English as a Second Language (ESL) Engagement Coordinator, Environmental Planner 3 (EP3)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity within our Forest Resilience Division as an English as a Second Language (ESL) Engagement Coordinator to develop strategic planning roadmaps and build new long-lasting business partnerships and supportive connections with forest landowners across the State whose primary language is not English. The goal is to provide landowners with access to all the programs, services, and assistance available to small forest landowners in Washington State. Initially, this position will focus on the development of a statewide community engagement program, which will be done through extensive outreach efforts with communities and organizations that currently work in this environment. Using engagement surveys and other tools, this position will identify underserved landowners, barriers to accessing services, and methods, strategies, and partnerships to effectively engage the community. This position will create translated educational materials and tools and establish new opportunities to educate in person at public events, providing outreach to landowners and communities in WA State. The ESL Engagement Coordinator also provides guidance, consultation, and educational expertise to the Service Forestry Program staff engaged in this work, as well as agency staff in various divisions or regions as needed. The ESL Engagement Coordinator also works directly with landowners in their primary language, typically Spanish, but others may be provided via interpreter services, providing forestry management expertise during site visits and educating them about available programs and services.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in forestry, natural resources, environmental science, fish and wildlife biology, wildlife management, or closely related field; OR an equivalent combination of education plus experience.
Education must meet requirements for American Tree Farm Inspector.
Three (3) years of professional work experience in forestry, forest management, natural resources planning or management, forest ecology, silviculture, environmental science, fire science, landscape ecology, wildlife management, or a closely related field relying on the required position knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors.
Fluency in Spanish, including the ability to speak, write, and read.
Experience in typical silvicultural and forest management practices in the western United States, including forest road design and construction, timber management planning, silviculture techniques, reforestation methods, and timber harvest boundaries
Experience using forestry tools such as measuring and hand tools.
Experience providing technical assistance, education, and educational materials to professional and non-professional audiences, especially forest landowners.
Experience responding to and interacting in a positive, responsive, cooperative, and collaborative manner while interacting with the public and other professionals (both inter-organizational and interdisciplinary).
Proficient with computers and Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.
Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including ArcGIS Pro, Survey 123, Field Maps, and other mapping tools to document work and convey information to non-technical audiences.
Consistently delivers assistance and services to landowners through respectful, culturally specific, and responsive communication capabilities in Spanish.
Experience using effective oral and written communications to convey messages clearly and persuasively.
Excellent public speaking skills.
Intrinsically motivated to achieve program-specific desired outcomes while managing competing deadlines and priorities.
Strong understanding and ability to organize efficiently, including developing or using systems for tracking the important aspects of numerous complex projects.
Commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice practices.
Perform assigned duties in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and public records retention, and ensure requests are followed.
Valid Public Pest Consultant certification or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment.
Valid Certified Tree Farm Inspector certification or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment.
Ability to walk over steep, uneven terrain in a variety of forest environments, year-round, statewide in a variety of weather conditions is required.
Frequent and extensive overnight travel in Washington is required to provide services.
The ability to drive long distances in a variety of weather conditions, year-round, is required.
A current, valid driver’s license and two years of driving experience.
DNR requires state drivers to possess a license that is not suspended, revoked, or restricted (for example, Occupational/Restricted Driver Licenses or requiring ignition interlock devices).
This position requires driving as an essential function.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in forestry, natural resources, environmental science, fish and wildlife biology, wildlife management, or closely related field.
Experience developing outreach and communication tools to reach the public.
Experience with Forest Stewardship Plan and forest management plan development.
Current knowledge of Forest Practices rules; Forest Practices Board Manual guidance; and DNR Forest Practices policies, procedures, and practices.
Experience working with small forest landowners, particularly providing technical or financial assistance.
Experience in forest management practices in the Pacific Northwest.

Responsibilities

Develop strategic planning roadmaps and build new long-lasting business partnerships and supportive connections with forest landowners across the State whose primary language is not English.
Provide landowners with access to all of the programs, services, and assistance available to small forest landowners in Washington State.
Develop an ESL community engagement (education) program for small forest landowners in Washington that connects to fulfilling goals of Washington’s Forest Action Plan, Forest Resilience Environmental Justice Implementation Plan, and 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan: Eastern Washington through engagement of landowners speaking a language other than English.
Characterize land ownership patterns; prioritize outreach targets; identify barriers to access and participation, including financial, cultural, or language barriers that reduce the effectiveness of traditional technical assistance delivery; develop and implement methods, strategies, and partnerships to effectively engage communities and landowners.
Utilize data and tools, conduct surveys to identify underserved landowners.
Provide outreach to those speaking a language other than English, primarily Spanish.
Serve as the Forest Resilience Division/Service Forestry designated technical expert for ESL engagement.
Provide ESL engagement consultation, program guidance, and expertise to division and region staff.
Provide consultative services for DNR or other forest landowner financial assistance or incentive programs such as Service Forestry, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), etc.
Coordinate with and provide consultation to other forest health improvement projects (such as organized by Planning, Science, and Monitoring or Cross-Boundary Restoration) within assigned work area as requested.
Create or lead transition of outreach materials in languages other than English, initially Spanish.
Author, review, and aid in translating material on forest management for various purposes including newsletters and publications.
Provide in-person outreach at public and educational events, such as community fairs, partner events, and forestry field days.
Deliver information and stories about work to the public and DNR staff in coordination with supervisor, outreach specialists, and communications staff.
Work with key partners including WSU Extension Forestry and the Community for the Advancement of Family Education (CAFÉ), and help identify additional partners engaging in similar ESL forestry work to assist in coordinating efforts.
Coordinate with One Stop Shop, other DNR programs, and external partners and groups to identify opportunities to support all-lands landscape conservation efforts.
Respond to informational requests for program information, accomplishment data, staff and budget needs, etc.
Make recommendations on integration of ESL services into long-term ongoing Service Forestry Program delivery statewide based on work over the project period identifying priority geographies and need of services.
Work directly with landowners in their primary language, typically Spanish, but others may be provided via interpreter services, providing forestry management expertise during site visits and educating them about available programs and services.
Respond to and provide technical assistance and advice to landowners regarding forest management practices, diagnosis and recommendations for forest health problems, animal damage and competing vegetation control, wildfire risk reduction, and other resource issues and opportunities
Engage appropriate subject matter experts (entomologist, pathologist, stewardship biologist, water-typing biologist, regulatory assistance forester, community resilience coordinator, etc.) when knowledge or experience is exceeded.
Educate and assist landowners in developing Forest Stewardship or Forest Management Plans.
Review and submit Forest Stewardship Management Plans (or other management plans) prepared by landowners, DNR staff, and partners to the appropriate Service Forestry Coordinator.
Provide technical specifications for forest management practices and silvicultural treatment, including advice on pesticides and herbicides for forest use when appropriate.
Help non-English speaking landowners successfully access the programs and services available through the DNR and other partners in the state, such as the DNR Service Forestry Financial Assistance program, the NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentive Program and Conservation Stewardship Program, etc.
Provide certification inspections for the American Tree Farm Program.
Develop educational materials for, and make educational presentations to, forest landowners and natural resources professionals who advise and contract with them.
Enter and provide documentation for all inquiries and services provided into the One Stop Shop Online Tracking Tool.
Use mapping tools including ArcGIS Pro, Survey 123, and Field Maps to document work and convey information to non-technical audiences.