Senior Environmental Program Manager

1350 Maritime Environmental Svcs

POS Headquarters / Pier 69

Minimum $107,002 to Midpoint $133,753 (Grade 30)

Job Description

This position meets the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers criteria for Washington State. During the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, most of this work can be performed remotely. Social distancing and personal protective equipment guidelines will be followed when required to work onsite.

PURPOSE:
This position manages fish and wildlife habitat sites and other environmental assets, referred to as our PORTfolio, valued at over $75m with a goal to optimize our return on investment, while ensuring we achieve our Century Agenda and Duwamish Valley Community Equity Agreement habitat commitments. The job will provide the position-holder with opportunities to restore habitat, create/manage public shoreline access in disadvantaged communities, inform decisions on a broad range of sustainability issues, and adapt Seattle’s shoreline infrastructure to changing climactic conditions, while increasing productivity in the nearshore environment for imperiled species such as Chinook salmon and Southern Resident orcas.

This position is part of a team of nine dedicated employees and interns that manages activities to support our blue economy, including fish & wildlife habitat restoration, stewardship, shoreline resiliency, environmental outreach, general conservation issues, permitting, environmental compliance and technical/scientific support for environmental impact assessments. The work group is part of the Port’s Maritime Environment and Sustainability Department, a passionate and innovative team of scientists, planners, and specialists that manage all of the environmental programs for the Maritime and Economic Development Divisions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed.  Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Lead interdisciplinary project teams to construct habitat restoration projects in urbanized portions of the Green-Duwamish watershed, Cedar River watershed, and Puget Sound.
  • Lead strategy to utilize an inventory of Port-owned land assets for Natural Resource Damage restoration, Clean Water Act mitigation, and Endangered Species Act conservation credit banks.
  • Manage the PORTfolio line of business to develop, track, and market environmental credits in order to generate positive cash flow, while resolving environmental liabilities and providing compensatory mitigation credits.
  • Support use of habitat sites for creating “green jobs” and opportunities for stewardship training and employment in environmental justice communities.
  • Support development and implementation of programs to support local and regional restoration and environmental protection, such as an ocean acidification action plan, coordinating as needed with the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification and other partners.
  • Develop and manage the Port’s new “Alternative Bankline Stabilization Program” that includes assessment and management of over 15 miles of saltwater, estuarine and freshwater shorelines, with a goal to protect shoreside infrastructure while improving nearshore productivity.
  • Establish and maintain a framework for capturing greenhouse gas emissions reductions through carbon sequestration benefits associated with habitat restoration on Port of Seattle properties and shorelines (including management of the Smith Cove Blue Carbon Pilot Project).
  • Support and assist with project permitting and relations with tribal governments and permitting agencies.
  • Analyze problems and help inform decisions on a broad range of conservation and sustainability issues that relate to the Port’s environmental footprint (locally, regionally and globally.)
  • Manage procurement of outside services (consultants) needed to support a range of tasks including environmental due diligence, restoration design, in-water permitting, environmental monitoring, sustainability, and long-term habitat stewardship on PORTfolio sites.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
This position requires technical and scientific knowledge associated with marine, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems, habitat restoration techniques (especially in urban-industrial environments), and environmental stewardship practices.  Applied knowledge of environmental science, including a combination of ecology, biology, geology, chemistry, toxicology, hydrology, and climate science, would be well-utilized in this position.

In addition, the role requires knowledge of environmental laws and regulations associated with real estate development, environmental cleanup, restoration, and facility operations/maintenance. Of special importance is an understanding of the legal and economic concepts underpinning compensatory mitigation and ecosystem banking.

The position requires strong planning, project management, organization, and oral and written communication skills. In addition this position requires experience managing contracts, budgets, and familiarity with finance/accounting practices, customer service, marketing, time management/prioritization, team-building, negotiation, cost-benefit analysis, and adaptive management skills.

You may be called on to make decisions with incomplete or limited information and you will frequently have to deal with ambiguity.  As such, the ability to apply creativity and innovation to solve problems is extremely valued on our team. In fact, it is a core value.

The position-holder must also be able to think strategically at both the program- and project-level, balancing leadership responsibilities with somewhat menial tasks. You might be leading one team and just playing a supportive role on another. Being able to be comfortable and contribute value in both situations is critical.

Of the highest importance is the ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships and credibility with your Port colleagues, industry peers, regulatory agencies, tribal governments, elected officials, and the community. An impeccable reputation will be our biggest asset as we work towards being the greenest and most energy efficient port in North America.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Combination of education and experience demonstrating knowledge, skills and abilities equivalent to:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering or related field;
  • Ten (10) years of experience in management of habitat restoration projects, including design, permitting, construction, monitoring, maintenance and long-term stewardship.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Master’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or closely related field;
  • Fifteen (15) years of experience in strategic development of environmental business programs, Lead Natural Resource Damage Assessments, ecosystem services valuation, environmental economics, regulatory/legal negotiation, liability allocation, urban restoration design, and community engagement;
  • Experience with compensatory mitigation and banking; and
  • Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Certified Sr. Ecologist (CSE), or Professional Engineer (PE).

Work Environment

Will generally work in an office environment with occasional on-site inspection of facilities and outreach with stakeholders.

Additional Details

Driver’s License Requirement: 
A valid Washington State Driver’s License, or the ability to obtain one, is required.

Weekly Standard Hours:
Normal work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (40 hours per week).

EEO Statement

The Port of Seattle is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that values diverse perspectives and life experiences. We encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, knowing decisions concerning the employment relationship will be made without regard to age, race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, the presence of any physical or mental disability, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, regulations and ordinances.

Apply here: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=26015&siteid=5437#jobDetails=625638_5437