Salmon Outdoor Grants Manager

The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time. It will be in your best interest to apply as soon as possible. Application review will begin immediately based on application order.

* This posting will fill two (2) vacancies within the Salmon Grants Section.

RCO is head‑quartered in Olympia, WA on the state's capital campus. RCO will consider candidates that can successfully do this job from another location (in‑state only) with occasional travel to Olympia for meetings and other functions.

(RCO) is a small state agency located in Olympia, Washington that plans for and provides funding to: create and maintain opportunities for recreation; protect the best of the state's wild lands, farms, and forests; and recover salmon. RCO strives to maintain a workplace that is respectful, inclusive, and family‑friendly where all team members feel safe to bring their true selves to work.

We believe in a culture where everyone continually improves and has the opportunity to lead.

A state that has abundant outdoor recreation spaces, healthy habitats, and working farms and forests that support people, fish, and wildlife.

The Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) is embedded within RCO and since 1999 has awarded salmon‑related grants across seven salmon recovery regions and 25 lead entities using a bottom‑up prioritization and funding approach termed the “Washington Way.” The Salmon Section staff support SRFB grants in salmon recovery, riparian, and Puget Sound focused programs.

The Salmon Section staff at RCO also support other salmon and habitat focused grant programs (called “office programs”) partnering with state agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Those “office programs” include the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP), the Brian Abbot Fish Barrier Removal Board (BAFBRB), the Family Forest Fish Passage Program (FFFPP), and the Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (WCRRI). This passionate and dedicated 17‑person team manages over 800 active projects, totaling nearly $500 million, and processes between 200‑300 new applications per year.

Someone that supports the mission of the agency by providing project level support for various grant programs that provide statewide funding for conservation, restoration, and salmon recovery projects. Interested candidates should have strong communication skills and be confident assisting a variety of people and organizations. Key components of this position include managing a portfolio of grant applications and funded projects, conducting workshops for prospective and successful project sponsors, reviewing and interpreting policy materials, conducting and documenting site visits, addressing compliance issues, and providing staff support to the various boards and committees.

Successful candidates are able to juggle multiple project tasks, competing priorities and demands.

Applicants should have interest in supporting healthy watersheds, restoring habitat, and salmon recovery. Familiarity with salmon and steelhead, and an understanding of habitat types from saltwater to the forested headwaters is ideal. We are looking for a hardworking, team‑oriented individual who can think critically, has outstanding customer service and communication skills, wants to be a leader, and is self‑directed.

• Manage restoration, fish passage, acquisition, and planning grants, as well as interagency agreements and contracts.
• Assist public agencies, nonprofit organizations, Native American tribes, and individuals in the development, preparation, and implementation of salmon recovery grants.
• Assist project applicants with preparing grant applications. Review grant applications to determine eligibility and completeness. Support applicants through applicable project review meetings and technical completion deadlines.
• Participate in project review and evaluation meetings.
• Use RCO’s PRISM grant management database to manage grant applications and funded projects.
• Develop and…