Principal Planner; Environmental Planner

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

Position
:
Principal Planner (Environmental Planner
5) within the Office of Chehalis Basin

Location
:
Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. You must reside within a commutable distance from the duty station when hired.

Schedule
:
This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options. Telework may be possible for most work time with occasional required in-person meetings at the Headquarters Office or within the Chehalis Basin. Schedules are subject to position needs and may change.

Overview
:
As the Office of Chehalis Basin Principal Planner, you will work with Tribes, local cities and counties, and community partners to design and guide effective floodplain management programs. You will advise the Office Director and the Chehalis Basin Board, drawing on knowledge of aquatic habitat restoration and flood policy to help develop policies, funding programs, and strategic initiatives addressing flooding, fish recovery, and land-use challenges across the Basin for decades to come.

Responsibilities
:

• Develop and update programs, policies, and funding guidelines that support aquatic species restoration and flood damage reduction.
• Supervise a team of three mid- to senior-level planners by setting priorities, assigning work, coaching, and supporting professional development.
• Build and maintain relationships with Tribal, local, state, and federal partners; lead collaborative work groups to advance shared goals.
• Manage solicitations and contracts with the Office of Chehalis Basin’s fiscal team, including drafting scopes of work and reviewing invoices and deliverables.
• Review and approve technical materials and financial assistance documents to ensure accuracy and alignment with OCB policy.
• Present complex technical and policy issues to the Chehalis Basin Board, Ecology leadership, and other partners.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications
:

• Eleven (11) years of experience and/or education as described below in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.
• Experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development, including demonstrated competence in the following skill sets:

• Policy & Guidance – Ability to create, update, and apply policies, guidance, and program standards to ensure consistent and effective program delivery.
• Project & Grant Management – Ability to organize, oversee, and manage multiple projects, grants, and contracts to achieve results on time and within resources.
• Staff Leadership & Development – Ability to supervise, coach, and support staff, including hiring, training, and performance management.
• Collaboration & Partnership – Ability to work effectively with agencies, Tribes, local governments, and external partners.
• Communication Skills – Ability to clearly convey information and recommendations in writing and presentations to diverse audiences.
• Technical & Regulatory Knowledge – Ability to understand and apply environmental laws, policies, and scientific input.

• Education in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.

Examples of how to qualify
:

• 11 years of experience.
• 10 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 9 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 8 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 7 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 5 years of experience AND a Master’s degree or higher.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment
:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Desired Qualifications
:

• Working knowledge of state, federal, and local permitting requirements for riparian and in-water restoration work.
• Working knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program and related floodplain management regulations.
• Experience providing technical assistance to local governments, community organizations, and/or private landowners regarding aquatic species habitat restoration.
• Certified AICP Planner.
• Certified Flood Plain Manager (CFM).

Equal Opportunity Employer:
The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds.

Note
:
This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency.