DescriptionThe Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) leads the region’s collective effort to restore, protect, and sustain Puget Sound. We align the work of our partners around a shared vision and science-driven, prioritized strategies. We ensure smart investments that help to allocate resources efficiently and effectively. By striving to remove financial, regulatory, and resource barriers for our partners, we serve as a catalyst for success in restoring health to Puget Sound.

More information on the Partnership is available at our website: www.psp.wa.gov.

PSP is a great place to work and has implemented several “Employer of Choice” initiatives, including:

• We are committed to diversity and inclusion. PSP fosters an inclusive environment that encourages all employees to bring their authentic selves to work each day. We strive to hire, develop, and retain a competent and diverse workforce that is reflective of the public and partners we serve.
• We actively engage in climate change mitigation efforts by offering Intercity transit commuting options from Seattle and Olympia (at no cost to the employee), a generous Reduced Transportation Commute financial incentive and provide agency-paid ORCA cards and Wave2Go cards to all employees. In addition, PSP primarily operates out of its Tacoma location, which is a LEED Green Building with a rain garden.
• We foster a healthy work/life balance by offering flexible/alternative work schedules, and mobile and telework options. (depending upon job duties)
• We are making exciting steps towards modernizing our workplace by providing motivating and inspiring workspaces at three locations that promote creative thought, innovation, and collaboration among co-workers.
• We support an Infant at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of breastfeeding newborns and infant-parent bonding. Eligible employees who are new mothers, fathers, or legal guardians can bring their infant (6 weeks to 6 months) when returning to work. (Depending upon job duties)

Duties
Specifically, some of what you will enjoy doing will include:

• Advance regional and local ecosystem recovery planning and implementation in Puget Sound.
• Ensure smart investments and remove financial barriers to Puget Sound recovery efforts.
• Serve as the point person for the PSAR fund, which has received over $200M in allocation from the Washington State legislature since 2007. The PSAR program advances habitat restoration and protection, which supports accomplishment of the recovery goals set by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Washington state legislature.
• Oversee day-to-day management of the PSAR program as well as establish and implement a long-term strategic vision to further build the program, integrate the salmon recovery and Puget Sound ecosystem recovery systems, and support the recovery of Puget Sound. This requires close collaboration with programs within the agency and with local and regional partners, clear communication on the program’s value with partners and legislators, and evaluating and reporting on the effectiveness of the investments.

Additionally, the position’s primary responsibilities include:
Program Management

• With the Salmon Recovery Manager and Director of Policy and Planning, lead development and implementation of a long-term strategic plan for a sustainable program, working internally and with key partners.
• Work with the Salmon Recovery Manager to identify opportunities and execute programs to increase the visibility and impact of the PSAR Program.
• Develop, revise, and communicate PSAR program policies, including coordination of internal and external reviews.
• With the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO, the co-manager of the program), track available funding and make decisions on allocating return funds.
• In coordination with the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council (PSSRC), lead development of the PSAR Large Capital program, including revisions to the Request for Proposals and creating a process for evaluation and ranking of projects.
• Work with the Integrated Planning Program to identify and execute on opportunities to integrate the PSAR program within the Puget Sound recovery framework.
• Work with the Science and Evaluation Team to evaluate the program on a biannual timeline to identify improvements and efficiencies.
• Lead development, negotiation, and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding with RCO.
• Adaptively manage an authority matrix that defines the roles of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, RCO, Partnership, Leadership Council and the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council (PSSRC) for all aspects of the PSAR program.
• Report on program progress through biannual reporting to RCO and quarterly reporting to Partnership management and the PSSRC.
• Provide support to the Salmon Recovery Manager on coordinating and analyzing regional and watershed reporting as it relates to the PSAR program (e.g., Four Year Workplans, annual regional report, Quarterly Progress reports).
• Provide input into the overall direction of salmon recovery planning, including adaptive management of the regional recovery plan, integration of salmon recovery with Puget Sound ecosystem recovery, and coordination and engagement of appropriate advisory groups.

Education and Communication
• Act as point of contact for internal and external inquiries about the program.
• Maintain monthly communication with RCO.
• Work with the Partnership’s Communications Lead and Legislative Policy Director to refine and execute a communication and outreach strategy, including reporting on program effectiveness.
• Work with the Partnership’s Communications Lead and Legislative Director to develop communication materials during the legislative session.
• Develop memorandums on policies and present recommendations to appropriate Partnership boards and advisory bodies as needed, including the PSSRC and Leadership Council.
• Act as the point of contact for lead entities and project sponsors, including communication of policies, incorporating feedback and responding to inquiries.
• Support development of and participate in PSAR project ground-breaking events.
• Advance communication and awareness opportunities through web presence, signage, media, and other appropriate forums.

Partner Coordination and Engagement
• Work with lead entities and project sponsors to identify and secure other funding sources to fully fund projects on the Large Capital List.
• With the Salmon Recovery Manager, coordinate with other capital funding programs in Puget Sound such as the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program, Puget Sound Nearshore and Estuary Restoration Program, NOAA’s Restoration Center and Floodplains by Design.
• Coordinate project sponsor briefings to policy bodies on the status of large capital project implementation.
• Work with Puget Sound lead entities to assist with improvements in the local process for identifying local projects for PSAR funding.
• Support the Salmon Recovery Manager with the Salmon Recovery Funding Board process and annual regional report submission.
Qualifications
Outcomes we’re looking for:

Success in this position requires that one be a team player, defined as possessing initiative and a driving passion for the work, bringing humility to their job and interactions with others, and having excellent people skills.  

Leadership is expected of everyone in the organization, and is defined as follows:

We are committed to achieving our mission of accelerating and advancing the recovery of Puget Sound. To ensure our success, we are equally committed to running our agency in a high-performance manner that focuses on high-quality products and processes and a collaborative approach. We achieve high performance by:

• Valuing one another, our diversity, and our contribution to the agency and the mission.
• Embracing shared leadership and empowering all staff, as critical thinkers, to make timely evidence-based decisions in a collaborative manner.
• Promoting learning–and implementing what we learn–by using the adaptive management cycle for both programs and internal operations. Optimizing our human and financial resources

Required Technical Skills, Experience, and Knowledge:

Six years of professional experience in a natural science related field and have experience in at least eight of the following eleven areas:

• Knowledge of federal, state, and regional funding programs and annual/biennial funding cycles
• Knowledge of ecology and population biology of salmonids
• Experience managing a grant program and program budgets
• Knowledge of Endangered Species Act recovery planning
• Experience in managing contracts, monitoring and tracking progress
• Experience working with local jurisdictions and tribes
• Experience with adaptive management (continuous improvement) and natural resource planning
• Familiarity with state legislative process
• Careful attention and accuracy when working with complex financial information
• Detail-oriented in policy development and execution
• Strategic thinker with the ability to set a long-term vision for the program and support execution of the vision

Adaptive Management:

• Applies adaptive management standards and best practices to products and processes associated with the program.
• Supports partners with application of adaptive management standards and best practices to partner efforts.
• Engages with Science and Evaluation Team to ensure planning products and processes are making best use of and informing research, monitoring and effectiveness assessments.
• Provides input to Adaptive System Team on needs for improved standards and support.
• Expected Proficiency:
  • Adaptive Management Best Practices: Intermediate to Expert
  • Common Terminology and Taxonomies: Intermediate
  • Information Management Tools: Intermediate

Required Competencies:

• Ensures Accountability: Follows through on commitments and takes personal responsibility for decisions, actions and failures. Works with supervisor to establish clear responsibilities and processes for monitoring work and measuring results.
• Collaborates: Works cooperatively with others across the agency and with external partners to achieve shared objectives. Able to represent own interest while also understanding and being fair to others. Partners with team members across the agency and with external partners to get work done.
• Communicates Effectively: Is an effective communicator in a variety of settings and can adjust messaging to fit the audience. Attentively listens to others and encourages open expression of diverse ideas and opinions.
• Manages Complexity: Acquires data from multiple and diverse sources when solving problems. Uncovers root problems and evaluates risks and benefits of different solution options. Distinguishes between what is relevant and what is unimportant to make sense of complex situations. Looks beyond the obvious.
• Plans and Aligns: Plans and prioritizes work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Strategic Mindset: Anticipates future needs and acts accordingly. Formulates a clear strategy and maps the steps that will clearly accelerate the organization towards its strategic goals.
• Customer Focus: Gains insight into partners’ needs and helps build and deliver solutions to meet those needs. Establishes and maintains effective partner relationships.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in natural resource management or related field and five years of professional experience or a Bachelor’s degree and eight years of professional experience
• Experience in Open Standards or natural resource monitoring
• General understanding of market-based funding mechanisms, such as in-lieu fee and other conservation banking
• Knowledge of the Puget Sound Action Agenda
• Knowledge of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan

Preferred/Desired Competencies.

• Manages Ambiguity: Deals comfortably with the uncertainty of change. Effectively handles risk. Can decide and act without the total picture. Is calm and productive, even when issues are unclear or undecided. Deals constructively with problems that do not have clear solutions or outcomes.
• Manages Conflict: Steps up to conflicts, seeing them as opportunities. Asks questions and listens closely to all issues presented by stakeholders. Facilitates breakthroughs by integrating diverse views and finding common ground or acceptable alternatives.
• Resourcefulness: Gets the most out of limited resources. Adapts quickly to changing resource requirements. Applies knowledge of internal structures, processes, and culture to resourcing efforts.

CONDITIONS OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

With or without an accommodation, I am willing and able to:

• Work indoors, at a desk/workstation the majority of a work day, in an open office environment with possible conversation and other noise distractions.
• Work in a tobacco-free, drug-free, and alcohol-free environment.
• Work a 40 hour work week.  A flexible work schedule may be considered upon request and supervisory approval, after an initial review period.
• Occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and/or to adjust normally scheduled hours, which may include evening and weekends, to meet program needs and critical deadlines.
• Occasionally travel throughout the state and nationwide which may include overnight stays, as required, while performing the duties of this position.
• Work in a fast-paced/stressful environment with multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding information accessed or discussed while performing the duties of the position.

Interact and work with customers (some of whom may be frustrated or distressed) in a positive, friendly, and supportive manner that meets the needs and standards of the office and the agency.
Supplemental Information
Application Process – Please read the instructions completely.

We are a small, passionate, mission-driven, team-oriented, and fast-paced agency with an exceptional interdisciplinary staff.  If you enjoy building community and protecting our environment, we encourage you to apply!

Intrigued?  We’d love to hear from you. Click on “Apply” to submit your detailed application profile alone with the following:

• A letter of interest, describing how you meet and can demonstrate the qualifications for this position.
• A current resume.
• Three (3) or more professional references, to be included in your profile. Please include at least one supervisor, peer and (if you have supervised staff) a subordinate.
• A few moments of your time to answer only a few supplemental questions attached to this application.

And that’s it!

The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the application material submitted, and the supplemental questionnaire. 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.
Do not attach transcripts or other documents that are not requested in the application process, or that are password protected. These type of documents cause errors when downloading application materials and will not be forwarded to the hiring supervisor.

Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or jobs@des.wa.gov.

The Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) is an equal opportunity employer.  PSP strives to create a working environment that is inclusive and respectful.  It is our policy to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of our workforce. Persons with a disability who need assistance with their application or that need this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.