Principal Planner (Environmental Planner 5)

Full Job Description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Principal Planner (Environmental Planner 5) within the Office of Chehalis Basin.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• You may telework most of your work time with occasional required in-person meetings and activities at the Headquarters Office or within the Chehalis Basin.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by April 28, 2026
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

Requirements

As the Office of Chehalis Basin Principal Planner, you will work with Tribes, local cities and counties, and community partners to design and guide effective floodplain management programs.

As a key advisor to the Office Director and the appointed Chehalis Basin Board, you will draw on your knowledge of aquatic habitat restoration and flood policy to help develop innovative policies, funding programs, and strategic initiatives that address flooding, fish recovery, and land-use challenges across the Basin for decades to come.

You will supervise a team of planners and project managers, ensuring strong coordination across interdisciplinary initiatives while supporting staff growth and development.

The Office of Chehalis Basin is piloting new approaches to building consensus around flooding, fish, and farms, and in this role you will contribute to statewide and national conversations on improving floodplain management.

This position offers meaningful opportunities for professional development in program design, collaborative problem-solving, Tribal coordination, and interagency partnership – allowing you to make a lasting impact on the Basin’s communities and natural resources.

Your work in this role will help shape the future of floodplain management and aquatic habitat restoration in one of Washington’s most dynamic watersheds.

What you will do:

• Develop and update programs, policies, and funding guidelines that support aquatic species restoration and flood damage reduction.
• Supervise a team of three mid- to senior-level planners by setting priorities, assigning work, providing coaching, and supporting professional development.
• Build and maintain relationships with Tribal, local, state, and federal partners, and lead collaborative workgroups to advance shared goals.
• Manage solicitations and contracts with OCB’s fiscal team, including drafting scopes of work and reviewing invoices and deliverables.
• Review and approve technical materials and financial assistance documents to ensure accuracy and alignment with OCB policy.
• Present complex technical and policy issues to the Chehalis Basin Board, Ecology leadership, and other partners.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Eleven (11) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

• Policy & Guidance – Ability to create, update, and apply policies, guidance, and program standards to ensure consistent and effective program delivery.

• Project & Grant Management – Ability to organize, oversee, and manage multiple projects, grants, and contracts to achieve desired results on time and within resources.

• Staff Leadership & Development – Ability to supervise, coach, and support staff, including hiring, training, and performance management, to build a capable and high-performing team.

• Collaboration & Partnership – Ability to work effectively with agencies, Tribes, local governments, and external partners to achieve shared objectives.

• Communication Skills – Ability to clearly convey information and recommendations in writing and presentations to diverse audiences including leadership, boards, and staff.

• Technical & Regulatory Knowledge – Ability to understand and apply environmental laws, policies, and scientific input to guide program and policy decisions.

• Education involving a major study 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.
  

Examples of how to qualify:

• 11 years of experience.
• 10 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 9 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 8 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 7 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 5 years of experience AND a Master’s degree or higher.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Desired Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of state, federal, and local permitting requirements associated with riparian and in-water restoration work.

• Working knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program and associated state and federal floodplain management regulations.

• Experience providing technical assistance to local governments, community organizations, and/or private landowners regarding aquatic species habitat restoration work.

• Certified AICP Planner.

• Certified Flood Plain Manager (CFM).

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.

At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Additional Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Our Commitment to DEIR

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work.

We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities.

Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly.

A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa.

Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful.

The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Nat Kale at Nat.Kale@ecy.wa.gov
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov

About the Office of Chehalis Basin

The Office of Chehalis Basin works with the independent Chehalis Basin Board to create and implement the Chehalis Basin Strategy, a roadmap for reducing flood damages and restoring aquatic species throughout the land that drains to Grays Harbor.

The Chehalis Basin stretches from Aberdeen and Hoquiam in the northwest through Centralia and Chehalis and up to Pe Ell in the south, encompassing land from the Olympics, the Cascades, and the Willapa Hills.

The Basin contains timber lands, farms, rural communities and small cities, transportation links of state and Federal significance, and is uniquely the largest watershed in Washington State with no salmonid species listed under the Endangered Species Act.

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations.

Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy.

A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority.

We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave, 11 Paid Holidays per year, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology 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, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency.

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