Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

Protecting Washington State’s environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We have a culture that is invested in making a difference. If you want to join a team that is highly effective, collaborative, has leadership that embraces the value of people, Ecology is a good fit.

The Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Senior Regional Shoreline Planner (Environmental Planner 4) position. This position will work out of our Northwest Regional Office (NWRO) in Bellevue, WA

The Senior Regional Shoreline Planner position serves as a senior-level regional planner, providing leadership, policy, and technical support to the SEA Program by working with local governments in the Northwest region to assist them in developing, adopting and implementing updates to their Shoreline Master Programs that are consistent with State Guidelines. The position also reviews the assigned jurisdictions’ shoreline permits, administers Shoreline Master Program and Coastal Zone Management grants, conducts training, and supports Shoreline Management Act compliance.  

We are seeking applicants who are effective communicators and are able to work with a diverse audience and the ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships. The successful candidate will be able to understand and convey agencies role with the ability to understand and convey to others strategic priorities. 

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability. Maybe you’ve seen some of our recent stories on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

To learn more about our agency, please visit our website at www.ecy.wa.gov.

The mission of the SEA Program is to support community conservation efforts for our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains. This position supports the mission by managing the use of shoreline, wetlands, and floodplain resources in the Northwest Region. The section manager furthers this mission by working in partnership with local governments to ensure projects optimally implement the state’s Shoreline Management Act, as well as protecting water quality through the federal Clean Water Act Section 401 certification process.

Some of the key work activities of the Senior Regional Shoreline Planner position include:

Lead Shoreline Planner: Serves as a senior Shoreline Planner and lead worker, including:

• Leads regular and ad hoc meetings of city and county planners, state and federal natural resource agencies, tribes, interested parties and organizations, and Ecology in order to facilitate communication and resolve technical and policy issues that arise.
• Leads in the development of new approaches, technical support, policy, and procedures for implementing updated Shoreline Master Programs.  Engage cities and counties, state and federal natural resource agencies, interested parties and organizations, and Ecology in this effort.
• Serves as a mentor to other staff in the region,
• Assists staff in key steps in the development and implementation of SMP’s throughout the NW region,
• Assists planners, NWRO and BFO managers, and HQ policy staff in resolving challenging policy issues with city and county SMPs,
• Participates as a member of the SMA Policy Team, develop policy positions for statewide planning under the Shoreline Management Act.
• Assists the NWRO Section Manager and HQ policy staff in monitoring for regional and state wide consistency between SMPs.
• Assists the NWRO Section Manager in assessing regional shoreline priorities to inform section work plan.

Shoreline Master Programs: Works in close partnership with cities and counties involved in amendment or review of local programs governing shoreline management.  The Senior Planner will typically take on complex or challenging Shoreline Master Program activities, including:

• Provides expertise and guidance to local governments and other external parties in the development of shoreline master programs and amendments containing policies, regulations, procedures, processes and design standards;
• Manages negotiations with local governments to ensure local master program consistency with the Shoreline Management Act and the Shoreline Master Program guidelines;
• Facilitates the involvement of external groups such as other state and federal agencies, tribes, and shoreline property owners, and work through issues that arise with these groups.
• Manages the state review and approval process, conducting public hearings as necessary and assuring compliance with applicable Washington Administrative Codes;
• Conducts research and prepares analyses, including legal implications, on shoreline issues for incorporation into master program policy and regulations;
• Participates in Program-wide work on SMA policy interpretation and the preparation of SMA guidance for local governments; and
• Coordinates with program staff as needed regarding the above.

Substantial Development, Conditional Use and Variance Permits:

• Works with cities and counties, state and federal agencies, tribes, and other interested groups and individuals on complex or controversial shoreline permitting issues in the Northwest region and may occasionally assist other regions.
• Files shoreline substantial development permits within assigned jurisdictions.
• Reviews and makes recommendations for Ecology action on conditional use and variance permits.
• Assists other regional planners and programs with select complex permit issues.
• Conducts monitoring of selected permits on an annual basis.
• Recommends and assists with compliance actions as necessary.

Please Note: This recruitment is open to current Department of Ecology employees only. This includes employees working on temporary and project assignments at the Department of Ecology.

Required Qualifications:

A Master’s degree or above with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field
 
AND
 
Three years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, with significant experience in shoreline planning.
 
OR
 
A Bachelor’s degree with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field
 
AND
 
Five years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, with significant experience in shoreline planning.


Desired Qualifications:

• Shoreline Management Act – experience applying the Washington Shoreline Management Act in both a planning context (i.e., Shoreline Master Program development or modification) and a permitting context (i.e., the review and issuance of Shoreline Substantial Development Permits, Conditional Use Permits and Variances).  Knowledge of the relationship between the SMA and the Growth Management Act and Critical Areas Ordinances and their administrative rules.
• Environmental Science –substantial coursework or professional experience in freshwater or marine ecology.
• Government Experience – experience working for a local, state, federal or tribal resource management agency in a planning, program management, policy, or regulatory capacity.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Must be able to obtain and maintain a current Washington State driver’s license

Application Instructions:
 
In order to be considered, applicants MUST include the following documents as an attachment to their application:

• A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required qualifications of this position.
• A resume outlining your professional experience.

Please complete the applicant profile when applying for this position. Or, you may paste the text of your resume within the profile’s resume text field.

Please read the supplemental questions carefully and answer completely. Incomplete responses, including “please see resume” may disqualify you from further consideration.

Department of Ecology employees, please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources at (360) 407-6186.

If you are reading this announcement in print format, please visit www.careers.wa.gov to access the online recruitment system. Click on “Look for Jobs” and select Dept. of Ecology under the “Department” search list. Click “Apply Search.”


Other Information:
 
If you need assistance applying for this job, please call Human Resources at (360) 407-6186 or e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not call this number or send an email to this address to follow-up the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile’s main page.

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Joe Burcar at: joe.burcar@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Joe to inquire about the status of your application.

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

This position is included in the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) union bargaining unit for the Department of Ecology. All employees covered by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the WFSE will, as a condition of employment, either become members of the WFSE and pay membership dues or, as non-members, pay a representation fee as described in the CBA, no later than the 30th day following the effective date of this CBA or the beginning of their employment.

The Washington State Department of Ecology 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, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.