Salary: $98,416.00 – $122,844.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent

The Water Quality program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Water Quality Policy Lead Manager (WMS 2) position. 

This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Are you a problem-solver and team-builder who cares about protecting Washington’s waters?  The Water Quality program is looking for an experienced leader who can help shape the program’s strategic direction and policy responses to emerging water quality issues.  This position will lead a newly formed team that is addressing the threats caused by toxic stormwater, including toxic tire dust.  This position is a key part of our salmon recovery work. The mission of the Water Quality Program is to protect and restore Washington’s waters to support healthy watersheds and communities. Our work ensures state waters can support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public health.    

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 60% tele-work schedule. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on August 3, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before August 2, 2023.. If your application isn’t received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date.  The first round of interviews is expected to occur August 9-11, 2023.

What makes this role unique? 

This role must navigate the policy challenges that come with emerging issues.  This is not a job where the path forward is always clear.  You will need to draw from your wisdom and experience to build partnerships that create strategies for addressing the known and unknowns of emerging issues, like contaminated stormwater and toxic tire dust.  You will understand how to influence the network of organizations that collectively improve water quality.

What you will do: 

• Lead the Water Quality Program’s legislative efforts.
• Coordinate across the program, agency, and external partners to create durable policy approaches that protect our waters.
• Serve as the point person for emerging policy issues.  Build collaborative relations so we can respond nimbly internally and externally.
• Supervise three teams that play different roles in the science, policy, and funding of stormwater initiatives.
• Lead the strategic planning processes for Water Quality.

Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

Required: A total of Nine years combined education and/or professional level experience.
 
Experience in: Natural resource planning, program development or management.
Requires at least one year of experience supervising or leading a team.
 
Education in: Environmental, physical, or natural science, engineering, planning, public administration, business administration, or closely related field. 

Knowledge of state and federal statutory, administrative and case law governing water quality and related resources; state legislative processes; principals of policy and program planning and development; state and national politics of water quality; policies and procedures of the program; and a basic understanding of watershed processes, surface and ground water, land use and aquatic biology, and advanced principles of environmental management.  Requires a basic knowledge of economics, multi-agency roles and responsibilities, and political interactions.
 
Specific Skills required

• Advanced skills in strategic planning.  
• Experience in building consensus, conflict resolution and maintaining key relationships internally and externally.

Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

• Several years of supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of Washington State and federal water quality laws and regulations, enforcement policies, water quality permits and pollution reduction programs.
• Knowledge and experience with computer databases and other information technology.

Application Instructions

It’s in the applicant’s best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• A list of three professional references.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4043448/water-quality-policy-lead-manager-wms-2