in forestry, rights-of-way, forest roads engineering, real property law, environmental law, or other field relevant to the duties of the position.
• Two (2) years’ experience managing professional staff, or three (3) years leading teams or projects involving professional staff.
• Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the position. Additional experience in a field relevant to the position may substitute for education.
• The incumbent in this position is required to travel.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and have two years of driving experience. This position requires driving as an essential function.  Employees who drive for state business, whether in a state or privately-owned vehicle, are required to possess a valid license as defined in policy PO02-006 and abide by all other driver responsibility requirements. Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Advanced degree or certification in real property law, environmental law, engineering, forestry, rights-of-way, or other relevant field.
• Experience working and negotiating with federal agencies, state agencies, tribal entities, and private sector.

The Location
One of the world’s most scenic places, Washington State offers breathtaking discoveries for people who love natural beauty and outdoor recreation, from the Pacific Coast shores to the rugged Cascade Mountains to the rolling hills of the Palouse. Your office will be located in Olympia.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, telework (mobile-work) is expected for most office activities. The incumbent must have internet access and connectivity.  When approved to return, the incumbent is expected to report to the duty station for work activities.

Why work for DNR?
At DNR, we value public service, innovation and creative problem solving, safety and well-being, and leadership and teamwork. At DNR you’ll support the vision of a sustainable future by using your skills to protect and manage the state’s natural resources for both current and future generations. As a DNR employee, you’ll work with the public’s interest in mind as we manage more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural and aquatic lands. But managing lands is only half of our story. We house the Washington Geological Survey, a dynamic program that is the primary source of geological products and services in support of decision making in Washington. We also protect other public resources such as fish, wildlife, water, and provide public access to outdoor recreation. Two of our largest and most important state-wide resource protection responsibilities are fire prevention and suppression, and overseeing forest practices.

We are nearly 1,500 employees strong and dedicated to making DNR a great place to work. Our mission is to serve Washington’s lands and communities; build strong and healthy rural communities; enhance forest health and wildfire management; strengthen the health and resilience of our lands and waters; and increase public engagement and commitment to our public lands and resources. In partnership with citizens and governments, we provide innovative leadership and expertise to ensure environmental protection, public safety, perpetual funding for schools and communities, and a rich quality of life.  At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally, economically and socially for current and future generations.

What makes DNR a great place to work?

• Commitment to organizational health and wellness
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council
• Leadership that empowers and supports employees
• Work/life balance
• Leadership development opportunities
• Educational aid and career development stipends
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
• Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
• Opportunities to stretch your professional skills
• A comprehensive benefit package that includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information.

Application Process
To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above). You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.

Required Attachments:

• A letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile, required and desired position qualifications, and special position requirements.
• Attach your Resume – do not add it into the text of the application, it must be an attachment.
• The names of three to five professional references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.

Carefully review your application materials before submitting. If you fail to submit the required documents or complete the entire online application, you may no longer be considered for the position by the supervisor.

Application Status – Once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account.  Finalists for the position will be contacted by the hiring manager directly. Recruitment may be extended depending on the quantity and quality of the application pool.

Questions?  Please contact Michael Kearney at (360) 902-2143, Michael.kearney@dnr.wa.gov or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.

Washington State Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.  We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in a fair and impartial manner for all persons without regard to age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, pregnancy/parental status, genetic information, military status, political affiliation, criminal history or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.  Persons with a disability who need assistance during the screening process or those needing this announcement in an alternative format may contact DNR Recruiting staff (360) 902-1350 or (360) 902-1139.  DNR may be contacted using the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) by dialing 711.