Policy Lead - Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL)-Environmental Planner 5-Permanent-2026-08441

Title – Policy Lead - Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) Classification – Environmental Planner 5 (EP5) Job Status - Full-Time/Permanent WDFW Program – Habitat Program - Ecosystem Services Division/Puget Sound Section Duty Station – Olympia, Washington – Thurston County Hybrid/Telework - This position offers a hybrid work schedule, with at least one day per week onsite at the Olympia, WA duty station and up to four days of telework. The selected candidate must be available to work onsite for in-person meetings and to meet business needs. Posting Timeframe - This recruitment is scheduled to be posted until October 25, 2026. First review of applications will take place on October 19, 2026. Application review is ongoing, and applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible. Following the first review date, this recruitment may be closed at any time.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption: Fir Island Farm Unit - Estuary, Restoration Project- Photo Credit: Alan L. Bauer

As the co-lead of the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead program with Washington State Department of Natural Resources, you will provide leadership, vision, and program management to advance habitat protection and restoration across the Puget Sound. This is an opportunity to collaborate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state agencies, Tribes, and other partners to address complex conservation challenges, engage communities through recreation and stewardship, and advance science-informed solutions for Washington’s most pressing fish and wildlife questions. With your experience, you will guide Puget Sound-wide strategic planning and implementation, oversee the grant program investments, and co-lead and supervise the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead program staff.

Photo Caption: Aerial View of Island Unit in Skagit Wildlife Area – Photo Credit: Curran Cosgrove

What to Expect -

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Policy Lead will collaborate with HSIL co-leads at partner agencies to:

Lead the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) team:

• Recruit, select, develop and lead the HSIL team including staff from multiple agencies.
• Supervise WDFW staff comprised of senior planners and grant managers.
• Develop, maintain and update the SIL staffing plans and annual work plans to guide the prioritization of activities and capacity.
• Create a collaborative and coordinated team environment and ensure HSIL staff can be successful in their work.

Oversee HSIL implementation and adaptive management of strategic frameworks for Puget Sound recovery:

• Lead and support coordination and collaboration with Puget Sound Partnership, the Management Conference, other Strategic Initiative Leads (SILs), state agencies, Puget Sound tribes, Local Integrating Organizations, and others to accelerate Puget Sound recovery and advance the strategies and actions in the Puget Sound Action Agenda.
• Facilitate multi-disciplinary teams to advance Action Agenda Topics and Implementation Strategies assigned in the cooperative agreement.

Manage the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Cooperative Agreement:

• Manage a multi-million-dollar budget including making decisions on staffing, allocations to eligible activities, etc.
• Maintain effective working relationships to develop and implement program policies and activities with key WDFW sections and programs including but not limited to the Contracts Office, Cultural Resources Division, Fiscal, Tribal Liaison and Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE).
• Implement the administrative tasks of the EPA Cooperative Agreement.
• Communicate and coordinate regularly with the EPA Project Officer.

Oversee Grant Programs:

• Assign responsibility and oversee implementation of processes to select investment priorities and to award funding.
• Ensure processes have appropriate technical and program oversight, agency awareness, and meet all federal and state requirements.
• Oversee grant program operation implementation including development and implementation of program procedures, risk management, and make programmatic policy decisions

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards: Work is performed almost exclusively indoors in an office environment. Schedule: Standard business hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., may be expected to adjust work schedule to meet business needs and a flexible work schedule may be considered at the incumbent’s request and is subject to supervisory approval. Travel Requirements: Some travel is required, and is typically local or regional, to meet with partners, conduct business, or to attend or provide training. Customer Interactions: Frequent contact (likely daily) with clients, including some contact with those who may be frustrated.

Qualifications:

Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in natural resource or environmental science, natural resource or environmental planning, restoration ecology, public administration or public policy or a closely related field. AND all of the following experience (may be gained concurrently):

• Five (5) years of professional experience in natural resource or environmental policy, planning, management, or program development.
• Two (2) years of the above experience must include professional management or supervisory experience with performance management responsibilities.
• Experience developing and maintaining collaborative working relationships and building partnerships with local, state, and federal governmental agencies, tribes, and the public regarding issues pertaining to habitat protection and restoration.
• Experience leading and facilitating large and diverse work groups including participants from multiple levels of government (local, state, and federal), tribes, Non-Government Organizations, or other industries.
• Experience with Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.

Please Note: The following education substitutions do not apply to the required supervisory experience:

• A Masters in a relevant field of study may substitute for two (2) years of the required professional experience.
• A PhD. in a relevant field of study may substitute for three (3) years of the required professional experience.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid Driver’s License.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:

A Master's degree or above with major emphasis 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 AND Five (5) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

Experience with the following:

• The Puget Sound Action Agenda and Puget Sound recovery goals including environmental planning principles, techniques, and current trends of resource development and management in Puget Sound.
• Natural resource laws, policies, and programs and how these affect and/or enable fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation in Washington State, and the ability to interpret and apply them in order to achieve expected results.
• Governmental administrative structure, environmental laws, policies, and governmental programs related to natural resource conservation and management at local, state and federal levels.
• Environmental social, political, and economic factors affecting development and implementation of local and state environmental resource programs.

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

Important Note: All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice: Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at [email protected].

• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.• Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.

• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2026-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)

• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email [email protected], or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties: If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or [email protected].

Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to [email protected] and reference job #2026-08441.

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