Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager - Region 3 - WMS Band 1 - Permanent - 2026-06506

Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager (ARHPM) – South Central Region 3

Classification - WMS Band 1

Job Status
- Full-Time/Permanent WDFW Program – Habitat Program Duty Station – Ellensburg, Washington (Kittitas County) is the current duty station, however, depending on the successful candidate, Yakima, Washington (Yakima County) may be considered.

South Central Region 3 Counties Served
- Benton, Franklin, Kittitas, and Yakima counties.

Remote Employment – This position may include telework options up to 2 days per week, at the discretion of the supervisor.

Help shape the future of fish and wildlife habitat conservation in Washington!

As the Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager (ARHPM), you will lead a team of habitat professionals responsible for implementing regulatory programs and advancing habitat conservation throughout South Central Region 3.

This is an opportunity to oversee complex and high-profile projects, work collaboratively with partners to achieve sustainable conservation, and provide tactical leadership on hydraulic permitting, land use planning, forest practices, mitigation, and restoration.

In this role, you will help ensure consistent implementation of agency policies, collaborate with Tribal governments, local governments, state and federal agencies, and stakeholders, and contribute to regional and statewide strategies that protect and restore fish and wildlife habitats for future generations.

What to Expect
- As our Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager (ARHPM), you will shape habitat conservation outcomes through tactical leadership and management, internal and external collaboration, and influence in shaping new policies and guidance.

Key responsibilities include:

Management:

• Provide immediate management, supervision, and guidance of professional Habitat Program staff within South Central Region 3.
• Provide clear and timely communication of agency policies, procedures, and guidance.
• Coach, train, mentor, perform workload planning/prioritization, and performance management in the following areas:
  Hydraulic Project Approvals, Project Level engagement in Land Use, Forest Practices, and Aquatic and/or Terrestrial Restoration.
• Manage and coordinate the distribution of information and receive feedback from staff and ensure compliance with policy, procedures, and guidance in the above-listed work areas, as well as the following major policy areas:
  Hydraulic Compliance Actions, Planning level engagement in land use actions, Forest Health and Stewardship, Aquatic and Terrestrial Restoration, Fish Passage and Screening, and Energy and Major Projects.

District Policy Lead and Liaison:

• For new and updated policies, procedures and guidance, work within the Senior Management Team (SMT) to develop and maintain a consistent state-wide approach to implement new and updated policies, procedures and guidance.
• Actively engaged in the SMT to identify issues that are common across regions and/or the state finds broad solutions and support for engagement from the Program Leadership.
• Serve as Liaison and Policy Lead within the cross-program District(s) for projects/issues/processes that are impacted by new or redirected policies or significant initiatives.
• Build and maintain key internal District relationships in order to gain perspective on goals and objectives and work collaboratively in resolving or flagging issues and finding solutions that are mutually beneficial.

Program Strategic Planning:

• Actively engage with the SMT to assist Program Leadership in Program or Agency level short-term and long-term strategic planning.
• Work with Regional Habitat Program Manager (RHPM) and SMT to review and provide feedback and bring regional perspectives to strategic planning efforts.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards:

Work is performed in an office and outdoor environment. May encounter adverse weather and sea conditions, noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, long periods of squatting, walking, boating, climbing in and out of boats, carrying, kneeling, rarely lifting heavy objects such as electrofishers (up to 40 lbs. unassisted), standing in confined spaces, slippery surfaces, biting and stinging insects/vegetation, and the use of knives.

Fieldwork may also include uneven terrain, biting and pinching animals, possible encounters with wildlife, and at times working independently, in remote locations during the day and at night.

This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments, walking over rough terrain for short distances (