Hydraulic Project Approval Coordinator - Environmental Planner 4

Title- HPA Statewide Coordinator
Classification- Environmental Planner 4
Job Status- Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program- Habitat Program – Protection Division
Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County
Hybrid/Telework- This position allows for telework up to four days per week, at the discretion of the supervisor. 

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the HPA Statewide Coordinator will:

Coordinate, develop, and implement Protection Division internal and external training, guidance development, and regional coordination:

• Work with staff to develop and implement an effective and efficient information sharing and tracking system to support the goals and objectives of the Protection Division. This includes developing and reviewing new guidance documents, organizing past training and guidance documents, and facilitating discussions with Regional Habitat Program Managers, their assistants, and field staff to ensure that past HPA decisions are recorded, utilized, and are accessible over time.
• Be the lead for regional and headquarters staff regarding HPA guidance, document management, and other Protection Division-related material and efforts.
• Revise and maintain the HPA procedure manual and other tools for processing HPAs. Update the HPA Manual as necessary to ensure accuracy and completeness. Oversee the maintenance of the HPA information on the agency SharePoint site or other document repository for HPA program-related materials.

Habitat Program regulatory, technical, and statewide policy development, implementation, and oversight:

• Implement and update statewide policy direction and procedures for various Protection Division topics, such as a mitigation plan for hydraulic projects, biologist’s HPA processing guidance, and effective quality assurance/quality control measures.
• Lead diverse teams of agency staff and public stakeholders in the development and implementation of various HPA processes and guidance.
• Review regional general HPAs and provide edits to the Regional Habitat Program Managers to ensure statewide consistency of the permits.
• Issue statewide general HPAs in compliance with statutory requirements.

Working Conditions: 

Work setting, including hazards: Work is performed almost exclusively indoors in an office environment. Field trips are sometimes necessary to observe or develop program implementation. Field hazards may include exposure to diverse weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, or snow. Work may involve traversing rough, uneven terrain over varying distances and working in proximity to water bodies such as rivers, lakes, or wetlands. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule: The basic work week is Monday – Friday, 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m., although there may be a need to work additional hours, evenings, and weekends as necessary to meet work demands. Alternate work schedules may be approved at the discretion of the supervisor. 

Travel: Most travel will be day trips to attend meetings located offsite, with some overnight travel away from the duty station also necessary.

Tools: Duties require the use of standard office furniture and equipment (computer, printer, telephone, copy machine, etc.) and agency vehicles.

Customer interactions: Regular interaction with internal staff and other agencies' technical staff, including tribal, city, county, state, and federal agencies.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: 

Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis. 

Option 1: A Bachelor's degree or higher with a major emphasis in land use planning, urban or regional planning, environmental studies, fish or wildlife resources, natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, environmental or land use law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or a closely related field and three (3) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development. 

Note: A Master’s or Doctorate degree in the above indicated fields may substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.

Option 2: A Bachelor's degree or higher with a major emphasis in land use planning, urban or regional planning, environmental studies, fish or wildlife resources, natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, environmental or land use law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or a closely related field and one (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3 or closely allied field.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid driver’s license

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

• Functionally proficient in environmental permitting and regulatory processes.
• Expertise and functional proficiency in the Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) process, including statutes, rules, policy guidance, and technical issue identification to assess project impacts and mitigation measures.
• Functional proficiency with the Aquatic Protection Permitting System (APPS) and the former Hydraulic Permit Management System (HPMS) for HPA management.
• Functional knowledge of other environmental permitting and review processes, such as the Growth Management Act, Shoreline Management Act, and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

Experience in:

• Fish and wildlife habitat management and fish life history requirements.
• Assessing construction project impacts on aquatic and riparian habitats and implementing mitigation measures.
• Organizing, coordinating, or leading program or process activities.
• Prioritizing workload and maximizing efficiency.
• Developing, implementing, and evaluating effective training for adult learners.
• Communicating in individual and group discussions.
• Independently analyzing and weighing risks versus benefits in decisions related to fish and wildlife resources.
• Building rapport and collaborating with WDFW staff, the public, tribes, and government agencies on fish and wildlife protection.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution when handling difficult conversations and challenging situations.
• Presenting complex or controversial information clearly and non-confrontationally to permit applicants, coworkers, and team members.
• Showing sensitivity to customer and team member concerns, handling inquiries and complaints promptly and professionally, and developing better alternatives when needed.
• Providing products and services that meet or exceed customer and team expectations while ensuring natural resource protection.

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.