Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program Manager (EMS Band 4)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

23d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program Manager (EMS Band 4) within the Executive Leadership Team. This position is responsible for guiding Washington’s statewide efforts to protect and restore shorelands, wetlands, coastal areas, and floodplains; strengthen community resilience; advance clean energy siting; and support conservation and hazard-mitigation initiatives across diverse landscapes. The role serves as the executive leader for the Department of Ecology’s Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program, integrating science, planning, policy, permitting, funding, and community partnerships. The Program Manager provides strategic leadership and direction for major state and federal programs, oversees complex regulatory and policy work, and cultivates partnerships that support resilient ecosystems, sustainable community development, and climate preparedness. This is a highly visible executive role responsible for providing statewide leadership on shorelands, wetlands, floodplains, coastal management, hazard mitigation, conservation partnerships, and clean energy project coordination. The position represents Ecology’s environmental, scientific, and policy interests with Tribal governments, environmental justice advocates, local communities, academic institutions, regulated industries, partner agencies, elected officials, and the public. As a key member of the Department’s Executive Leadership Team, this role represents the Director and agency leadership, serves as a trusted advisor on policy, planning, and regulatory issues, provides scientific, policy, and strategic leadership, and collaborates across programs to align statewide work. The position also advocates for a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and respectful workplace culture.

Requirements

Demonstrated expertise in environmental, physical or natural science, environmental studies, engineering, public administration, planning, public policy, political science, law, or another related qualifying discipline. This expertise can be demonstrated through professional degrees and/or professional and lived experience.
Demonstrated professional level management experience which includes: Strategic Leadership, Budget and Planning – Proven track record setting clear vision and direction to guide managers and staff toward achieving long-term agency- and program goals, including the development of annual and biennial plans and budgets that articulate future direction.
Ethical and Inclusive Leadership – Demonstrated proficiency in modeling high ethical standards and fostering a diverse, equitable, and respectful workplace to support effective public service.
Communication and Relationship Building – Proven experience communicating complex information clearly and building strong internal and external partnerships, to include engaging with Tribal governments on natural resources management issues.
Program and Policy Management – Demonstrated skills in leading and integrating multiple environmental programs to ensure consistent implementation of statewide policies, procedures, and rules.
Intergovernmental and Partner Coordination – Proven track record collaborating with federal, state, local, and Tribal partners to negotiate agreements and advance shared environmental goals.
Resource and Workforce Stewardship – Demonstrated proficiency in allocating resources, making staffing decisions, and developing the workforce to support effective program delivery.
Regulatory and Compliance Oversight – Demonstrated skills in authorizing, issuing, or approving permits, enforcement actions, and legal decisions to ensure compliance with environmental laws.
Environmental Regulatory Expertise – Proven track record interpreting and applying environmental statutes such as SEPA, SMA, CZMA, and Section 401 to ensure defensible and consistent decisions.
Watershed and Systems Integration – Experience integrating statutory responsibilities across environmental programs to support watershed-based management and cross-program alignment.
Rulemaking and Guidance Development – Demonstrated proficiency in developing rules and statewide guidance to achieve consistent, legally sound implementation across diverse jurisdictions.

Nice To Haves

Desired Education: involving a major study in public administration, business administration, environmental management, natural sciences, natural resources, environmental sciences, physical sciences, engineering, planning, or other related field.
Involvement in scientific/technical services issues in the environmental, natural resource management and/or health protection fields.
Experience using advanced management, communication, negotiation and consensus building skills with high-level, influential, elected and appointed officials.
Providing leadership to a large staff of over 100 employees.
Experience managing diverse fund sources.
Member of a senior or executive leadership team.
Advanced knowledge of the Puget Sound Partnership.
Advanced knowledge of the Clean Water Act.
Working knowledge of State Environmental Policy Act Experience and a successful record of accomplishment working with state agencies, city, county and federal governments.
Experience as a second-level supervisor.
Experience leading or managing in a large agency or organization.
Working in or collaborating with state government.
Experience working with or applying policy decisions from the Washington Health Disparities Map.

Responsibilities

Planning, leading, organizing, and directing the statewide Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program by negotiating program scope, priorities, resources, and outcomes.
Overseeing the development and implementation of policies, rules, and guidance that shape statewide shorelands, wetlands, floodplain management, clean energy coordination, and coastal resilience—affecting all 39 counties and numerous regulated entities.
Leading the program’s strategic direction to align shorelands protection, watershed-based planning, coastal management, hazard mitigation, clean energy siting, and community conservation initiatives with Ecology’s mission and statewide environmental priorities.
Administering state and delegated federal programs including the Shoreline Management Act, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Coastal Zone Management Act, the Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Program, and wetland and floodplain management authorities.
Managing the program’s operating and capital budgets, personnel, and resources to ensure responsible, transparent, and effective stewardship of public funds.
Hiring, leading, and developing managers, supervisors, and senior policy staff while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing workplace that supports diversity, staff engagement, and professional growth.
Ensuring high-quality, defensible regulatory and scientific outcomes across program functions including planning, permitting, wetlands and flood hazard review, clean energy coordination, coastal hazard mitigation, and community-based conservation.
Overseeing major statewide initiatives such as Floodplain by Design; Wetland Mitigation Banking; Shoreline Management Act; critical areas ordinances under the Growth Management Act; and the stewardship, research, education, and community science missions of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Northwest Straits Commission, and the Washington Conservation Corps.
Serving as Washington’s designated Coastal Manager, representing the state before federal agencies and negotiating on matters related to the Coastal Zone Management Act.
Coordinating Ecology’s disaster response activities related to severe storms, catastrophic floods, wildfires, and other natural hazards through deployment of Washington Conservation Corps resources.
Building and maintaining strong partnerships with Tribes; federal, state, and local government partners; conservation organizations; environmental justice advocates; regulated entities; and community-based organizations.
Integrating SEA’s work across Ecology programs—especially Water Quality, Water Resources, Toxics Cleanup, Climate Pollution Reduction, and Environmental Assessment—to promote watershed-based, cross-program alignment and effective statewide outcomes.