Description
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Job Title- Environmental Program Manager (WMS02)
Location: Tumwater, WA.
Closes: First review will be on Nov 4th and thenapplications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hire at anytime after the first review. We strongly recommend applying as soon as possible.
Position Hours: Typical schedule is Monday-Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm,a flex schedule may be negotiated. Available for remote telework within Washington State once onboard training is completed.
Are you passionate about the outdoors? Washington State Parks and Recreations Commission is seeking to fill a full time permanent Environmental Program Manager (WMS02). The Environmental Program Manager is a statewide WMS position that reports directly to the Stewardship Division Director. This position manages the Environmental Program for the agency and is the agency's environmental compliance expert and spokesperson. Their duty is to guide the agency's environmental compliance. The incumbent will be responsible for the supervision, accountability, and professional development of ten professional staff engaged in environmental permitting and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) compliance statewide.
Working closely with managers in the Operations, Parks Development, and Stewardship divisions, this position identifies and prioritizes permitting needs and ensures a consistent agency approach through supervision of agency environmental permitting staff.
Our ideal candidate will bring a demonstrated knowledge of state/federal environmental laws, excellent oral and written skills, specific strategic and technical expertise to manage environmental compliance for agency work at 200+ state parks and other property holdings in Washington's 138,000-acre state park system. The position plays a critical role in agency project delivery by promoting thorough project scoping and ensuring timely SEPA review and submittal of environmental permit applications.
Current staff testimonial "I feel like we have an amazing team that is kind and supportive of each other. We also get to do really meaningful work at Parks.”
Excellent state benefits including: medical, dental and vision and pension retirement, along with flexible hours, telework option, and opportunities to work throughout Washington's beautiful state park system, make this an exciting and unique opportunity.
Want to join a great organization? The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages one of the largest, most diverse--and most beautiful—parks systems in the country. With more than 120,000 acres, the system includes 124 developed parks, including 19 marine parks, 11 historical parks, 35 heritage sites, 13 interpretive centers and approximately 500 miles of long-distance recreation trails. And the agency is staffed with nearly 1000 employees (summers), who are some of the most passionate employees you'll find anywhere We love what we manage and what we do. For more information on Washington State Parks, click here.
Duties
Under the administrative supervision of the Stewardship Director this position manages the statewide coordination of environmental review and compliance. Tasks assigned typically require expert knowledge of environmental laws, agency policies, and natural & cultural resource management. Duties include, but are not limited to:
• Serves as agency's foremost SEPA expert. Works with executive leadership and Attorney General's Office to manage legal risk related to SEPA/environmental compliance and to address legal challenges.
• Maintains and coordinates major advances in current agency SEPA policies with internal and external stakeholders, including rulemaking, rule interpretation, and resolving conflicts through attorney services requests. Reviews and comments on proposed administrative rules and regulations pertaining to environmental matters.
• Manages a team of (10) professional level environmental staff that permits projects statewide. (Three staff managed directly; seven managed through subordinates). Establishes team and individual job expectations and performance measures and ensures staff has the tools and skills needed to be successful in their duties. Promotes a team environment where staff are encouraged to solve problems openly and constructively.
• Ensures environmental permitting/SEPA support for the agency’s capital, maintenance, real estate acquisition, and restoration projects, as well as other land management activities. Ensures SEPA review of other agency actions, including agency policy development and Commission requested actions. Collaborates with other agency programs/divisions to help prioritize requests for environmental permitting. Tracks progress on permitting requests to ensure timeline responses.
•Leads program development and process refinement, including data management, GIS product standardization, and environmental records management.
• Develops standards for all agency environmental permitting work. Coordinates and reviews SEPA determinations by agency environmental permitting staff to provide statewide consistency and legal defensibility. Collaborates with other agency programs/divisions to help prioritize requests for environmental permitting.
Qualifications
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor's degree in environmental policy, land planning, natural resource management or related discipline.
AND- Four (4) years of relevant professional experience related to Washington State Environmental Policy Act compliance and Washington State/federal natural and cultural resource permitting,
- Must be proficient in MS Office Applications (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, Teams)
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: - Masters degree in environmental policy/land planning/natural resource management or related discipline.
- Knowledge of ArcGIS.
- Experience supervising professional staff.
- Experience working constructively with tribal governments.
Leadership - Promote agency mission and goals and demonstrate the way to achieve them. Create a positive work environment where all employees are motivated to do their best. Display a positive attitude and optimism about the work to be done, co-workers, customers, management, and employer policies. Set clear, meaningful, challenging, and attainable goals and expectations that are aligned with those of the organization and provide regular and consistent feedback on those expectations.
Workload Management - Plan, organize, prioritize, and effectively delegate work, focusing on results and desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. Effectively handle competing priorities and urgent situations, making sound decisions within short timeframes, and taking appropriate action. Remain acutely aware of timeframes, remain focused, handle interruptions effectively, and ensure deadlines are successfully met. Demonstrate accountability for the timely and accurate completion of responsibilities.
Critical Thinking - In the absence of clear guidelines or information use judgment and critical thinking to infer appropriate meaning and form conclusions to resolve problems or issues. Display balanced thinking that combines analysis, wisdom, experience, varying perspectives, and agency goals.
Mastery of Computer Skills - Use computers, including all associated hardware and software, to produce timely and accurate work products that fully satisfy the demands of the assignment. Adapt through continual learning to new/updated computer software and hardware. Includes but is not limited to proficient use of Microsoft Office products to include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Interpersonal Skills - Demonstrate ability to build and maintain strong, courteous relationships with peers, managers, and customers. Respond to difficult, stressful, or sensitive interpersonal situations in ways that reduce or minimize potential conflicts and maintains good working relationships with others.
Occupational Competencies: (The competencies listed below must be demonstrated within the trial service/probationary period and are a continuing requirement of this position.)
Building Collaborative Relationships - Develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside or outside the agency who can provide information, assistance, and support. Recognize business concerns and perspectives of others while maintaining focus on agency mission and goals. Integrate the ideas and needs of others in developing feasible strategies to accomplish stated objectives. Achieve internal and external acceptance of and support for those strategies. Express gratitude and appreciation to others who have provided information, assistance, or support.
Project Evaluation - Evaluate overall project progress or program effectiveness, ensuring performance standards are upheld and met, and appraising deficiencies or difficulties. Resolve problems quickly and efficiently with minimal negative impact. Provide viable options when needed.
Fiscal Accountability - Follow fiscal guidelines, regulations, principles, and standards when committing fiscal resources or processing financial transactions. Responsibly allocate and account for the use of fiscal resources, weighing alternatives and their benefits. Monitor budget usage and ensure critical costs are covered.
Interpersonal Influence - Influence others within the organization to be excited, enthused, and committed to furthering the organization's objectives. Facilitate development of shared mission, vision, and key values and use those principles to guide actions. Address problems and issues in an open, constructive, and respectful manner that maintains the dignity of all.
Adaptability and Flexibility - Adapt easily to changing business needs, conditions, and work responsibilities. Anticipate and effectively communicate need for change, proactively embrace change as a way to accomplish goals more effectively, and help others deal with the ongoing demands of change.
Supplemental Information
HOW TO APPLY
To ensure consideration, please complete the online job application and profile at
www.careers.wa.gov or at
State Parks Jobs. You must attach or embed in your application the following:
- A letter of interest, describing how you meet the qualifications for this position as outlined in the job posting.
- A current resume, detailing experience, and education.
- A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information.
All requested materials must be submitted. Incomplete or late application materials will not be accepted. Failure to follow application process may disqualify you from further consideration.
Diversity Statement
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to build a workplace culture that is welcoming and inclusive in which all employees feel respected and empowered to bring their unique ideas to the agency. At State Parks, we believe that embracing diverse backgrounds and experiences is essential to growing a strong workforce. We encourage applicants underrepresented in natural resources and outdoor recreation fields to apply, including but not limited to women, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), individuals with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, persons over 40 years of age, and individuals who identify as a part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resources office at (360) 902-8565. 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.
For information about this position, please contact Lisa Lantz at Lisa.Lantz@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-8641.
For information about the hiring process, please contact Wendy Vandel at Wendy.vandel@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-8688.
