Surface Water Planning Manager

Full Job Description

The Surface Water Management (SWM) Division, within the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to manage key surface water programs and groups of highly talented staff and supervisors.

About the SWM Planning Manager position

The SWM Planning Manager position oversees a wide range of key surface water programs in SWM, including the floodplain program, lakes program, salmon recovery planning program, salmon restoration capital projects, marine resources program, habitat monitoring program, GIS, native plant program, noxious weed program, river gaging, flood warning, and others.

The combined annual program budget that is overseen by the Planning Manager is roughly $25.8 million in 2026.

Successful candidates will therefore have a proven track record of managing multiple programs, overseeing large budgets, and implementing complex projects.

This position also oversees three supervisors that lead three different SWM groups with a total of 47.5 staff and 3-5 seasonal staff, as well as a WCC crew of six.

Successful candidates will have experience supervising and managing larger groups of staff and creating a positive work environment for their teams.

The programs under the Planning Manager position also involve a high degree of collaboration with numerous partners to be successful.

As a result, the Planning Manager needs to have strong collaboration skills and the ability to establish and maintain strong partnerships with tribes, stakeholder groups, elected officials, citizens, government agencies, SWM staff, and other County departments.

The successful candidate will have strong communication skills and will be able to positively contribute to the overall management of the stormwater utility.

The successful candidate will also have qualities in alignment with SWM's core values of providing and demonstrating high quality service, leadership, stewardship, accountability, respect, and integrity.

This position reports directly to the Surface Water Utility Director and is part of the DCNR leadership team.

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 2025 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.

Requirements

Plans, coordinates and manages the operations of the SWM Program Planning and Floodplain Services operations.

Develops work plans, monitors actual progress and assesses employee performance against goals and objectives; coordinates section activities with other County sections, divisions, and departments as required.

Directs, supervises and evaluates the work of subordinate super­visors and staff.

Reviews staff decisions in relation to de­partment policies and objectives; establishes staffing and scheduling requirements; reviews and approves staffing sched­ules; plans and schedules in?service training; recommends vari­ous personnel actions to the Surface Water Management Utility Director, including selection, promotion, reassignment and discipline.

Qualifications

Additional Information

• the practices, methods and materials used for surface water or water resource-related Program Planning and Floodplain Services operations
• the principles and procedures of personnel management
• the occupational hazards and safety precautions associated with river-related operations
• the principles and practices of program planning, organization and administration
• the use of personal computers

• plan, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate employees
• evaluate programs, policies and procedures, analyze operations and take effective action to correct deficiencies and resolve problems
• make independent decisions under pressure
• develop, implement, monitor, and revise as needed program plans and budgets and evaluate work accomplishments
• read, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations and legislation governing department operations
• establish and maintain effective work relationships with State and County officials, department heads, associates, subordinates, officials of other agencies and with the general public
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• understand and execute oral and written instructions
• prepare a variety of correspondence, reports and other written materials
• allocate and make effective use of available resources
• walk long distances over rough terrain and climb ladders
• operate personal computers