Shrubsteppe Habitat Policy Lead – Environmental Planner 5 – Permanent – *15745-23

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT 

SHRUBSTEPPE HABITAT POLICY LEAD 

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER 5 (EP5) 

Habitat Program – Ecosystem Services Division (ESD) 

Olympia, Washington – Thurston County 

This recruitment will be posted until January 23, 2024 – first review of applications will take place on January 2, 2024 submit your application materials as soon as possible. This recruitment may be closed at any time.

Support senior and executive management on the conservation, resilience, and restoration of shrubsteppe habitats! 

Represent the Habitat Program as the shrubsteppe policy lead and subject matter expert with federal and other state agencies, outside entities, and partners.

In this dynamic role, you will communicate and coordinate closely with the Habitat and Wildlife Program leadership on the direction, structure, and strategies of the Washington Shrubsteppe Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (WSRRI).  

You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, work across internal programs, with regional operations, Tribal partners, and other public agencies and stakeholders to make lasting contributions to conserve and protect native fish and wildlife.

We are seeking a candidate with demonstrated values matching those of WDFW: Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

Duties

Our Shrubsteppe Habitat Policy Lead,

As the Project Manager for the Washington Shrubsteppe Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (WSRRI) manage that interagency effort in support of the WSRRI Steering Committee:

• Communicate with and coordinate, support, and facilitate the activities of the WSRRI Steering Committee and Advisory Group.
• Facilitate the development and implementation of 2-year workplans in support of the 30-year WSRRI Conservation Strategy.
• Create and coordinate as appropriate a network hub for information and resource dissemination in support of WSRRI statewide.

Serve as the Shrubsteppe Policy Lead for the Habitat Program: 

• Coordinate and help to facilitate shrubsteppe conservation work across WDFW programs.
• Coordinate with shrubsteppe data developers and providers within WDFW.
• Provide expertise in support of WDFW shrubsteppe policy and related legislation.

Garner and administer resources in support of shrubsteppe conservation within WDFW and throughout the WSRRI. 

• Administer budgets associated with the shrubsteppe work.
• Seek to secure additional resources for WSRRI and other shrubsteppe work.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • Primarily office work, but includes some driving and travel to various locations, primarily in Washington State.
  • Work will occasionally include outdoor travel on foot over rough terrain, and exposure to various types of weather.
• Schedule:
  • Generally, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday with some evening and weekend work possible.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Occasional driving and travel to various locations, primarily in Washington State.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Telephone, computer, smart phone, video-conferencing, and standard office equipment.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Responsible for engaging on legislative issues with policy makers, elected officials, agency staff, Tribal partners, and stakeholders to resolve issues requiring excellent diplomatic and communication skills.

Qualifications

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 five (5) years of professional experience in natural resource or environmental science, natural resource or environmental planning, or public administration, or environmental policy, planning, or program development.

Competencies: 

• Demonstrated understanding of public agency organizational and bureaucratic environments and processes.
• Demonstrated success in organizational assessment and systems development, group and meeting facilitation, and project management.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a collegial, collaborative, and productive work environment with colleagues who are not co-located.
• Successful demonstration of strong critical thinking skills applied to solving complex natural resource problems.

Please Note: Additional relevant professional experience may substitute year for year for the degree.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

• Master’s degree in natural resource or environmental science, natural resources, environmental planning, or public administration/public policy with an environmental emphasis, or a closely related field.

AND

• Seven (7) years of experience in these professional areas.

Competencies: 

• Expertise in the conservation or study of shrubsteppe habitats and associated wildlife.
• Demonstrated work experience in landscape scale habitat protection, restoration, and management.
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport and partner with local, state, and federal governmental agencies, tribes, and the public regarding issues pertaining to habitat protection and restoration.
• Demonstrated ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills, including experience mediating or facilitating environmental conflicts.
• Knowledge of natural resource laws, policies, and programs (regulatory and voluntary) related to fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation in Washington State, and the ability to work with them to achieve expected results.
• High level of project management expertise.
• Grant or other financial resource development, budget tracking, and administering public financial resources.