Hunter Education Field Coordinator-Community Outreach Environmental Education Spec 4-Perm-2026-09132

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Hunter Education Field Coordinator serves as the program expert overseeing Hunter Education Section activities throughout Region 6, building partnerships with WDFW volunteers, the public, and other organizations. The coordinator leads and supports certified volunteer Hunter Education Instructors to ensure consistent program delivery and helps develop and implement program improvements. In collaboration with WDFW managers and executives, the position coordinates staff and volunteers delivering education, outreach, customer service, and internal agency support related to hunter education, the Master Hunter Permit Program, and hunting. The role leads implementation of the Hunter Education Program and related agency work, including recruiting, training, and certifying instructors; supporting and coordinating instructors; and ensuring adherence to policies and procedures. It also serves as the statewide lead for developing and implementing orientation training for Master Hunter Permit Program applicants and existing Master Hunters, as well as emergency response plans for hunter education classes and venues. The coordinator identifies and supports volunteer opportunities and strategies that make effective use of volunteers and Master Hunters. The position is based in Olympia, Washington, and serves Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, and Thurston counties. It offers a hybrid schedule with at least three days per week onsite and up to two days of telework. Work is typically 40 hours per week, though evenings and weekends may be needed to accommodate volunteers and events. Duties occur in offices and field settings, including volunteer project sites, outdoor shooting ranges, live-fire training environments, and hunter education field courses. The role requires regional travel, including long drives and overnight stays, and occasional travel elsewhere in or outside Washington. It involves strenuous activity, including occasionally lifting and carrying up to 40 pounds and loading and unloading pickup trucks and utility trailers. A department-issued firearm is essential to performing the job duties, and the employee must meet and maintain agency firearm-policy requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in education, wildlife management, environmental, natural, or physical science, communications, or a related field; qualifying relevant professional or volunteer experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis, and a comparable combination of education and experience may qualify.
Four years of professional experience involving environmental or community education or outreach, wildlife management, environmental analysis or control, environmental planning, or communications activities.
At least two years of experience with hunting and hunting equipment.
At least two years of experience with the proper and safe use of firearms.
At least two years of experience providing leadership in a work, volunteer, or team setting, such as supervising employees, managing volunteers, leading projects, or coordinating others’ work.
At least two years of experience working effectively in a team and independently, and interacting positively with the public and volunteers without direct supervision.
At least two years of experience responding to high internal and external coordination and communication demands and implementing chain-of-command directions to deliver high-quality work products.
At least two years of experience solving complex issues and concerns positively and constructively.
At least two years of experience handling public complaints and questions professionally, diplomatically, and positively.
At least two years of experience working directly with and coordinating agency or organization staff and the public.
At least two years of experience communicating professionally and effectively with varied audiences, verbally and in writing.
Valid driver’s license.
Must pass a criminal background check.
Must have no prior arrests, convictions, or pending legal proceedings related to sexual abuse, child abuse, or domestic violence, or that preclude possession or handling of firearms.
Must meet all requirements of agency firearm policy (Policy 7011) and maintain eligibility to possess and use agency-issued firearms while in the position.
Must be certified as a Washington Hunter Education instructor or obtain certification within three months of employment.

Nice To Haves

Certification as a Washington Hunter Education Instructor.
Certification as a Washington Master Hunter.
Knowledge and experience of fishing and outdoor recreation.
Federal Firearms License (FFL).
Ability to develop policies and procedures.
Understanding of state government policies, procedures, rules, and laws.
Proficiency with standard office equipment and computer software, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Experience working with the Hunter Education Program.
Experience working with the Master Hunter Permit Program.
Experience working with and managing volunteers, especially Hunter Education Instructors, Master Hunters, and other natural resource volunteers.
Experience developing or implementing training programs.
Experience teaching and designing classroom and field classes using a variety of teaching modes.
Experience integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles into work and working with multicultural communities.
Experience teaching best practices in education and curriculum design.
Experience as a natural resource volunteer.
Experience managing and prioritizing workload using good time management skills.

Responsibilities

Lead, facilitate, and direct implementation of the Hunter Education Program and related agency work in Region 6.
Recruit, train, and certify new hunter education instructors through the pre-service training process.
Supervise, support, and coordinate certified volunteer Hunter Education Instructors in delivering the program.
Ensure volunteers follow policies; resolve conflicts and issues; approve volunteer timesheets; audit teaching techniques; issue WDFW assets; investigate instructor complaints; and take or recommend corrective actions.
Conduct hunter education instructor inventory verification.
Lead statewide development, refinement, and implementation of orientation training for Master Hunter Permit Program applicants and existing Master Hunters.
Lead statewide development and implementation of emergency response plans for hunter education classes and venues.
Coordinate and facilitate volunteer opportunities and activities, including recruiting volunteers for agency projects.
Work with WDFW staff to promote volunteer use and help identify volunteer projects.
Assist in implementing and refining strategies to maximize the use of Master Hunters to address priority needs.
Coordinate staff and volunteers delivering education, outreach, customer service, and internal agency support related to hunter education, the Master Hunter Permit Program, and hunting.
Travel within the assigned region and elsewhere as needed to supervise volunteers and volunteer projects, attend events, and assist with approved training exercises.