South Puget Sound State Lands Assistant Region Manager, WMS 2
Recruitment #2021-04-3056
This is a Full-time, Permanent, Non-represented position.

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity within our South Puget Sound Region. Would you like to be part of an organization committed to realizing a bright future where Washington’s lands, waters, and communities thrive? Are you an experienced leader who can provide strategic direction at the operational level and have a passion for managing professional natural resources staff and multiple projects? Do you enjoy the challenge of bringing together diverse perspectives for a common goal? Do you enjoy helping others grow and reach their full potential? Are you committed to working with forest management, land management, and natural resource conservation?  Are you committed to a safe work environment and able to promote a culture of safety with a team of natural resource professionals? Well, this may be your dream job! We are the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and we are looking for a leader with good people skills and a strong background in forest land management to be the State Lands Assistant Region Manager (SLA) in South Puget Sound Region.

What we will trust you with:

• Representing the Departments interests to private operators, business, governmental officials, and the public where there is involvement in complex, sensitive issues affecting the Region.
• Leading sixty-eight permanent staff conducting upland management activities on approximately 360,000 acres of trust lands with an operating budget of approximately $13.2 million dollars, including building and maintaining the biennium budget for product sales, silviculture, engineering and earth science programs.
• Managing the production and compliance of 109 million board feet of timber sales annually within the context of the State Lands Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) programs.
• Managing the silvicultural program to ensure reforestation, vegetation management and young stand tending result in fully stocked vigorous forests.
• Managing the engineering program to ensure all existing and newly constructed roads are maintained and built to Forest Practice Rule standards.
• Managing public use and recreation on-the-ground implementation.

Responsibilities:

As the assistant to the region manager for state lands and public use programs, the position is responsible for activities on state forest trust land within the region including:

• Implement policy direction given by the Agency and Board Members.
• Interpret and ensure compliance with state land procedures, rules and regulations as set forth in WACs and RCWs.
• Establish standards, priorities, and expectations with program managers for region state lands and public use programs based on allotted resources.
• Work with direct reports to safely accomplish state land management deliverables such as annual sales volume, fully stocked reforested lands and prevention of public resource impacts from state trust land forest roads.
• Prepare budget requests for state lands programs. Monitor, control, adjust and evaluate budgeted resources for program implementation.
• Initiate, implement, and amend planning for the trust land ownership as necessary to accomplish program and agency objectives.
• Deal with highly sensitive resource issues. Work collaboratively with agencies, tribes, environmental groups, industry, local government, media and the general public.
• Complete priority business transactions that are sustainable and in the best interest of the trusts with particular attention to those necessary to support timber sales and other revenue generating efforts.

Key deliverables:

• Making Region timber sales cut to achieve region volume deliverables, achieving 100% free to grow status of regenerated stands, achieving 100% completion of silvicultural prescriptions by quarter, and achieving region quarterly volume targets.
• Accomplish Road Maintenance and Abandonment Plan deliverables for the Region by the 2021 deadline
• Ensure the Region road network is maintained to forest practice standards and natural resource impacts are prevented.
• Ensure Region bridges are annually inspected.
• Work with the Asset Management Assistant Region Manager to provide oversight and key leadership in the region public use program, achieving key deliverables negotiated by the region and division.

Leadership:

• Plan, lead, organize, and control the work performed by the organization.
• Ensure appropriate and optimum use of the organization’s resources.
• Maintain the highest standards of professional/personal and ethical conduct and support the State’s goals for a diverse workforce.
• Support staff’s interests, concerns, and issues at the region and state level.
• Work collaboratively with South Puget Sound Region Management team to achieve common goals and positive results.

Supervision:

• Maintain and develop positive and effective supervisory relationships with direct reports and staff, including completing evaluations, responding appropriately to disciplinary situations, representing and supporting staff to resolve conflicts, and handling routine personnel issues.
• Provide developmental opportunities and training that will enhance program staff personal and professional growth in preparation for their professional career goals.
• Mentor staff and provide a positive working environment where people are respected and valued professionally.
• Make decisions for balancing professional development with production obligations.

Relationships:

• Support effective and positive communication throughout the organization.
• Provide input and recommendations involving policy decisions on state trust land management.
• Act as the key liaison between the public and the region programs.
• Develop and foster collaborative partnerships with diverse internal and external stakeholders to find creative and innovative solutions.
• Represent the Department’s interests when interacting with private operators, purchasers, businesses, governmental officials, and the public where there is involvement in sensitive, complex issues in the Region or Agency.

Required Qualifications: 

• A bachelor’s degree in Forest Management or Natural Resources Management, and eight years of professional level experience with a demonstrated progression in leadership responsibilities in the areas of land and resources management and personnel management OR;
•  An associate’s degree in forest management or natural resources management, and ten years of professional level experience with a demonstrated progression in leadership responsibilities in the areas of land and resources management and personnel management.
• Experience with fundamental forest management principles and methods
• Experience with fundamental logging principles and methods
• The incumbent in this position is required to travel.
• A valid driver’s license and have two years of driving experience. This position requires driving as an essential function. Finalists and/or interview candidates may be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.

Our ideal candidate will also have the qualifications listed below:

• Experience with fundamental forest engineering principles and methods
• Experience with facilitation, collaboration, negotiation and conflict resolution
• Experience with strategic and tactical planning and management
• Experience with budgets, grants and funding
• Experience with landscape planning and ecosystem management
• Broad multi-disciplinary understanding of forest management field and staff operations
• Experience with trust management theory and principle
• Experience with laws and issues associated with natural resource management
• Experience with principles of information technology systems
• Experience with principles of measured, outcome-oriented services
• Experience with Washington State government legislative processes
• Competent with computer software, including word processing and spreadsheet; project planning and oversight.
• Familiar with multiple forestry tools and systems, including equipment and applications that enhance field productivity (GPS, GIS, and modeling systems).
• Ability to work under minimal supervision within the context of broad agency policies.
• Experience providing second level-supervision over multiple work units with one or more supervisors.
• Ability to use a mix of tactical and strategic thinking to address various budget, fixed asset, human resource and customer service issues.
• Ability to develop, recommend, and implement agency strategies, policies, and resource allocation.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders and organizations.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of leasing and rights of way, recreation and natural areas.
• Knowledge of decision makers, stakeholders, special interest groups, agencies, and other organizations which are critical to the success of leasing and rights of way, recreation and natural areas.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, DNR’s policies, procedures and goals as they relate to leasing and rights of way, recreation management, and natural areas (including HCP, WACs, state law, etc.).
• Skills in managing complex planning and budgets.

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 Enumclaw. For more information on this area visit, https://www.cityofenumclaw.net/

Positions with permanent duty stations in King County receive an additional 5% added to their monthly base salary. The salary listed on this announcement reflects the additional 5%.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, telework (mobile-work) is expected for most office activities. When approved to return, staff are expected to report to their assigned duty station for work activities or may be approved for telework based on DNR’s telework policy.

About the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). 
Our mission is to manage, sustain, and protect the health and productivity of Washington’s lands and waters to meet the needs economically and socially for current and future generations. At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally and are dedicated to serving Washington’s lands and communities through diversity, equity and inclusion. With nearly 1,500 employees in locations throughout Washington, we manage and protect more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural and aquatic lands.

DNR provides excellent benefits, a few of those include:

• Commitment to organizational health and wellness
• Work/life balance
• DNR Employee Resource Groups (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Veterans Employee Resource Group, etc.)
• Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups, visit here to learn more
• Leadership that empowers and supports employees
• Professional development opportunities
• Educational and career development aid
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
• Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
• 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.

How to Apply: 
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.

Once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account. If you experience technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email CareersHelp@des.wa.gov.

Application Requirements:

• Attach a letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile and the position required, desired and special requirements.
• Attach a resume describing your experience and qualifications.
• Provide three to five professional references – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.
• Complete all supplemental questions.
• Attach a copy of your college degree certificate or an unofficial copy of your transcripts.

Additional Information:
This recruitment may be extended and may also be used to fill future similar vacancies for up to sixty (60) days.

Veterans wishing to claim Veteran’s preference please attach a copy of your DD-214, NGB-22 or other verification of military service. Please black out your social security number prior to attaching.  We thank you and are grateful for your service!

Persons needing accommodation during the screening process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact DNR Recruiting staff at (360) 522-2500 or (360) 522-0143 or by email at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.  Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) at 1-800-833-6388 or www.washingtonrelay.com.

DNR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.

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Questions?  Please contact Scott Sargent at (360) 802-7038, Scott.Sargent@dnr.wa.gov or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov