Aquatic Invasive Species Management Coordinator-WMS3- Permanent -2026-06446

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Lead Washington's strategy to protect thousands of lakes, rivers, streams, and marine shorelines from the growing threat of aquatic invasive species. Guide a dedicated team while shaping statewide policies, partnerships, and long-term strategies that protect fish and wildlife, strengthen resilient aquatic ecosystems, and preserve Washington's natural resources for future generations. Make decisions that shape the future of Washington's aquatic resources and help safeguard critical environmental, economic, and cultural values. Your leadership will support salmon recovery, protect recreational, tribal, and commercial fisheries, and help prevent invasive species from causing irreversible impacts to fish, wildlife, infrastructure, and the communities that depend on healthy waters. Build and maintain lasting partnerships across tribal, local, state, federal, industry, and academic organizations to address aquatic invasive species that cross political and jurisdictional boundaries. Represent the Department in statewide, regional, and national forums while advancing collaborative, science-based strategies that strengthen Washington's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging threats. Serve as the Department's trusted advisor on aquatic invasive species management, providing strategic leadership that influences statewide policy, operational decisions, and long-term conservation outcomes. Oversee a high-performing team while partnering across agency programs to ensure coordinated, science-based management that protects Washington's fish, wildlife, and aquatic resources.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree involving major study in any of the following: Fisheries science, Wildlife biology, Aquatic biology, Ecology, Environmental science, Natural resource management, Conservation biology Marine biology, Environmental policy Biological sciences, Or a closely related natural resource field.
Three (3) years of full-time professional experience in one or more of the following: Aquatic invasive species management Invasive species management Integrated pest management Noxious weed management Wildlife management Natural resource management or a closely related field.
One (1) year or more of leadership/supervisory duties including conflict resolution, training and development, planning and assigning work, evaluating performance. May be gained concurrently with the required 3 years of experience above.
Applying established policy and statute using best science and professional opinion, informed by situational characteristics such as property ownership, extent and level of established populations, available resources and feasibility of management actions, and property owner support.
Developing response, management, or strategic plans in collaboration with governmental agencies, Tribes, industry partners, and other stakeholders
Leading or coordinating implementation of complex resource management projects involving multiple organizations, partners, or jurisdictions.
Developing and implementing invasive species management strategies, including prevention, early detection, rapid response, containment, control, and long-term management.
Interpreting and applying regulatory requirements related to natural resource management, including quarantines, access restrictions, or other regulatory controls.
Negotiating and administering cooperative agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other collaborative agreements with federal, state, Tribal, or local governments.
Preparing, obtaining, or managing environmental permits or regulatory authorizations (such as National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits or Special Use Permits).
Valid driver’s license for statewide independent travel.

Nice To Haves

Project and portfolio management, including managing multiple complex initiatives, priorities, and resources.
Risk management and structured decision-making frameworks.
Incident Command System (ICS), including Unified Command, multi-agency coordination, and/or policy groups.
Facilitation, collaboration, negotiation, and conflict resolution among diverse stakeholders with competing interests.

Responsibilities

Manages and creates Department AIS management advisory groups, or incident command multi-agency coordination groups and Department internal policy groups as needed to address AIS management at levels commensurate with management complexity and jurisdictions involved.
Leads AIS management incident command systems through delegated authority by the Department Director to function as incident commander or deputy incident commander during AIS incidents.
Coordination and consultation on Department AIS management issues with other states and countries, state and federal agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations, affected industries and businesses, public, and others.
Develop workplans and applications for Department rapid response funding agreements.
Manages agreements as the Department’s project manager, including timeline, deliverables, and expenses with support from other Department staff.
Leads and manages Department processes to develop AIS response plans, long-term management plans, and statewide strategies for the management of AIS, including containment, eradication, control, and mitigation under direction from the AIS Division, Program, and Department leadership.
Leads and manages Department processes to enhance and revise existing AIS response plans, long-term management plans, and statewide strategies with contractors, Department leadership, subject matter experts, and external stakeholders.
Advises the Department, cooperating state and local agencies, tribal nations and federal agencies on AIS management actions including eradication, control, containment, infested site-management, and long-term management, as the Department subject matter expert on AIS management.
Develops and leads Department rapid response and infested site management actions, following the detection of a prohibited level 1 or level 2 AIS or on a water body or property.
Develops and leads Department notification, application, and issuance of warrants to enter properties or water bodies to implement rapid response management actions or infested site management actions, and containing, controlling, or eradicating invasive species.
Develops and administers mutual aid or cooperative agreements with national, regional, state, and local partners to manage AIS, including establishing incident command system structures, unified command or multi-agency coordination groups, or other structures for effective cooperative management.
Develops, secures, and manages environmental permits for AIS management action, such as but not limited to National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.
Develops procedures and decision-making resources to protect the environmental, economic, or human health interests of the state from the threat of a prohibited level 1 or level 2 species, through management actions such as a department-declared quarantine.