Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Management Coordinator – WMS Band 3 – Permanent – *08431-24

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR
WMS BAND 3

Fish Program – AIS Unit
Olympia, Washington – Thurston County 

This recruitment will be posted until August 26, 2024 – application review is ongoing, submit your application materials as soon as possible. This recruitment may be closed at any time.

We are seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Aquatic Invasive Species Management Coordinator to lead our efforts in preventing the establishment of invasive species, containing their populations, and managing established populations.

Exercise continual AIS management strategic planning and critical decision-making with outcomes affecting the health and diversity of Washington’s fresh and marine aquatic resources.

Implement quarantines, rapid response management actions, infested site management actions, long-term management strategies, and emergency measures to protect our aquatic ecosystems from invasive species.

This is a critical position that, 

Provides internal and external leadership and policy support to facilitate actions that successfully manage AIS while considering policy objectives, strategic goals, and ensure compliance with federal and state laws.

Guide the Department in determining decisions, actions, and adaptation for AIS management, 

Utilize established policies and statutes to develop and implement long-term strategies and execute Department activities for statewide management of AIS.

You excel in fostering collaboration and cultivating a strong sense of teamwork, 

Lead and collaborate with intrastate, interstate, national and international forums on AIS management to build partnerships with the public, industry, academic intuitions, and local, state, federal and tribal governments.

Duties:

Here is what you will be doing as our Aquatic Invasive Species Management Coordinator, 

• Manage and create Department AIS management advisory groups, or incident command multi-agency coordination groups and Department internal policy groups to address AIS management.
• Lead AIS management incident command systems through delegated authority by the Department Director to function as incident commander or deputy incident commander during AIS incidents.
• Coordination and consultation on Department AIS management issues with other states and countries, state and federal agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations, affected industries and businesses, public, and others.
• Develop annual workplans and applications for Department rapid response federal funding agreements.
• Manages agreements as the Department’s project manager, including timeline, deliverables, and expenses with support from other Department staff.
• Lead and manage Department processes to develop AIS response plans, long-term management plans, and statewide strategies for the management of AIS, including containment, eradication, control, and mitigation under direction from the AIS Policy Coordinator, and Department leadership.
• Lead and manage Department processes to enhance and revise existing AIS response plans, long-term management plans, and statewide strategies with contractors, Department leadership, subject matter experts, and external stakeholders.
• Advises the Department, cooperating state and local agencies, tribal nations and federal agencies on AIS management actions including eradication, control, containment, infested site-management, and long-term management, as the Department subject matter expert on AIS management.
• Develop and administer mutual aid agreements or cooperative agreements with national, regional, state, and local partners to manage AIS, including establishing incident command system structures, unified command or multi-agency coordination groups, or other structures for effective cooperative management.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:  
  • Work is performed in an office or meeting setting.
  • Work may be Telework/Hybrid under agreement with the position’s supervisor and consistent with Department polices.
• Schedule: 
  • Typically, Monday – Friday – 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., with occasional weekends and evenings.
  • May be expected to adjust the work schedule to meet business needs.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Travel within and outside the state; up to 10% of work time.
  • Occasional overnight travel.
• Customer Relations:  
  • Extensive external communication and coordination cross-program within the Department, in addition to the public, private property owners, supporting state agencies, local governments, public utilities and infrastructure managers, other states, staff of tribal nations, and federal government agencies.

Qualifications:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree.

AND 

• Three (3) years of full-time, paid, professional experience planning and executing a project or multiple projects as a project leader, supervisor, coordinator, or lead subject matter expert in one (1) or more of the following, or a related field:
  • Integrated pest management.
  • Noxious weed or invasive species management.
  • Wildlife management or conflict resolution.
  • Natural resources stewardship.

Demonstrated competencies and experience: 

• Making decisions within established policy and statute using best science and professional opinion, informed by situational characteristics such as property ownership, extent and level of established populations, available resources and feasibility of management actions, and property owner support.
• Development of organizational or interagency response or management plans in collaboration with internal and external decision makers, organizations having legal jurisdiction, industry, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitation and leadership in implementation of response or management plans, including internal and external policy and multi-agency coordination groups to advise resource allocation, policy decisions, and adaptive long-term management.
• Knowledge and experience with management strategies including rapid response, containment, and long-term management.
• Regulatory processes to contain and limit human access and activities including quarantines, regulatory controls such as mandatory check-stations, or public closures.
• Development and negotiation of cooperative agreements with national, regional, tribal, or local governments.
• Regulatory awareness and experience preparing and securing management action state or federal permits such National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits, or Special Use Permits.

Please Note: Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Valid State of Washington state driver’s license upon employment.
• Valid Washington State Department of Agriculture Public Operator Pesticide License with Aquatic Pest Control endorsement within six (6) months of employment.
• Completion of Incident Command System (ICS) 300: Intermediate ICS for Expending Incidents within six (6) months of employment.
• Completion of ICS 400: Advanced ICS Command and General Staff – Complex Incidents within eighteen (18) months of employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following: 

Professional and continuing education training and certification in project/program management, conflict resolution, environmental restoration, or the incident management system.

Knowledge and direct experience in: 

• Strategic planning, project and portfolio management, risk management and structured decision making.
• The incident command system including unified command and multi-agency coordination and/or policy groups, facilitation and collaboration, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• Public participation strategies.
• Integrated pest management and invasive species management principles, processes, policies, and regulations.
• Government to government experience working cooperatively with tribal nations and tribal government staff.
• Working cooperatively with local, state, and federal agencies to address multi-jurisdictional issues.

Supplemental Information:

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification. 

Experience and education selected, listed, and detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable in the application.

In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• A current resume.
• Three professional references.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link:  https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:

Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field.  We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

WDFW employees may be eligible for the following: Benefits

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave types. 

Eleven (11) Paid Holidays per year and one (1) personal holiday if the employee is scheduled to be, or has been, continuously employed by the State of Washington for at least four (4) months. 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), and an Employee Assistance Program.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to kaila.daudt@dfw.wa.gov.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE: 

To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:

• Notify us of your military spouse status by email at kaila.daudt@dfw.wa.gov.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. 

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications.  Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully.  All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer.   We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity.  Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.  

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov,  or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.

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