Shrubsteppe Habitat Policy Lead - Environmental Planner 5

Title- Shrubsteppe Policy Lead
Classification- Environmental Planner 5 (EP5)
Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program- Habitat Program - Ecosystem Services Division (ESD) 
Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County
Hybrid/Telework- This position is eligible for a partial telework schedule at the discretion of the hiring manager. 

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities the Shrubsteppe Policy Lead will,

As the Program Manager for the Washington Shrubsteppe Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (WSRRI), manage that interagency effort in support of the WSRRI Steering Committee:

• Communicate with and coordinate, support, and facilitate the activities of the WSRRI Steering Committee and Advisory Group.
• Facilitate the development and implementation of workplans in support of implementing the 30-year WSRRI Conservation Strategy.
• Create and coordinate as appropriate a network hub for information and resource dissemination in support of WSRRI statewide.

Promote, represent, and manage within WDFW the implementation of the WSRRI long-range plan, engaging and collaborating with other subject matter experts across WDFW Programs. 

• Represent the Habitat Program as the shrubsteppe policy lead and subject matter expert with federal and other state agencies, outside entities, and partners.
• Coordinate and help to facilitate shrubsteppe conservation work across WDFW programs.
• Coordinate with shrubsteppe data developers and providers within WDFW.

Help to garner and administer resources as assigned in support of shrubsteppe conservation and the implementation of the WSRRI long-term plan.

• Administer WDFW budgets associated with WSRRI as assigned.
• Identify and advance opportunities for securing funding through WDFW and WSRRI legislative requests,
• Identify and advance opportunities to garner federal and other non-state monies to conduct shrubsteppe conservation.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in natural resource or environmental science, natural resource or environmental planning, or public administration or public policy with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field. 

AND

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in natural resource or environmental science, natural resource or environmental planning, or public administration, or environmental policy, planning, or program development.

Competencies: 

• Demonstrated understanding of public agency organizational and bureaucratic environments and processes. 
• Demonstrated success in organizational assessment and systems development, group and meeting facilitation, and project management.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a collegial, collaborative, and productive work environment with colleagues who are not co-located.
• Successful demonstration of strong critical thinking skills applied to solving complex natural resource problems.

Please Note: Additional relevant professional experience may substitute year for year for the degree.

Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:

• Master's degree in natural resource or environmental science, natural resources, environmental planning, or public administration/public policy with an environmental emphasis, or a closely related field and seven (7) years of experience in these professional areas.

Competencies: 

• Expertise in the conservation or study of shrubsteppe habitats and associated wildlife.
• Demonstrated work experience in landscape scale habitat protection, restoration, and management.
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport and partner with local, state, and federal governmental agencies, tribes, and the public regarding issues pertaining to habitat protection and restoration.
• Demonstrated ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills, including experience mediating or facilitating environmental conflicts.
• Knowledge of natural resource laws, policies, and programs (regulatory and voluntary) related to fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation in Washington State, and the ability to work with them to achieve expected results.
• High level of project management expertise.
• Grant or other financial resource development, budget tracking, and administering public financial resources.

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume. 
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.