Natural Resources Operations Manager

City of Tacoma•Tacoma, WA

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

Tacoma Power is seeking a Natural Resources Operations Manager to set the direction and drive the delivery of work spanning Northwest fisheries, environmental commitments, and natural resources operations. This leader will establish how scientific, regulatory, and operational priorities are balanced and translate that direction into clear decisions, coordinated work plans, and defined accountability, guiding complex Natural Resources initiatives from concept through implementation and sustained operation. Northwest fisheries expertise is foundational to this role, and the successful candidate must have professional experience in at least one of the following areas: fisheries resource management, hatchery operations, or fish passage at Northwest hydroelectric facilities. Candidates must also have experience leading major environmental capital projects from initial planning through implementation and transition into sustained, full-scale operation. Reporting to the Assistant Section Manager for Natural Resources, the Operations Manager directs fisheries resource programs and fish facility operations, working through facility managers, oversees field technician deployment (support for Science and Research, Wildlife and Lands, Water Resources, and Fisheries Operations), and data analytics throughout the department. At the heart of the role is the ability to integrate forward looking strategy, fisheries science, monitoring data, technical information, current FERC license requirements, and operational realities so fish facilities, natural systems, and hydroelectric operations are planned and managed in coordination. This approach supports safe operations, regulatory compliance, long-term stewardship, and reliable, flexible clean power. A defining requirement of this role is the ability to build the structure and capacity needed to take complex Natural Resources initiatives and capital solutions from initial concept through successful implementation and sustained operation. This means setting priorities, aligning resources, and establishing the roles, workflows, and accountability necessary to advance relicensing, current license implementation, and recovery efforts while meeting ongoing operational commitments. The Operations Manager will also guide supervisors and staff through future operational and organizational changes while maintaining continuity. With future studies, relicensing, and evolving regulatory obligations ahead, this leader will be an integral part of the leadership team to position Natural Resources to meet new demands while maintaining safe, reliable operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in public or business administration or directly related field
6 years of progressively responsible analytical and/or program coordination or management work in operational, utility, or natural resources environments including 1 year prior at senior, lead or supervisory level
Applied knowledge of fisheries programs, hatchery operations, or fish passage.
Knowledge of the regulatory requirements affecting hydroelectric fisheries programs, including FERC license requirements, permits, and associated compliance obligations.
Experience translating scientific, regulatory, and operational requirements into clear work plans, priorities, and deliverables.
Strong project leadership across interdependent teams, competing priorities, and organizational change.
An understanding of how fish facility operations, field technician deployment, data collection, analysis, and regulatory reporting work together.
Experience managing operational budgets, contracts, and resources in support of program and project commitments.
Effective collaboration with Tribes, agencies, technical experts, utility partners, and other stakeholders.
Sound judgment in identifying operational risks, explaining their impacts, and recommending practical solutions.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading operational teams in a regulated fisheries or natural resources environment.
Ability to provide leadership across aquatic and terrestrial resource areas, including disciplines beyond the individual’s primary area of expertise.
A track record of guiding teams through operational or organizational change without disrupting critical services.
A collaborative approach to building alignment across scientific, technical, regulatory, and operational disciplines.
Sound judgment when balancing immediate operational needs, ecosystem objectives, regulatory requirements, and clean-power priorities.

Responsibilities

Lead environmental capital projects from initial planning through successful implementation and transition into sustained operation.
Provide direction and oversight for fisheries resource management and fish facility operations at the Cowlitz and Cushman projects, working with facility managers to ensure alignment and accountability across programs.
Lead department-wide data and analytics, ensuring information is effectively collected, analyzed, and used for reporting and decision support.
Establish field support with integrated priorities and implementation plans across support for Science and Research, Wildlife and Lands, Water Resources, and Fisheries Operations based on operational capacity, safety requirements, regulatory commitments, and long-term objectives
Lead supervisors and multidisciplinary staff across facility operations, field services, technical services, data and analytics, and program delivery.
Support hiring, performance management, coaching, and professional development.
Maintain a regular field presence to understand operational conditions and support staff.
Partner with Natural Resources leadership, Generation, Tribes, agencies, and other stakeholders to align scientific, regulatory, and operational priorities.
Represent operational impacts, resource needs, project dependencies, and opportunity costs in planning, studies, relicensing, and decision-making.
Oversee significant operational budgets and sponsor high-profile capital and non-capital projects.
Manage consultant and vendor contracts supporting fish facilities, Natural Resources initiatives, and field operations.
Perform owner’s representative functions for assigned capital projects.
Ensure fish facility operations, fisheries resource management, and related aquatic and terrestrial activities comply with FERC license requirements, applicable permits, and other regulatory obligations.
Maintain effective systems for tracking regulatory commitments, project progress, operational data, documentation, and reporting.
Provide clear operational updates to leadership and elevate significant issues with recommended actions.