The Washington State Department of Ecology is currently looking to fill a Director position for the Office of the Chehalis Basin. The position will be located in our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA.

This is an exciting and challenging position. It’s an opportunity to become part of a dynamic executive leadership team that engages federal, state, local, tribal, citizen, elected official and environmental group interests to create innovative partnerships.

The Director position is responsible for implementing the Office of Chehalis Basin established in Chapter 194, Laws of 2016 (RCW 43.21A.730 to .733). Specifically, the position’s mission is to aggressively pursue implementation of a multi-benefit strategy to reduce flood hazard and restore aquatic habitat in the Basin. The Chehalis Basin Strategy links to broader Ecology missions regarding floodplain management, water supply, aquatic and nearshore habitat protection, and shoreline management.

The position will be responsible for determining timing and content of information provided by staff and consultants to the Chehalis Basin Board in its strategy adoption, progress tracking and revision roles. The position is responsible for determining priority and scale of actions to implement the Chehalis Basin Strategy. The Chehalis Basin Board will have final approval responsibility for project lists related to flood damage reduction and habitat restoration. Final decisions regarding significant changes in work program and budget in response to emerging issues are brought to the position’s supervisor, the Director of the Department of Ecology.

Ecology has a culture that is invested in making a difference. This means protecting both people and the environment from pollution, restoring and preserving important ecosystems that sustain life, and finding ways to meet human needs without destroying environmental resources and functions. Our everyday interaction with citizens, stakeholders, and the public we assist and regulate is fundamental to achieving these results. We treat our customers as partners and collaborators, provide respectful and prompt service, explore creative solutions for the best results, and act with integrity. We maintain effective infrastructure and foster a workforce that is committed, productive and successful. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, teamwork, professionalism and accountability.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecy.wa.gov and check us out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

The Director for the Office of the Chehalis Basin (OCB) position is an exempt management position (EMS 4) that reports directly to Ecology’s Agency Director and serves on the Executive Leadership Team.

This position will be the public face of the highly-visible and community-driven Chehalis Basin Strategy program. Over the past few years, a wide spectrum of interests in the Basin has engaged in development and initial implementation actions related to the Strategy – from agriculture and urban interests, to tribal and fish habitat restoration interests. Maintaining the momentum and support of the varied interests will be a key responsibility of the position.

The position will have administrative and management responsibilities in several arenas. The evolving nature of the Chehalis Basin Strategy will require adapting work programs and budgets to match emerging challenges. Within the OCB, the Director will have direct supervisory and management responsibility. Within the wider arena of Ecology environmental programs, the OCB Director will need to work cooperatively with Program Managers and senior staff from a variety of disciplines to achieve objectives of the Strategy.

Major outcomes include:

• Adoption of a multi-benefit strategy, action plan, implementation schedule and measures of success, with broad support from an array of basin interests.
• A path forward for game-changing levels of investment in reducing damage from floods, and improving habitat and increasing fish populations, in the Chehalis basin.

This position is open until filled, with an initial screening date of February 16, 2018.  In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before February 15, 2018.  The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree in environmental, physical or natural science, environmental studies, engineering, water or natural resource management, public administration, planning public policy, political science, law, or other related qualifying discipline.

AND a minimum of:
Five (5) years of professional level management experience which includes:

• Three (3) years engaging with tribal governments on natural resource management issues.
• Three (3) years of strategic planning experience, including development of annual and biannual business plans with demonstrated ability to conceptualize and articulate the future direction of the business.
• Three (3) years of policy development or program implementation related to natural resources.
• Three (3) years managing relationships with high-level, influential, elected and appointed officials with a proven track record of consensus building, collaboration and negotiations that reflect a strong understanding of legislative processes and inter-government relations.
• A successful track record working with state agencies, city, county, and federal governments, and tribal and public entities.
• Community outreach.
• Budget management.

Experience in each of the areas may be gained concurrently.

Desired Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in water or natural resource management or public administration is preferred.

• 1) A cover letter – In your cover letter, please specifically address your recent, professional leadership experience developing trust with diverse interest groups including local communities and business, state agencies, and federal, local and tribal governments in order to achieve sustainable environmental outcomes where your professional objectivity was critical for success. Please provide an overview of the situation(s), including your role. What action you took along with the results achieved.
• 2) 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.

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.

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 email careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not 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 Gordon White at: gordon.white@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Gordon 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.

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.