Description
WHO WE ARE
The 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 by offering free Intercity transit commuting options from Seattle and Olympia. In addition, the Partnership offers a generous Reduced Transportation Commute financial incentive and agency-paid ORCA cards to all employees.
• 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).

We also offer:

• A main office located in the Center for Urban Waters, a LEED Platinum-certified building, on the beautiful Thea Foss Waterway of Commencement Bay in Tacoma, WA. We are within 10 minutes of downtown restaurants, shopping, museums and Farmer’s Market. This building offers a lactation and first aid room, fitness room and full kitchen for employees.
• A drop-in work location in downtown Olympia at Capitol Court with access to the Farmer’s Market, Capitol Lake and the Capitol Campus. This location is located on an Intercity Transit bus line, including the DASH (free) shuttle.
• A drop-in work location in the Pioneer Square neighborhood of Seattle with access to restaurants, shopping, bus service and a train station.

Duties
Some of what you will enjoy doing will include:

Local Action Agenda Implementation:

• Support local participation and engagement in Action Agenda development and implementation
• Work with the Local Integrating Organizations (LIOs) in the assigned Action Areas. These LIOs are composed of representatives of local governments, tribes, salmon recovery lead entities, private sector entities, watershed planning units, watershed councils, shellfish protection areas, regional fishery enhancement groups, marine resource committees, nearshore groups, non-governmental organizations, conservation districts, and community groups
• Maintain contact, as needed, with the LIO leads and key partners in assigned geographies to identify needs and opportunities in line with the Action Agenda
• Support development of LIO prioritization processes and decision-making
• As needed, support reporting requirements for LIO sub-agreements managed by the Partnership’s Ecosystem Recovery Team, including quarterly reports to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on LIO development and progress

Regional Initiatives and General Engagement:

• Work as part of the Ecosystem Recovery team
• The roles and responsibilities for the regional topics for this position will be “social approaches” and climate change
  • “Social approaches” is a term the Partnership assigns to the many ways to change human understanding, attitudes, and behaviors. Social approaches can be projects or programs for Puget Sound recovery that include: behavior change approaches, social marketing techniques, formal and informal education, technical assistance, incentives, and public outreach, among others
  • Climate change tasks will include: integrating consideration of climate change in the Puget Sound Action Agenda priority setting, developing guidance and resources to assist in integrating climate change considerations into Implementation Strategies, and providing leadership, coordination and support for the Puget Sound Climate Advisory Team
• Inform watersheds and local communities about the Puget Sound Partnership and Action Agenda requirements for management and reporting and support watersheds and local communities to deliver established requirements
• Manage contracts and sub-agreements, including tracking progress, approving invoices, and negotiating new scopes of work
• Help connect watershed groups and local communities to technical resources to support Action Agenda implementation
• Support initiating and completing priority actions to implement the Action Agenda at the local and regional scale

Qualifications
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 Education, Experience, Knowledge and Familiarity:

Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management or related field and two (2) years of professional experience.

• Experience working on climate change issues in the context of natural resource planning.
• Experience with environmental education and outreach and other methods for public engagement and building awareness.
• Experience with/Knowledge of community based social marketing as a method for achieving behavioral change.
• Knowledge of ecosystem based management
• Knowledge of environmental justice.
• Knowledge of ecology and population biology of salmonids
• Knowledge of contract management, monitoring, and tracking progress
• Knowledge of adaptive management and natural resource planning
• Familiarity with federal, state, and regional funding programs and annual/biennial funding cycles
• Familiarity with Endangered Species Act recovery planning
• Familiarity with institutions governing and implementing key habitat, harvest, and hatchery management programs
• Familiarity with state legislative process

Required Competencies:

• Communicates Effectively – Is effective in a variety of communication settings: one-on-one, small and large groups, or among diverse styles and position levels. Attentively listens to others. Articulates messages in a way that is broadly understandable. Adjusts communication content and style to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders
• Manages Complexity – Asks the right questions to accurately analyze situations. Acquires data from multiple and diverse sources when solving problems. Evaluates pros and cons, risks and benefits of different solution options. Looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at the first answers
• Collaborates – Models collaboration across the organization. Facilitates an open dialogue with a wide variety of contributors and stakeholders. Promotes high visibility of shared contributions to goals
• Plans & Aligns – Focuses on highest priorities and sets aside less critical tasks. Breaks down objectives into appropriate initiatives and actions. Stages activities with relevant milestones and schedules. Anticipates and adjusts effective contingency plans
• Strategic Mindset – Anticipates future trends and implications accurately. Readily poses future scenarios. Articulates credible pictures and visions of possibilities that will create sustainable value
• Ensures Accountability – Follows through on commitments and makes sure others do the same. Acts with a clear sense of ownership. Takes personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and challenges. Provides balanced feedback at the most critical times

Preferred/Desired Experience, Knowledge, and Familiarity: 

• Experience in Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation or natural resource monitoring
• Experience in conflict resolution/mediation between parties over natural resource issues
• Experience working with local jurisdictions and tribes
• Knowledge of collective impact and the role of a backbone organization.
• Knowledge of the Puget Sound Action Agenda
• Knowledge of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan
• General understanding of climate science and key players in the Puget Sound region
• Familiarity with water pollution prevention
• Familiarity with shellfish ecology

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 things are up in the air. 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

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK AT PSP

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 office environment.
• 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?  As you can see, this isn’t your typical posting where we require you to fill out a long application.  We value your time and would love to hear more about why you are interested in this position.

• 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.