The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is a small state agency located in Olympia, Washington that plans for and provides funding to create and maintain opportunities for recreation; protects the best of the state’s wild lands, farms, and forests; and contributes to the recovery of salmon.

We envision:
A state that has abundant outdoor recreation spaces, healthy habitats, and working farms and forests that support people, fish, and wildlife.

We are looking for:
An individual who is outgoing, has great customer service and communication skills, and is self-directed. The successful candidate must be passionate about preserving opportunities for outdoor recreation and be willing to work in Olympia with a team of dedicated staff in a small natural resource agency.

Grants Administration

• Managing a portfolio of 60-90 projects from application through implementation, closure, and long-term compliance. Projects involve land acquisition, facility development, planning, restoration, education, or maintenance.
• Providing technical assistance for public agencies, nonprofit organizations, Native American tribes, and individuals managing recreation and conservation lands.
• Conducting site inspections for compliance with the terms of the project agreement and resolving various complex compliance issues.

Communication

• Preparing briefing materials and presenting program and project issues and recommendations to the agency executives, advisory committees, and board.
• Organizing and conducting webinars and workshops to convey grant program information and assist with implementing the agency’s communication plan.
• Preparing correspondence for grant recipients, interest groups, elected officials, and members of the public.

Program Engagement

• Researching, reviewing, and analyzing federal and state laws, rules, regulations and plans that govern several different RCO administered grant programs.
• Coordinating team reviews of program policies, updating grant applicant resources, and improving grant processes.

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in parks and recreation, landscape architecture, land use planning, forestry, natural resource management, environmental studies, public administration or a related field, and
• Three years professional level experience with:
  • Acquiring outdoor recreation or habitat conservation lands,
  • Developing land or facilities for active or passive outdoor recreation,
  • Managing and monitoring compliance with contract requirements including compliance with federal and state laws, or
  • Operating or maintaining property for parks and recreation or habitat conservation purposes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage contracts and resolve complex, challenging, and sensitive issues.
• Knowledge of Washington State natural resource issues.

What we desire:

• A dependable individual with a strong work ethic and integrity.
• The ability to work in teams and individually.
• A strong desire to provide accurate and prompt customer service.
• Experience with and knowledge of outdoor recreation and conservation activities in Washington State.
• Good communication skills.
• Experience speaking to all types of audiences including elected officials and executive management.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), SharePoint, PRISM (RCO’s online database), ArcGIS, and Adobe Pro.

Things to consider before applying:

• You must be willing and able to occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and travel frequently for short periods that often include overnight stays.
• You must have and maintain a valid driver’s license free from serious traffic violations.
• You will be represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) Union. You must pay union dues or other representation fees within 30 days of employment.

• A letter of interest, (no more than 2 pages in length) describing your interest in the position and how you meet the qualifications.
• A current resume, detailing experience, education, and other relevant interests.
• Responses to the supplemental questions included in the application.
• A list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers and email addresses.

Contact us:
If you have questions about this opportunity please email HR@rco.wa.gov or call (360) 902-3000.

By submitting materials you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.