Capital Program & Project Manager

Full Job Description

Are you passionate about participating in habitat restoration projects that enhance riverine, wetland, and nearshore habitat? Do you enjoy engaging with future leaders through hands-on experience and training opportunities for young adults? The Habitat Restoration Unit (HRU) of King County's Water and Land Resource Division (WLRD) has a position that oversees the three Washington Conservation Corps crews we sponsor and offers excellent opportunities to apply your project management skills, technical and scientific knowledge, and love for the environment to implement projects that make a difference!

About the Role:

The Capital Program & Project Manager’s (Capital Project Manager III) primary responsibilities will be to manage and coordinate the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) program and lead capital project teams in the planning, design, and implementation of restoration projects which range in size, complexity, and visibility.

On Capital projects, you will manage multidisciplinary teams working closely with ecologists, engineers, geologists, project managers, planners, other professionals, and consultants to implement salmon recovery plans.

In overseeing WCC you will work closely with the WA State Department of Ecology, capital project managers, and WCC supervisors and corps members to manage crew logistics and train, direct, and oversee work.

You will frequently coordinate and collaborate with staff throughout the HRU and other sections in WLRD while also coordinating and communicating verbally and in writing with interested parties such as Tribal representatives, regulatory agencies, property owners, and the public.

You will have opportunities to participate in key Department and County initiatives such as promoting equity and social justice, considering climate change, organizational development, process improvement committees, and mentoring junior staff.

About the Division:

The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is at the forefront of King County’s efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change.

We are a dedicated workforce of more than 450 supported by an annual budget of ~$280 million.

WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to protect working farms and forests, restore habitat, improve water quality, and provide county residents with equitable access to green space.

We house the Land Conservation Initiative, which aims to preserve our last, most important lands.

Our forestry and agricultural programs help individuals protect their lands and support local food production.

We house four salmon recovery forums where we collaborate with scores of partners to plan, design, and build habitat projects.

We partner with regional jurisdictions to help residents and businesses reduce the threats posed by production, use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials.

We are the primary service provider to the King County Flood Control District, contributing to flood preparedness and constructing and maintaining facilities that restore rivers and reduce risk.

Our one true local service to unincorporated King County is stormwater management, protecting water quality, reducing flooding, and building and maintaining facilities.

Finally, we provide regional science and laboratory services to an array of customers, maintaining high-quality data sets used to assess water quality and habitat trends, and provide Best Available Science to inform decision making.

In two words, we are a watershed utility.

The Habitat Restoration Unit designs and implements innovative restoration and mitigation projects across the watersheds of unincorporated King County.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity

Requirements

What You Will Be Doing:

• Manage all aspects of WLRD’s Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) program including budgeting, contracting, coordinating with the WA State Department of Ecology, management reporting, and Division-wide coordination.
• Coordinate daily operations of the WCC program by overseeing the work of WCC support staff, working closely with the Small Habitat Restoration Program (SHRP) manager, the Monitoring and Maintenance Program manager, basin stewards, noxious weeds staff, and capital project managers from the Capital Delivery and River and Floodplain Management sections to schedule crews, manage crew logistics, direct and oversee on-site work, complete billings, and respond to the needs of WCC crews in the field.
• Oversee the work of technical, multidisciplinary capital project teams as project manager in the planning, design, permitting, and implementation of habitat restoration and mitigation projects.
• Serve as technical expert in ecology applying native plant identification and invasive species control skills to design and implement planting plans, develop and direct maintenance plans, and ensure successful revegetation on capital projects.
• Proactively apply principles of Equity and Social Justice to build and maintain relationships both within King County and with other jurisdictions, governmental agencies, tribes and other interested parties through effective communication and engagement efforts as needed to plan and implement capital projects.
  

Qualifications

Qualifications You Bring:

• A combination of education and experience in a relevant field or discipline (water resources, environmental science, natural resource management, ecology, urban/regional planning, conservation, environmental education) that clearly demonstrates the skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform the core work duties of the position.
• Demonstrated experience managing and implementing restoration programs or capital projects, including cost projections, budget management, scheduling, design, permitting, and inspection.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and be responsible for field crews, and train them in simple construction techniques, planting and plant maintenance, native plant and noxious weed identification, wetland and riparian ecology, equipment uses, equipment maintenance, and occupational safety.
• Knowledge of and ability to identify native, noxious, and invasive plants of Western Washington; how to use native plants in environmental restoration projects; and how to use best management practices to control noxious and invasive plants.
• Demonstrated understanding of and experience working in situations requiring cross-cultural sensitivity and centering racial equity, social justice principles, and environmental justice.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written forms.

Competencies You Bring:

• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Experience implementing habitat restoration, flood protection, stormwater, or related capital projects in floodplain or nearshore environments similar to those in the Pacific Northwest.
• Demonstrated proficiency using Geographical Positioning Systems (GPS), Geographical Information Systems (e.g., ArcGIS Pro), and MS Excel for data analysis.

Additional Information

Working Conditions:

Work Location: The Habitat Restoration Unit works in a hybrid model, with days in the office and field as well as telecommuting.

The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104).

Other work locations are at project sites and other site locations near the rivers and Puget Sound nearshore areas of King County.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.

The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Work Schedule: This full-time position will work a 40-hour work week. The position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.

The typical work schedule is 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday– Friday and flexible schedules may be negotiated with supervisors.

Work outside the typical work schedule, including early mornings, evenings and weekends, may be required from time to time.

Union Representation: This position is represented by the PROTEC Local 17A union.

Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to conduct physical site inspections and evaluations, including in times of inclement weather conditions with slippery, uneven surfaces or other dynamic conditions.

Field conditions include nearshore areas with steep bluffs and beaches with variable substrate size and wetlands, rivers, and floodplains in brushy, forested environments, ravines, and agricultural lands.

Work tasks may also include in-water situations involving wading and the use of rafts.

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified current King County employees, but first consideration will be given to all current King County PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit employees eligible for a lateral transfer (transferring within the Capital Project Manager III classification and having passed probation). We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Cover Letter
• Resume

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Dani Mudd at 206-477-6997 or dmudd@kingcounty.gov.

Discover More About the Division: Visit our website.

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our webs­ite, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce.

To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity.

Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards.

We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully.

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