Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager - Environmental Planner 4 - Permanent - 2025-08378

State of Washington•Spokane County, WA

76d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager (ARHPM) plays a pivotal leadership role in advancing WDFW's mission to preserve, protect, and sustain Washington's fish, wildlife, and ecosystems. In this position, you'll guide high-profile habitat policies and initiatives, ranging from salmon recovery and forest practices to land use, energy, and major projects - while serving as a key liaison to federal, state, local, and tribal partners. As a Senior Manager for District 1 and 2 Habitat Program, you'll lead a talented team of Habitat Biologists, fostering strong relationships with diverse agencies, organizations, and stakeholders. Your leadership will directly influence decisions that protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat through regulation, technical assistance, and customer-focused collaboration. This is a dynamic opportunity for someone who thrives at the intersection of environmental policy, partnership building, and strategic team leadership.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, or environmental science, or related field and 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.
Note: Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis. A master's degree in the applicable science will substitute for one (1) year of required experience A Ph.D. in the applicable science will substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.
Licenses: Valid driver's license

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated skill supervising, leading, and coaching people.
Demonstrated ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills in contentious work settings. Leadership reaching consensus and de-escalating conflict.
General understanding of various regulatory processes, including the Hydraulic Code, Growth Management Act (GMA), State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and Shoreline Management Act (SMA).
Demonstrated ability to work within the regulatory environment including reviewing, issuing, monitoring or complying with federal, state or local environmental permits.

Responsibilities

Act as District Policy Lead and Liaison:
Assist Senior and Executive Management in identifying those new policies, new direction of existing policies and significant initiatives.
Serve as Liaison and Policy Lead within the District(s) for projects/issues/processes that are impacted by new or redirected policies or significant initiatives.
As District Policy lead conduct strategic analyses concerning agency or externally developed policies, redirected policies, or significant initiatives.
Communicate and/or present strategic analysis information to the RHPM for coordination with Senior Management or Executive Management and assist in development of strategic and tactical steps to accomplish agency and partner goals that are consistent with the Agency mission.
Provides guidance, direction, and information to staff regarding Program/Agency policies, procedures, and directions in a clear and timely manner.
Works with staff to develop strategic approach to accomplishing goals, addressing issues, and successfully implementing assignments.
Provides mentoring to staff to promote and support professional development.
Directs, guides, and provides information to staff for successful implementation of the Hydraulic Code, engagement in Land Use Planning, engagement in Forest Practice Activities, and Restoration activities.
Actively engages with the Regional Leadership Team (RLT) to assist Program Leadership and Executive Management in Program or Agency level short-term and long-term strategic planning.
Works with Regional Habitat Program Manager (RHPM) and other ARHPM's in region to develop and bring regional perspective to Program/Agency strategic planning.
Responsible for the implementation of appropriate aspects of the strategic plan within the District that they supervise.
Responsible for communicating and encouraging support for the strategic direction identified by the Program and/or Agency in the District.