Planner (Surface Water Management)

Full Job Description

Snohomish County Surface Water Management (SWM), a Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is hiring a Planner to join our team.

SWM works in partnership with other local and regional agencies and partners to improve Snohomish County now and for future generations.

SWM provides a variety of programs and services for reducing road and property flooding and preserving and improving the health of Snohomish County's water resources and natural systems.

We focus on four areas of service:

• Clean water in rivers, streams and lakes;
• Habitat for fish and aquatic wildlife;
• River flooding and erosion;
• Stormwater drainage systems.
  

SWM is seeking a highly motivated candidate for a Planner position to work in the Program Planning Section.

The position will support salmon recovery, water quality, watershed and floodplain planning efforts.

The Planner position will help coordinate and facilitate committees and internal teams, produce planning documents, write meeting summaries, develop communication tools and presentations, and write grant applications.

If you are dedicated, motivated and team-oriented with professional experience in natural resource planning in the areas of watersheds, floodplains, marine resources, water quality, and/or habitat protection and restoration, this is your opportunity to make a difference. We are looking for talented applicants with a proven track record of working collaboratively with colleagues, management, stakeholders, and other key partners. The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills, including speaking, writing, public speaking, collaborative decision making and problem resolution. This is a professional level position where the successful candidate shall demonstrate the ability to excel in a team environment and interact effectively with a diverse group of professionals.

Job offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

About Surface Water ManagementSWM is a stormwater utility that provides services to unincorporated Snohomish County.

These services are funded by service charges paid by property owners in the unincorporated county.

SWM is the largest division in Snohomish County’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with an annual budget of $54.6 million.

SWM works in partnership with other local and regional agencies to improve Snohomish County now and for future generations.

SWM provides a variety of programs and services for reducing road and property flooding and preserving and improving the health of Snohomish County's water resources and natural systems.

We focus on four core areas of service:

• Drainage and road flooding
• Clean water in rivers, streams and lakes;
• Salmon and marine habitat; and
• River flooding

You can find us responding to water-quality problems and complaints, monitoring river levels during flood season, maintaining drainage systems, managing habitat improvement projects and more.

For further information on Snohomish County Surface Water Management's programs, please go to www.surfacewater.info. Our 2024 Highlights report is available here.

About the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)The Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) includes the Division of Surface Water Management, the Division of Parks & Recreation, the Office of Energy and Sustainability and the Office of Agriculture and aims to achieve high-priority environmental sustainability goals.

Some of the greatest assets we have in Snohomish County are our unparalleled beauty and abundant natural resources.

From the Puget Sound and five watersheds, to forestland, lakes, farms, ranches and parks, our quality of life, economic prosperity and future sustainability are dependent on protecting and improving our environmental resources.

Visit the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources web page to learn more. For further information on Snohomish County Surface Water Management’s programs, please go to www.surfacewater.info.

About Snohomish CountySnohomish County, north of Seattle, is located in northwest Washington between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains.

The county has rich scenery, numerous activities, and a thriving economy. Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

When joining the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, you will work in an environment where innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement are highly encouraged and supported.

We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents.

We are invested in your success and growth and offer competitive wages, job flexibility and stability, employer paid ORCA cards, and a friendly, diverse team atmosphere where employees are appreciated and make a real difference providing services for our citizens.

We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a lifelong career.

Snohomish County - The Future We Choose

Benefits
Snohomish County will be invested in your success and growth. We demonstrate this by offering a generous compensation package to our employees. Your salary is only part of your Total Compensation Package. Our benefits include:

• Retirement: County employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
• Medical benefits: The County offers a choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plan with low deductibles. The county’s contribution to this benefit is significant.
• Sick leave: You will accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month.
• Vacation Leave: You will start out accruing 8 hours of vacation leave per month totaling 2.4 weeks of vacation in your first year. Your leave accruals increase based on your years of employment with the County.
• Holiday Pay: The County observes eleven (11) paid legal holidays per year and provides employees with two floating holidays annually.
• Other benefits include wellness, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, long term disability, and more.
• Deferred Compensation: If you choose to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), the County will match your contributions up to 1 percent of your base monthly salary.
• Pay Increases: Each year you will be eligible for a step increase until you reach the top step.
• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): County employees typically receive yearly cost of living adjustments.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Career development training.

Teleworking OptionsThe work associated with this position can be performed with a hybrid of remote work with at least one day of in-office work per week.

For employees who prefer to work in the office full time, that option is also available.

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.

Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. A Snohomish County Telework agreement is required for employees assigned to telework.

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

For information about this job opportunity and posting, please email: Vicki Remtulla.

Requirements

1. Serves as staff participant for assigned planning functions in the following disciplines; transportation, land, use, surface water, solid waste, or environmental science.
2. Conducts research, data analysis, data management, and statistical modeling; re­sponds to inquiries for plan, policy and code interpretations.
3. Analyzes issues and develop planning and policy proposals; assists in formulating plans and regulations, and present policy and plan recommendations to policy makers and the general public. Helps to implement plans and regulations.
4. Participates in monitoring plans and implementation strategies; contributes to amendments and revisions of plans as necessary.
5. Participates in public meetings, hearings and council sessions for program, comprehensive plan, investigations, and code amendments; prepares input to staff reports, and recommendations; prepares graphics, displays, brochures, and oral and written presentations.
6. Reviews and contribute to documents; reviews environmental assess­ments; reviews relevant plans, regulations and proposals by other agencies and jurisdictions.
7. Provides information and guidance to citizens regarding environmental processes and related best management practices.
8. Works with property and business owners to provide technical information regarding code interpretation, and advises the public of potential violations, compliance requirements and pollution prevention techniques.

1. Coordinates multi-agency site visits and meetings, coordinates referrals and follow-ups.
2. Implements portions of public involvement and information proc­esses; assists in support of county boards and committees; par­ticipates in county planning teams and processes.
3. Provides customer service functions and technical assistance to groups and individuals.

Qualifications

Additional Information

• the principles and practices of urban planning or environmental sciences
• planning related procedures and standards
• research and data collection techniques
• county and state clean water and stormwater laws, regulations, and standards
• best management practices to prevent surface water pollution
• current literature, trends, regulations and developments in the urban planning or environmental fields

• gather, evaluate and document technical planning or environmental data
• read, interpret and apply legal documents and descriptions
• synthesize research and use these results as a basis for recommendations
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• establish and maintain effective work relationships with all levels of county management and staff and the general public
• operate personal computers and applied software packages, such as databases, and GIS
• read, interpret and apply federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations and policies governing assigned duties
• communicate effectively with people of all ages and from a variety of cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds
• provide a strong customer service ethic
• interpret laws, codes, ordinances and regulations with firmness, tact and equity
• work with a minimum of supervision