Flood Initiatives Projects Manager

Whatcom County • Bellingham, WA

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

Whatcom County Public Works Department is seeking an accomplished, strategic, and results-oriented manager to serve as our Flood Initiatives Projects Manager. This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in one of the County's highest-priority initiatives by transforming long-range flood resilience strategies into completed infrastructure projects that protect lives, property, agriculture, transportation systems, and Tribal resources, and enhances the natural environment. Flood resilience is among the most important long-term challenges facing Whatcom County. This position provides a rare opportunity to influence the future of the Nooksack River watershed by leading projects that reduce flood risk, protect communities, preserve critical infrastructure, support agriculture, restore habitat, and strengthen partnerships across governments and organizations. The successful candidate will oversee the implementation of complex flood mitigation and floodplain restoration capital projects throughout the Nooksack River watershed, guiding projects from initial concept through planning, design, environmental review, permitting, funding, land acquisition, procurement, construction, and successful completion. This position is not simply about managing projects, it is about delivering measurable outcomes. Success will be defined by your ability to move critical flood mitigation projects from planning documents into construction and operation, creating lasting improvements in community resilience and reducing flood risk throughout Whatcom County. Your work will leave a lasting legacy through projects that improve public safety, enhance environmental stewardship, and build a more resilient future for generations to come. If you are an experienced leader with the vision, technical expertise, and determination to transform ambitious plans into successful capital projects, we encourage you to apply and become part of Whatcom County's commitment to protecting its communities and natural resources. As the Flood Initiatives Projects Manager, you will provide the leadership necessary to advance some of the County's most technically challenging and politically significant public infrastructure projects. Working across multiple County departments and in collaboration with Tribal governments, regulatory agencies, elected officials, consultants, contractors, property owners, agricultural stakeholders, environmental organizations, and community partners, you will work as part of a team to remove barriers, coordinate decision-making, secure approvals, and ensure projects maintain momentum toward implementation. This position will work closely with the County's existing Flood Planning and Mitigation team to translate flood priorities into successful on-the-ground projects. This is an implementation-focused position for an experienced project manager who knows how to move complex public infrastructure and environmental projects forward. The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently, navigating permitting and regulatory processes, coordinating technical and environmental work, managing consultants and contractors, communicating complex technical information to the general public and elected officials, and resolving day-to-day issues that can prevent projects from advancing.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Engineering Geology, Professional Project Management, Capital Project Management, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience leading complex programs, strategic initiatives, capital implementations, or comparable enterprise-level assignments.
• Three (3) years of leadership experience directing staff, programs, projects, multidisciplinary teams, or organizational initiatives.
• Valid driver's license and a driving record that meets County standards at the time of hire and throughout employment.
• Authorization and successful completion of a background check prior to employment.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)
• Licensed Engineering Geologist (LEG)
• Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
• Demonstrated success managing complex infrastructure or environmental projects involving multiple jurisdictions and regulatory agencies.
• Experience in river engineering and sediment management.
• Experience in river and habitat restoration.
• Experience in floodplain management.
• Experience in environmental restoration.
• Experience in natural resource management.
• Experience with environmental permitting.
• Experience with wetlands and habitat restoration.
• Experience with property acquisition.
• Experience with easements and rights-of-way.
• Experience with grant management and compliance.
• Experience with Public Works procurement.
• Experience with consultant management.
• Experience with construction oversight.
• Experience with project scheduling.
• Experience with budget management.
• Experience with intergovernmental coordination.
• Experience presenting recommendations to executive leadership, elected officials, commissions, boards, and public audiences.
• Strong knowledge of capital project delivery.
• Strong knowledge of public infrastructure development.
• Strong knowledge of environmental permitting.
• Strong knowledge of floodplain management.
• Strong knowledge of watershed processes.
• Strong knowledge of river restoration.
• Strong knowledge of public procurement.
• Strong knowledge of project management methodologies.
• Strong knowledge of grant funding.
• Strong knowledge of infrastructure financing.
• Strong knowledge of performance measurement.
• Knowledge of Nooksack River hydrology and geomorphology.
• Knowledge of floodplain dynamics.
• Knowledge of sediment transport.
• Knowledge of flood storage concepts.
• Knowledge of levee and berm systems.
• Knowledge of habitat restoration.
• Knowledge of salmon recovery.
• Knowledge of agricultural interests.
• Knowledge of Tribal treaty rights.
• Knowledge of County government operations.
• Knowledge of State and federal environmental regulations.
• Knowledge of intergovernmental collaboration.
• Knowledge of consensus building.
• Knowledge of the Nooksack Integrated Floodplain Action Plan and regional flood resilience initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the implementation of complex flood mitigation and floodplain restoration capital projects throughout the Nooksack River watershed.
• Guide projects from initial concept through planning, design, environmental review, permitting, funding, land acquisition, procurement, construction, and successful completion.
• Provide leadership necessary to advance technically challenging and politically significant public infrastructure projects.
• Work across multiple County departments and in collaboration with Tribal governments, regulatory agencies, elected officials, consultants, contractors, property owners, agricultural stakeholders, environmental organizations, and community partners.
• Remove barriers, coordinate decision-making, secure approvals, and ensure projects maintain momentum toward implementation.
• Translate flood priorities into successful on-the-ground projects.
• Navigate permitting and regulatory processes.
• Coordinate technical and environmental work.
• Manage consultants and contractors.
• Communicate complex technical information to the general public and elected officials.
• Resolve day-to-day issues that can prevent projects from advancing.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage for employees AND their family.
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and 12 paid holidays annually.
• Lifetime pension through the Washington State Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), with joint contributions required from the employee and the County.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation Retirement with County match.
• $50,000 Life Insurance coverage for employees.
• Voluntary Term Life Insurance and Personal Accident Insurance.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) available for health care and/or dependent care expenses.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager