Strategic Habitat Protection Lead - Environmental Planne V State of Washington in Washin

SGCN Strategic Habitat Protection Lead – Environmental Planner 5

Job Number: , Salary: $6,906.00 – $9,292.00 Monthly.

Location:

Thurston County – Olympia, WA. Job Type: Full Time, Permanent. Remote Employment:
Flexible/Hybrid. Department:
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife.

Successful candidate must be available to report to the duty station as needed. Telework option available.

With long‑term conservation in mind, you will develop and implement strategies that advance the voluntary protection of habitats in support of conservation and recovery of Species of Greatest Conservation Need. You thrive on building collaboration and teamwork, engaging internal cross‑programmatic expertise and external partners, Tribes, and the public.

• Coordinate with partners to develop habitat protection strategies and cultivate opportunities.
• Lead coordination with internal and external partners to develop habitat protection strategies that effectively conserve Species of Greatest Conservation Need, with particular emphasis on SGCN within the Wildlife Diversity Division portfolio such as songbirds, raptors, small mammals, butterflies, amphibians, and reptiles.
• Implement strategies by identifying, prioritizing, and cultivating habitat protection opportunities with willing sellers.
• Coordinate with partners to identify project leads, landowner points of contact, and intended future owners of real estate interests that have best chance of desired conservation outcome.
• Work with partners to ensure protection strategies are aimed at the goals of priority collaboratives such as the Joint Base Lewis‑McChord Sentinel Landscape and Washington Shrub steppe Restoration and Resiliency Initiative, as well as implementation of the Washington Habitat Connectivity Action Plan.
• Prioritize project opportunities through WDFW process to select conservation lands for acquisition (i.e., Lands 20/20).
• Facilitate internal and external conversations to gather and consolidate information and rationale to complete robust and well‑vetted internal real estate interest acquisition applications.
• Develop and deliver habitat protection grant applications; write and orally deliver grant applications for approved Lands 20/20 projects.
• Identify and pursue new/additional sources of funding for land protection.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with Lands and Real Estate colleagues, Regional Directors, Managers, and staff; and Game, Landowner Services, and Wildlife Diversity Division colleagues to ensure cross‑programmatic needs, processes and communication are integrated.

• Primarily office environment with exposure to typical government office hazards; occasional outdoor or water‑related tasks requiring work in inclement weather and difficult terrain.
• Full‑time, 40 hours per week. Schedule may vary; occasional evening or weekend work as needed.
• Local or regional travel required for meetings, property evaluations, training.
• Infrequent contact with public, including people who may be angry or frustrated; frequent contact with partners and stakeholders.

• Bachelor’s degree in natural resource, land use planning, wildlife policy, science, wildlife management, conservation biology or closely related field (or equivalent experience).
• Five (5) years of professional experience in wildlife conservation or habitat protection, including at least two years in: (1) conservation real estate property investigation and transaction, (2) conservation plan implementation.
• Experience facilitating resolution of complex management issues, researching and interpreting data, laws, rules, and policy; conveying complex ideas orally and in writing; building positive working relationships.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Preferred:
  Master’s degree or higher in landscape conservation planning, land use planning, environmental law, public administration, conservation biology, or related field.
• Direct experience with orchestrating complex conservation real estate acquisition strategies, species and habitat conservation planning, Habitat Conservation Plan development, grant‑writing, tribal consultation, multi‑party coordination, and leading teams.

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I‑9). The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal‑opportunity employer and encourages applicants from all backgrounds, including veterans, women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community.

For questions regarding this position, please email Cheri.

Potter.gov and reference job #.