Watershed Steward, Environmental Planner 3
Recruitment #2022-10-A193
Full-time, Permanent, Represented position
Location Flexibility: Olympia OR Sedro Woolley, WA

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity at DNR Headquarters in Olympia or in DNR’s Northwest Region Headquarters in Sedro-Woolley to deliver watershed-scale resilience as part of DNR’s Forest Resilience, Forest Regulations, and Aquatics Resources Divisions.

Our public lands provide a wide array of benefits to our state and communities, including hundreds of millions of dollars for schools, hospitals, and libraries; ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and flood mitigation; and special places to support human health and enjoy the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Under the leadership of Commissioner Franz, the agency is expanding opportunities that protect our lands and benefit our communities.
 
DNR prioritizes building landscape resilience on a system-level as exemplified within the newly launched Watershed Resilience Action Plan (WRAP). Released in February 2022, the WRAP coordinates, enhances and maximizes investments and work to protect and restore salmon habitat in ways that also provide jobs and build healthier, more equitable communities within the Snohomish Watershed. As Watershed Steward, you will contribute to building resilience across terrestrial and aquatic systems by driving implementation of the WRAP. The WRAP is available on DNR’s website at dnr.wa.gov/WRAP

Recent successes related to the WRAP include:

• Launching the Watershed Resilience Action Plan in February 2022.
• Incorporating environmental justice into significant agency request legislation, including our landmark Forest Health and Reduction of Wildfire Dangers Bill (HB 1168) and Kelp and Eelgrass Health and Conservation Bill (SB 5619).
• Creating a first-of-its-kind Kelp and Eelgrass Protection Zone within Possession Sound which protects nearly 2,300 acres of vulnerable marine vegetation vital to a healthy and resilient marine ecosystem.

Though housed within DNR’s Forest Resilience, Regulation and Aquatic Resources Divisions, the Watershed Steward will be expected to work closely with the DNR’s Policy and Outreach programs and other programs within DNR as well as partners within the Snohomish Basin to drive implementation of the WRAP and coordinate other restoration and resilience projects within the Snohomish Watershed.

The Watershed Steward will share our vision of creating a healthier Washington which begins with the perspectives and meaningful engagement of those most impacted by environmental injustice. As a Watershed Steward you will be working at the intersection of many competing interests and will hold accountability to reducing environmental and health disparities at the core of your work product.

The Watershed Steward reports directly to the Strategic Advisor of Forest Resilience and Regulation and Aquatic Resources. The Watershed Steward will contribute to the agency with expertise and project support on major strategic policy and resilience issues related to watershed resilience. They will also be responsible for specific planning and implementation related to the Watershed Resilience Action Plan, engagement with communities and Tribal nations, and contribution to future watershed policy within DNR.

Initial topics for a Watershed Steward may include:

• Focusing on riparian restoration, small forest landowner outreach and developing projects with private sector, education and community organizations in the Snohomish Basin to implement the WRAP.
• Tracking and reporting project successes and developing solutions to circumnavigate project barriers.
• Working with agency science advisors and technical experts to advance a science based policy approach to natural resources, environmental justice and climate resilience.
• Coordinating with DNR’s Outdoor Education and Training Program Manager to advance education and workforce development opportunities within the watershed resilience framework.
• Coordinating with DNR’s Grants Director to develop a grants strategy for implementing the Watershed Resilience Action Plan.
• Expanding communication and engagement resources including leveraging online engagement tools, dashboards, and ArcGIS.

The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to achieve these outcomes by coordinating with subject matter experts from internal, external and interagency groups, ultimately stewarding the implementation of the Watershed Resilience Action Plan.

Responsibilities:

• Drive implementation of the Watershed Resilience Action Plan on the ground within the Snohomish Basin, engaging in specific planning and implementation efforts aligned with Watershed Resilience Action Plan.
• Think strategically about how to plan and implement ambitious landscape-scale restoration strategies in other watersheds that work in alignment with the Forest Action Plan, Climate Resilience Plan, and associated restoration strategies with support of partners, drawing lessons from the success and challenges of implementation of WRAP.
• Coordinate with DNR’s Executive Policy Team, Aquatics Division, Forest Resilience Division, Forest Regulation Division, and Uplands to build creative solutions that promote equitable urban forest cover, safer fish migration through barrier removal, riparian restoration, and avoided small forest conversion, informed through close collaboration with lead programs.
• Track project success and tackling barriers in partnership with the policy team and other partners.
• Identify, assess, and pursue opportunities to secure new funding for project implementation within the Snohomish Watershed in coordination with the lead programs and key Policy Advisors, and working with the Grants Director prior to submission to ensure agency compliance and alignment. Administer existing contracts and agreements in the Watershed related to the WRAP, and facilitate discussion among program staff to ensure funding can be appropriately operationalized by programs.
• Conceptualize and pursue collaborative partnership opportunities for topics related to urban forestry, green infrastructure, riparian and forest health and restoration, water quality improvement, and salmon restoration, including public-private partnerships.
• Participate in conceptualization, development, and implementation of pilot projects related to the Watershed Resilience Action Plan
• Build and maintain effective relationships with WRAP partners and implementers to effectively support implementation of plan.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in natural resource or environmental science, natural resource or environmental planning, or public administration or public policy with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field: AND At least three years of professional experience in natural resource or environmental science, natural resource or environmental planning, or public administration or environmental policy.
  OR An equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience leading and facilitating an interdisciplinary team or work groups to achieve desired and productive outcomes.
• Basic use of Microsoft Office programs (including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Knowledge of the watershed restoration and management, or experience in riparian health or forest health.
• Knowledge of natural resource laws, policies, and programs and how these affect and/or enable fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation in Washington State, and the ability to interpret and apply them in order to achieve expected results.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills, including the ability to present complex or controversial information in a way that is understandable and non-confrontational.
• Ability to manage multiple work assignments and priorities on varied time scales.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships, to build rapport and partner with local, state, and federal governmental agencies, tribes, and the public regarding issues pertaining to habitat protection and restoration.
• Strong organization and time management skills to effectively prioritize workload and maximize efficiency.
• Ability to seek and act on opportunities to improve, streamline, and re-invent work processes.
• Position Core Competencies: 
  • Collaborative and productive
  • Honest and transparent
  • Tactful and politically sensitive
  • Self-motivated and self-directed
  • Professional, polite, and courteous
  • Accessible, timely, and responsive
  • Strong interpersonal skills
• DNR Core Competencies: 
  • Personal Accountability 
  • Value Others 
  • Compassionate Communication 
  • Inspire Others 
  • Commitment to Excellence 

Conditions of Employment:

• 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 will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.
• Work is performed almost exclusively indoors in an office environment with exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly found in government office environments. Occasional work in riparian, forest, or marine environments which may include exposure to extreme heat or cold and other weather.
• Travel is required (frequency will be assessed as pandemic and virtual alternatives evolve), and is typically local or regional (western Washington), to meet with partners, conduct business, or attend or provide training.
• Employees of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. This position is based in an office/fieldwork and requires in-person attendance/interactions with no option for full-time telework. Please note that any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing verification of your vaccine status. No start date will be approved until you verify your status.

Desired Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in natural resource or environmental science, natural resource or environmental planning, or public administration or public policy with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.
• Experience applying knowledge of Washington fish and wildlife biology, habitat science, and ecology to anticipate fish, wildlife, and habitat needs, potential impacts, and likely remedies.
• Experience using negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience with web or online communication platforms.
• Experience with data tracking, data analysis, and spatial mapping systems (GIS).