(SNOHOMISH COUNTY ONLY) Watershed Steward

Full Job Description

Surface Water Management (SWM) Division of Snohomish County Conservation and Natural Resources 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.

The Division is seeking a highly qualified candidate to fill a Watershed Steward position to work in the Floodplain Services Section.

This position will lead and manage the Noxious Weed Control Program in Snohomish County.

The position will lead up to five seasonal technicians in the implementation of noxious weed control from May to October (weather dependent), support the Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control Board, and supervise the storage, maintenance and use of noxious weed spray equipment.

The position sometimes involves communicating with landowners and staffing Noxious Weed information booths.

This position is housed at our native plant and noxious weed facility just outside of Monroe, WA.

Our ideal candidate shows excellent customer service traits, is self-directed and works well in a team environment.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate expertise in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships internally in the county and with other agencies and stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be able to prioritize and track their work, as well as have excellent written and verbal communication skills.

The successful candidate will have qualities in alignment with SWM’s core values of providing and demonstrating high quality service, leadership, stewardship, accountability, respect, and integrity and be able to positively contribute to the overall management of the Floodplain Services group and the entire SWM division.

Successful applicants will have background and experience in natural resource conservation and stewardship, riparian best management practices, soils science, riparian restoration, outreach, developing and tracking project budgets, grants, and contracts.

Professional experience working in riverine, riparian, wetland environments, reading design plans and specifications, is desired.

We value the ability to analyze issues, develop solutions using creativity and ingenuity and clearly communicate complex data to varied audiences.

The successful applicant must possess a WA State applicator license with Aquatic and ROW endorsements or be able to obtain one in the first six months of employment.

Come join our team and build a career in the great northwest!

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.

Surface Water Management Overview

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.

Requirements

1. Develops, recommends and implements approved goals and policies for a defined watershed or program.
2. Manages and coordinates major water quality, quantity and habitat issues which involve significant planning, engineering, legal, finan­cial, political and aquatic issues; consults with other county departments and divisions and secures departmental and council approvals as required; consults with other county jurisdictions and agencies as required.
3. Provides technical assistance regarding such things as minor flooding, erosion control, marine resources, and water quality matters to residents in a surface water management area.
4. Plans, develops and implements water projects or activities within a specific watershed that integrate recommendations of county and regional planning efforts, that are consistent with regulatory re­quirements and that have the greatest potential for improvement in surface water quality, quantity and related habitats in the watershed.
5. Compiles and tracks all information and data relevant to watershed management; creates data bases of information regard­ing water quality, quantity, habitat and flooding.
6. Prepares, submits and manages various grant proposals; drafts and monitors grant award contracts; coordinates and monitors work completed by grant funded subcontractors; administers non accounting aspects of minor grants.
7. Serves as a staff representative on various technical advisory committees, commissions and interest groups; coordinates the for­mation and activities of various groups as necessary.
8. Responds to conflicts and questions from and serves as liaison between the general public, government and private officials, the media and interest groups.
9. Recruits citizen volunteers and coordinates volunteer activities for protecting water quality and preventing drainage problems in a defined watershed.
10. Gives presentations to various groups in Snohomish County; at­tends meetings and participates in or leads discussions.
11. Arranges for, sets up and/or participates in public meetings, hearings and council sessions; develops strategic approaches for presenting sensitive issues and information to a variety of audiences; acts as divisional representative; prepares or super­vises the preparation of graphics, displays, brochures, leaflets and slide/tape shows; prepares oral and written presentations including findings and reports; responds to questions and solic­ its input as appropriate.

1. Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications

Additional Information

• principles and practices of surface water management issues
• research and data collection techniques
• current literature, trends, regulations and developments in the surface water management field
• use of personal computers and related software, including geographic information systems (GIS)

• work effectively with a cross-section of watershed residents, businesses, specific interest groups and agencies
• gather, evaluate and document technical data
• read, interpret and apply legal documents
• independently prepare and implement comprehensive programs
• apply technical data to practical in-field problems 
• supervise technical staff involved in implementing surface water programs including contractors
• plan, organize and supervise the work of technical staff and volunteers
• attend occasional evening meetings and weekend events