Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager - Region 3 - WMS Band 1 - Permanent - 2026-06506

State of Washington•Kittitas County – Ellensburg, WA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Help shape the future of fish and wildlife habitat conservation in Washington! As the Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager (ARHPM), you will lead a team of habitat professionals responsible for implementing regulatory programs and advancing habitat conservation throughout South Central Region 3. This is an opportunity to oversee complex and high-profile projects, work collaboratively with partners to achieve sustainable conservation, and provide tactical leadership on hydraulic permitting, land use planning, forest practices, mitigation, and restoration. In this role, you will help ensure consistent implementation of agency policies, collaborate with Tribal governments, local governments, state and federal agencies, and stakeholders, and contribute to regional and statewide strategies that protect and restore fish and wildlife habitats for future generations.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, environmental science, or a related field.
Five (5) years of professional experience in fish management or fish research, wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research, or any environmental or natural resource field.
Demonstrated experience supervising, leading, and coaching employees, including performance management.
Working understanding of advanced principles of program/project management, conflict resolution, strategic planning, and working with budgets.
Valid unrestricted Driver’s License.

Nice To Haves

Experience building working relationships among various stakeholder groups.
Demonstrated ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills in sensitive work settings.
General understanding of various regulatory processes, including the Hydraulic Code, Growth Management Act (GMA), State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and Shoreline Management Act (SMA).
Experience working within the regulatory environment including reviewing, issuing, monitoring or complying with federal, state or local environmental permits.

Responsibilities

Provide immediate management, supervision, and guidance of professional Habitat Program staff within South Central Region 3.
Provide clear and timely communication of agency policies, procedures, and guidance.
Coach, train, mentor, perform workload planning/prioritization, and performance management in the following areas: Hydraulic Project Approvals, Project Level engagement in Land Use, Forest Practices, and Aquatic and/or Terrestrial Restoration.
Manage and coordinate the distribution of information and receive feedback from staff and ensure compliance with policy, procedures, and guidance in the above-listed work areas, as well as the following major policy areas: Hydraulic Compliance Actions, Planning level engagement in land use actions, Forest Health and Stewardship, Aquatic and Terrestrial Restoration, Fish Passage and Screening, and Energy and Major Projects.
For new and updated policies, procedures and guidance, work within the Senior Management Team (SMT) to develop and maintain a consistent state-wide approach to implement new and updated policies, procedures and guidance.
Actively engaged in the SMT to identify issues that are common across regions and/or the state finds broad solutions and support for engagement from the Program Leadership.
Serve as Liaison and Policy Lead within the cross-program District(s) for projects/issues/processes that are impacted by new or redirected policies or significant initiatives.
Build and maintain key internal District relationships in order to gain perspective on goals and objectives and work collaboratively in resolving or flagging issues and finding solutions that are mutually beneficial.
Actively engage with the SMT to assist Program Leadership in Program or Agency level short-term and long-term strategic planning.
Work with Regional Habitat Program Manager (RHPM) and SMT to review and provide feedback and bring regional perspectives to strategic planning efforts.