Aquatic Restoration Manager—Snohomish Watershed, NRS3

Aquatic Restoration Manager—Snohomish Watershed, NRS3
Recruitment #2024-3-P427
Full-time, Non-Permanent, Represented position
Anticipated Non-Permanent employment is 12 months
Location: Northwest Region- Sedro Woolley, WA
Location and Partial Telework flexibility may be available and considered within the NW region.
Salary: $4,723.00 – $6,349.00 Monthly 

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 3/21/24. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible. 

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
Help advance DNR’s efforts to support habitat restoration, salmon recovery, and watershed health in the Snohomish watershed, an important Puget Sound river basin home to nine salmonid species. This new position will create dedicated capacity in the Orca-Straits Aquatic District to implement land management, stakeholder engagement, and project management to support habitat restoration and protection in the Snohomish basin. This work will help implement DNR’s Snohomish Watershed Resilience Action Plan (WRAP), a watershed-scale effort to promote salmon recovery, water quality, forest health, and vibrant communities. WRAP is an ambitious plan for a “trees to seas” approach to watershed health in Watershed Resource Inventory Area 7 (WRIA7). The work within the WRAP directly supported by this position aligns with agency priorities in salmon recovery, environmental justice, and climate resilience.

Specifically, this position supports the Orca-Straits District’s aquatics restoration and land management work within the Snohomish River Watershed. They will work independently to negotiate and manage land use authorizations on state-owned aquatic lands (SOAL) and otherwise support habitat restoration projects in the watershed.

Additional duties include conducting stakeholder outreach; developing and maintaining effective intergovernmental relationships; engaging in regional restoration planning; and providing information regarding department laws, policies, and guidance to the public and other government entities pertaining to the management of SOAL. They will interact with other district and region staff, division staff, restoration project managers, local, state, federal, and tribal jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, and other partners to accomplish their work. While this position is housed within the Orca-Straits Aquatic District, they will also work closely with the Snohomish Watershed Steward and staff from other DNR workgroups to advance WRAP priorities.

Responsibilities:

Support Habitat Restoration Efforts in Snohomish Watershed
Plan, develop, budget, oversee, and directly manage implementation of the Snohomish Watershed (WRIA 7) restoration projects to meet objectives as assigned. Objectives include improving the quality and quantity of productive habitat on or directly impacting state-owned aquatic lands through restoration and enhancement of aquatic habitat. This will include applying for funding and managing grants and contracts as needed.

Aquatic Land Management
Independently negotiate and prepare land use authorizations for review and approval. Land use authorizations managed by this position will focus on projects relating to restoration and stewardship of state-owned aquatic lands in the Snohomish Watershed to meet the goals of the WRAP.

Participate in WRAP Planning, Implementation, Outreach and Education

• Provides Aquatic District support of the Watershed Resilience Action Plan by coordinating with and participating in regular meetings with the Snohomish Watershed Steward, Policy staff, and other members of the WRAP team. This may include strategic planning to advance programmatic goals, planning and prioritization of WRAP actions, reporting, and engaging with local partners to implement WRAP actions.
• Coordinate with the local restoration community as needed, with potential duties including Drafting and implementing Memorandums of Understanding between local governments and/or other agencies, representing DNR at public meetings, outreach and engagement with Tribal co-managers, the Marine Resource Committee (MRC), salmon recovery partners, and the public.
• Conduct stakeholder outreach and education to WRIA 7 stakeholders and the public about the restoration and land management of SOAL.

Support other WRAP-related Aquatic Science and Management Efforts
Serve as an Orca-Straits District liaison to other Aquatic Resources Division programs and projects related to WRAP, including but not limited to the Snohomish Kelp and Eelgrass Protection Zone, the Acidification Nearshore Monitoring Network (ANeMoNe) station, and the Derelict Vessel Removal Program.

Required Qualifications: 

• A Bachelor’s Degree AND two years of experience in environmental science, natural resource management, forestry, fisheries, wildlife science, marine science, environmental engineering, land use or environmental planning, or other relevant field.
  OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience working with natural resource management/environmental protection issues.
• Experience managing multiple complex tasks, setting workload priorities, and completing tasks on time.
• Communication skills – speaking and writing clearly and succinctly, using typical office software.