Project/Program Manager III - WRIA 8 Projects and Funding Coordinator

Summary

About the Role:
The WRIA 8 Project and Funding Coordinator’s primary responsibility is to coordinate development and implementation of priority projects and programs to achieve the WRIA 8 Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan’s salmon habitat protection and restoration goals. The position manages WRIA 8’s annual state and local grant funding rounds, serves in a key salmon recovery planning role, works with project sponsors to develop project and grant proposals, and tracks implementation metrics and funding opportunities.

This position performs work remotely and onsite .

About the Team:
The Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8) leads local watershed-based salmon recovery efforts in the Cedar River, Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, Bear Creek, and Issaquah Creek basins. For over twenty years, local governments and community group partners in WRIA 8 have collaborated to plan and implement priority salmon habitat and restoration projects, integrate best available science into salmon recovery, monitor salmon populations and habitat conditions, and support salmon recovery outreach and education efforts. The WRIA 8 salmon recovery team builds and supports collaborative partnerships to implement the WRIA 8 Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan , which guides recovery locally and is a watershed chapter of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan .

The WRIA 8 salmon recovery team is housed in the King County Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD), which is at the forefront of efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face climate change. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies for protecting working farms and forests, restoring habitat, and ensuring the county residents have equitable access to green space. WLRD plans, designs, and builds flood and stormwater facilities that help to protect people and infrastructure while also enhancing habitat for salmon. Our Environmental Lab and Science programs maintain high-quality data sets used for long term water quality trend analysis and use Best Available Science to inform decision making. We house the Land Conservation Initiative, which will preserve our last, most important natural lands and urban green spaces over the next 30 years. Our forestry and agricultural programs help individuals protect their lands and support local food production. These, and many more programs, make WLRD an exciting and fulfilling place to work.

Why is This a Great Opportunity?
The WRIA 8 Project and Funding Coordinator position offers an opportunity to work collaboratively with a unique and diverse community of local government partners, Tribes, state and federal agencies, and other stakeholders to support implementation of salmon recovery in WRIA 8. This position is part of a staff team that is funded primarily through an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) among local governments, with the team providing the technical, policy, and planning support necessary to implement the WRIA 8 Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan (WRIA 8 Plan). The WRIA 8 Plan has a strong technical foundation and guides actions to be taken by local jurisdictions and other organizations to help recover salmon in the watershed. The position manages an exciting and varied work program, which includes opportunities to help develop and support implementation of priority habitat protection and restoration projects, develop funding strategies, and to work at the regional level to collaborate on policy and planning efforts with other watersheds around Puget Sound and the state.

Commitment to Equity , Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive . We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Project Program Manager III -WRIA 8 Projects and Funding Coordinator , you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resources Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) . Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities . Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing :

• Provide salmon recovery planning and implementation services to the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8) Salmon Recovery Council (Council). Collaborate with diverse groups to advance salmon habitat protection and restoration priorities, including elected officials, agency staff, project and program sponsors, community and interest groups, members of the public, and private property owners.
• Coordinate habitat protection and restoration projects and programs with watershed partners. Identify mechanisms to integrate the watershed’s priorities into project development and design, assist sponsors in developing funding strategies and scoping and phasing projects, and recommend improvements to grant applications.
• Lead WRIA 8’s annual solicitation of grant applications for the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration, and King County Flood Control District Cooperative Watershed Management grant programs. Organize and facilitate an interdisciplinary review committee to evaluate submitted proposals, prioritize projects and programs for grant funding, and develop funding recommendations for consideration by the Council and funders.
• Track implementation of salmon habitat protection and restoration activities and summarize progress for periodic reporting to watershed partners.
• Prepare reports, decision documents, newsletters, and other written products. Develop presentations and deliver presentations and decision items to the Council and funders.
• Organize and implement outreach and communication efforts for federal, state, and local decision-makers in support of WRIA 8 funding and policy priorities, including organizing and conducting field trips, tours, and presentations.
• Participate in local, regional, and state planning and implementation efforts and forums on behalf of the WRIA 8 team to advance shared goals.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring :

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, regional or environmental planning, natural resource management, landscape architecture, public administration, or a related field or at least five years of increasingly responsible program and project management, planning, and analytical work experience applicable to the primary job duties of this position.
• At least three years of experience making presentations to varied audiences (such as public officials, special interest groups, committees, etc.)
• At least three years of experience preparing, administering, and/or reviewing grant proposals.
• At least two years of experience and demonstrated ability facilitating multi-jurisdictional or multi-stakeholder committees or advisory boards on controversial issues, a focus on salmon conservation, natural resource management, or endangered species recovery is a plus. Ability to build strong working relationships with groups who may have conflicting viewpoints and experience bringing different groups to agreement. Demonstrated ability to maintain composure and professionalism in managing complex issues and a capacity to quickly respond to changing priorities, often under tight deadlines.
• Familiarity with the Endangered Species Act, salmon habitat restoration and protection methods, state salmon recovery legislation, and/or salmon habitat needs, and tribal treaty rights.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated experience conveying technical and policy information to diverse audiences, including managers, project teams, tribal representatives, community members, businesses, elected officials, and local jurisdictions and agencies. Experience facilitating meetings and group decision processes, and with leading virtual meetings and using virtual meeting platforms and tools, including Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. Ability to think and plan strategically to prioritize work tasks and advance priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to grasp issues quickly, exercise initiative and judgement, function independently on assigned projects, and communicate effectively with team members.
• Training in and application of principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• High-level proficiency in Microsoft Office software, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

Competencies You Bring :

• Action oriented - Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Collaborates - Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Customer focused - Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Communicates effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Instills trust - Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

Required L icens es : A valid Washington State Driver's License or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring :

• Demonstrated experience leading and facilitating groups to make recommendations or decisions.
• Demonstrated experience presenting information to diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of local and regional salmon recovery and watershed management, especially in WRIA 8.
• Knowledge and understanding of tribal treaty rights.

Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to conduct occasional physical site evaluations and field tours. There is an intermittent need to walk on uneven terrain, for limited periods of time. Field conditions include brushy, forested environments; river, stream and wetland corridors; and slippery, uneven surfaces and occasionally, active construction sites. Work tasks also may include in-water situations involving wading and the use of canoes or other boats.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions :
Remote and Onsite Work Details :
Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically twice per month . The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104) and other work locations around the watershed. This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work .

Remote Work Location R equirement:
Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksite s to meet onsite reporting requirements.

Work Schedule : This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. This position will require occasional availability on weekends and evenings as needed.

Union Representation : This position is represented by the Local 117 union.

Application and Selection Process :
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value divers ity , diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews .

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
  

• Resume
  

• Cover Letter
  
• Response to Supplemental Question (must be completed)
  

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact : For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Sr. Human Resources Analyst Calvin Rivers at 206-263-1986 or crivers@kingcounty.gov .

Discover More A bout DNRP : Visit our webs ite , e xplore an ? interactive map ? of our recent accomplishments and check us out at ? Facebook ,? X (formerly T witter) ,? LinkedIn ,? TikTok ,? Instagram ,? YouTube ? and Keeping King County Green News .

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 11/18/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

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• King County Water and Land Resources Division

• 206-477-4800

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