Senior Green Seattle Partnership Planner

Full Job Description

About Seattle Parks and Recreation:
Seattle Parks ando Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is to equip employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community. We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Delivering excellent customer service to all is a core value.

Equity & Inclusion
Seattle Parks and Recreation commits to advancing equity and social justice in our department and in every neighborhood by growing a dynamic and diverse workforce, developing strong investments, growth opportunities and beneficial partner strategies as we acknowledge and pledge to close disparities created by historical practices which often hindered workforce development, environmental justice, access to quality open spaces, programs and facilities. #OneSeattle

About The Division:

Based at Jefferson Park on Beacon Hill, the Natural Resource Unit (NRU) leads natural area management, urban forestry, horticulture, Integrated Pest Management, wildlife management, trails, turf and heavy equipment operations city-wide for the department.

We pride ourselves on delivering high quality projects and land care that support community access and enjoyment while prioritizing environmental integrity.

About The Position:

The Natural Resource Unit is seeking a qualified candidate to join the Ecology Team as the Senior Green Seattle Partnership (GSP) Planner.

This role builds SPR’s capacity to support GSP, a unique public-private program to restore ecological function and community connections in natural area parks across Seattle.

GSP is motivated by the following 10-Year Vision that was crafted as part of a recent Strategic Action Plan effort, available at: www.greenseattle.org/strategic-plan.

We see Seattle as a thriving, equitable city that supports urban ecosystems and community members. We remain committed to restoring Seattle’s urban forests, waterways, and natural areas, while fostering a culture of belonging and connection that benefits the health of the Salish Sea region.

In service to our vision, we share stewardship programming, restore ecological health, expand access to green spaces, and reconnect people to land care. Our work is relational, guided by accountability, anti-racism, and environmental justice values that support a healthy environment for all.

This position will advance equitable and effective programming for the Green Seattle Partnership, caring for community partnerships while building strategies and systems through a climate and environmental justice lens. The body of work includes public engagement and communications, ecological restoration planning, strategy and policy development.

Requirements

• Lead GSP community engagement efforts, building programming approaches in close coordination with community leaders, partnering organizations, city staff, and professional crews. Grow new relationships.
• Support GSP program delivery by developing contracts, scoping tasks, and negotiating terms with consultants, partner organizations and blanket vendors (i.e. agreements for ecological restoration services or plant production).
• Ensure successful implementation of the GSP Strategic Action Plan, scoping annual work plans, developing tracking tools, and reporting outcomes. Organize future strategic planning efforts.
• Coordinate the GSP Strategic Action Plan Working Circles, which are small groups that will inform and craft programming updates outlined in the 2026-2028 GSP Strategic Action Plan.
• Prepare planning reports, research and analyses that supports the delivery of programming and captures the value of GSP. Collaborate across disciplines and agencies to integrate emerging science along with community knowledge.
• Develop and coordinate knowledge sharing workshops or other educational materials for GSP contractors, partner organizations, and volunteers to advance collaboration and effectiveness of GSP programming.
• Manage digital content and storytelling efforts, including GSP website and social media.
• Manage grant applications, project implementation, and reporting.
• Draft and present to department leadership on programming outcomes or policy recommendations informed by research findings/data in support of program compliance and best practices.
• Build and maintain working relationships within the unit, department, City, and with external entities to advance program delivery, contribute to a culture of collaboration, and align the team’s efforts with community and City priorities.
• Support Tribal Consultation and early engagement.
• Design and implement ecological restoration actions and nature-based solutions in collaboration with the Green Seattle Partnership team.
• Performs other related duties of a comparable level type as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Requires three years of experience in planning and research related to land use, urban economics, human services, environmental issues, conservation; or other work directly related to City planning and development activities; and a baccalaureate degree in planning, urban design, environmental studies, public administration or related field (or a combination of education and/or experience and/or training which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Desired Qualifications - You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• Expertise in climate and environmental justice, including experience with community-led planning efforts, collaborative partnership models and tree equity.
• Project management skills and experience, including strong organization skills, leadership skills, and an ability to maintain workflows to meet project deliverables.
• Knowledge of Pacific Northwest native plant communities, ecosystem health, and cultural resource stewardship.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including public engagement strategies, meeting facilitation, social media, and multimodal storytelling.
• Ability to provide high-quality customer service, responding to volunteers, the public, staff and partners in a timely, thorough, and respectful manner.
• Experience supporting career exposure and job training programming.
• Experience applying for and managing grant funding.
• Master’s Degree related to restoration ecology, urban planning, or a closely related field.

Special Working Conditions and Work Schedule:

• This position reports to Jefferson Horticulture Facility on Beacon Hill and includes the opportunity to telework up to 2 days per week.
• Work may be performed in the field including city park locations and/or in a normal office/work environment.

Additional Information