Watershed Planning Unit Supervisor (WMS1)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Watershed Planning Unit Supervisor (WMS1) within the Water Quality Program. This position is located at the Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. The role involves supervising a headquarters unit of seven staff who provide environmental and policy services and support regulatory decisions to protect water quality across the state. The supervisor is responsible for the effective and efficient management of the unit, which provides policy direction, technical support, coordination, and oversight for the nonpoint and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL/water clean plans) programs statewide. The supervisor will work with their team to protect and restore water quality in streams, rivers, and lakes across the state, and as a working supervisor, will engage in a wide range of activities.

Requirements

Nine (9) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position.
Environmental Program & Regulatory Expertise - Experience in applying environmental laws and policies to ensure organizational decisions and deliverables meet federal and state requirements.
Strategic Planning & Performance Management - Experience in planning and tracking program work to meet commitments and demonstrate measurable progress.
Interagency & Partner Coordination - Experience in collaborating with external partners to align efforts and achieve consistent environmental outcomes.
Leadership & Team Development - Ability to guide and support staff to build a high-performing, collaborative team.
Human Resource Management - Experience in recruiting, developing, and evaluating employees to maintain a capable and effective workforce.
Workload, Project, and Resource Management - Ability to prioritize tasks and manage budgets and resources to ensure timely, efficient completion of work.
Technical Communication - Ability to clearly explain complex environmental and policy issues to support informed decisions by staff, leadership, and partners.
Education involving a major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, engineering, planning, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.
Examples of how to qualify: 9 years of experience.
8 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
7 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
6 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
5 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
3 years of experience AND a Master’s degree or above.

Nice To Haves

Education or experience in management and supervision.
Clean Water Act regulatory experience.
Experience planning and executing large complex projects.

Responsibilities

Serve as program resource for policy and program development for the state nonpoint and TMDL programs.
Serve as a program liaison on inter-program and inter-agency work groups, and coordinate with relevant governmental, professional, and industry officials.
Provide oversight and recommendations associated with nonpoint enforcement and penalties.
Serve as liaison with the Environmental Protection Agency for issues related to the nonpoint and TMDL programs.
Assure that all work performed by the unit is consistent with existing law and regulation.
Meet deadlines established by the Environmental Protection Agency for production of state nonpoint plans and for submission of nonpoint program annual reports.
Meet deadlines and reporting requirements in the TMDL settlement agreement and the performance partnership agreement.
Manage recruiting and hiring of staff in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and civil service rules.
Support effective communications throughout the agency.
Maintain the highest standards of personal/professional and ethical conduct and support the state's goals for a diverse workforce.
Plan and schedule unit workload, coordinate annual planning, establish priorities, assign tasks, facilitate intra- and inter-program project teams, monitor status of unit tasks and commitments, and ensure timeliness of employee assignments.
Manage unit budget and monitor expenditures, approve leave, timesheets, training requests, travel expenses vouchers, and purchasing requests.
Evaluate unit staffing needs, initiate personnel actions, prepare position descriptions and essential functions analyses, interview and recommend staff hires, arrange training and professional development opportunities, evaluate staff performance, and initiate or recommend corrective actions.
Assure the timely completion of required or appropriate report submissions, plans, publications, recommendations, and other required products.
Provide detailed review of documents to ensure that staff documents and recommendations are consistent with state and federal laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines.