Restoration Planner – Environmental Planner 4 – Permanent – *04170-24

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
RESTORATION PLANNER
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER 4 (EP4)

Habitat Program
Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

We are seeking a senior-level planner to oversee salmon recovery projects in the Western Olympic watersheds.

In this role, you will excel in accomplishing restoration objectives by understanding and translating habitat and salmon models into basin-specific strategies, all while enhancing community support and facilitating effective communication among project stakeholders.

Provide crucial technical and policy support for planning, implementing, and assessing restoration approaches and best practices at both statewide and regional levels.

Picture yourself,

 Understanding how fish and habitat science and models inform restoration priorities and seeking habitat project opportunities using collaborative partnerships and community involvement.

This is an opportunity,

To develop proposals for new and/or expanded projects that meet highest habitat need and recovery objectives of tribal and regional recovery plans (e.g. salmon) and other related actions and initiatives lead by the agency.

You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, 

Actively engage co-managers and partners in restoration planning, including the area tribes, Regional Fish Enhancement Groups, Lead Entities, state and federal agencies, and other restoration entities.

We are seeking a candidate, 

Who models WDFW values: Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

Duties:

Some of what our Restoration Planner will enjoy doing, 

Lead internal and external coordination, facilitate support, and seek funding to aid others in developing habitat restoration and enhancement opportunities: 

• Actively collaborate with each entity to help them achieve supported salmon recovery goals, and on a larger scale generating and facilitating basin level discussions and efforts. 
• Accept stakeholder input, evaluate concerns, and recommend actions to WDFW management.
• Lead discussions and negotiate agreements associated with habitat restoration projects and opportunities on WDFW lands by utilizing the Restoration Pathway and cooperatively engaging regional and district teams, including fish and wildlife program staff.
• Ensure thorough outreach and education activities supporting restoration efforts are conducted.
• Participate in regional teams, as needed, to assess proposed restoration or related research and monitoring projects.
• Assess gaps in understanding about restoration effectiveness and work with Habitat Science Division to address gaps.
• Ensure timely and active communication with Habitat Program Executive and Senior Management.

Develops fundable restoration project proposals and manages planning, design, and/or implementation of restoration projects: 

• Develop proposals for new and/or expanded projects that meet highest habitat need and recovery objectives of tribal and regional recovery plans (e.g. salmon) and other related actions and initiatives lead by the agency.
• Working with the Fish Program, NOAA Fisheries, tribal co-managers, and other collaborators, assemble habitat and fisheries data to inform the development of goals, objectives, and actions for advancement of restoration projects.
• Identify land ownership and potential project constraints or risks, and options for resolution of these issues. 
• Coordinate with regional habitat, fish and wildlife biologists and engineers, prepare recommendations for WDFW Regional Management Team consideration of project proposals, and brief staff on status of restoration project implementation.

Develop and manage grants and effective and efficient budgets:

• Work with supervisor and program budget managers to develop fiscally responsible proposals and scopes of work.
• Professionally engage WDFW contract and budget management support staff to ensure timely and accurate data reflect management actions.
• Work with fiscal team and CAMP to develop receivable contracts with restoration partners for restoration work.
• Develop and manage payable subcontracts to implement restoration projects.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Work primarily in office and meeting settings and travel to meetings within the Region and statewide, as needed. 
  • Office hazards include working under fluorescent light, repetitively entering data into computer and looking at computer monitor for long periods of time.
  • Will walk over rough terrain for short distances (less than 1 mile) regularly or occasionally over long distances (several miles).
  • Must be able to negotiate water in emergency situations.
• Schedule:
  • Typically, Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. although the schedule varies with work and travel requirements.  
  • Occasional evening meetings are required and will need to work extended hours as necessary to complete assignments.
  • May work a flexible work schedule subject to supervisory approval. 
• Travel Requirements:
  • Travel up to 15% of the time. Periodic statewide or regional travel and occasional attendance at evening meetings required. 
  • May include extended travel, evening, or overnight trips.

• Tools and Equipment:
  • Laptop computer and remote access to internal WDFW applications and a cell phone.

• Customer Interactions:
  • Interact with state agency, tribal, and local governments staff and leads, including Ecology, Agriculture, Health, county commissioners, tribal staff, and the public. 

Qualifications:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Bachelor of Science degree in fish or wildlife biology/management, biology, zoology, ecology, environmental planning/science, or closely related field. 

AND

• Three (3) years of professional experience in environmental or natural resource management, planning, or program development. 

OR

• One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3. 

Please Note: 

• Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
• A Master’s in applicable science will substitute for one (1) year of required experience.
• A Doctorate degree in applicable science will substitute two (2) years of required experience.

Certifications/Licenses: 

• Valid Driver’s License.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

• A Master’s degree in fish or wildlife biology/management, environmental planning/science, or closely related field is required for this position.

AND 

• Four (4) years of professional experience in environmental or natural resource management, planning, or program development is also required.

OR 

• One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3 or similarly allied position.

Please Note: A Doctorate degree in the applicable science will substitute two (2) years of required experience. 

Competencies:

• Applied fish and wildlife management techniques, general ecological principles and practices, conservation, and restoration biology.  
• Environmental engineering principles. 
• Working knowledge of marine, nearshore, and freshwater ecosystems
• Environmental regulations, including the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA), Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Growth Management Act (GMA) and Shoreline Management Act (SMA).  
• Human influences on aquatic ecosystems.  
• Advocacy based on goals of WDFW (protect and restore ecosystem function and processes for fish and wildlife habitat).

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:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth.

UNION – WAFWP:

This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.

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 [email protected].
• 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 [email protected].  
• 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 at 360-902-2278 or email [email protected]  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 [email protected].

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