WA State Department of Natural Resources Seeks Watershed Steward, Environmental Planner 3
Posted on October 18, 2022
Position Title:
Watershed Steward, Environmental Planner 3
Position Summary:
Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity at DNR Headquarters in Olympia or in DNR’s Northwest Region Headquarters in Sedro-Woolley to deliver watershed-scale resilience as part of DNR’s Forest Resilience, Forest Regulations, and Aquatics Resources Divisions.
Recruitment #2022-10-A193
Full-time, Permanent, Represented position
Location Flexibility: Olympia OR Sedro Woolley, WA
Our public lands provide a wide array of benefits to our state and communities, including hundreds of millions of dollars for schools, hospitals, and libraries
ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and flood mitigation
and special places to support human health and enjoy the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Under the leadership of Commissioner Franz, the agency is expanding opportunities that protect our lands and benefit our communities.
DNR prioritizes building landscape resilience on a system-level as exemplified within the newly launched Watershed Resilience Action Plan (WRAP). Released in February 2022, the WRAP coordinates, enhances and maximizes investments and work to protect and restore salmon habitat in ways that also provide jobs and build healthier, more equitable communities within the Snohomish Watershed. As Watershed Steward, you will contribute to building resilience across terrestrial and aquatic systems by driving implementation of the WRAP. The WRAP is available on DNR’s website at dnr.wa.gov/WRAP
Recent successes related to the WRAP include:
*Launching the Watershed Resilience Action Plan in February 2022.
*Incorporating environmental justice into significant agency request legislation,
including our landmark Forest Health and Reduction of Wildfire Dangers Bill
(HB 1168) and Kelp and Eelgrass Health and Conservation Bill (SB 5619).
*Creating a first-of-its-kind Kelp and Eelgrass Protection Zone within Possession
Sound which protects nearly 2,300 acres of vulnerable marine vegetation vital
to a healthy and resilient marine ecosystem.
Though housed within DNR’s Forest Resilience, Regulation and Aquatic Resources Divisions, the Watershed Steward will be expected to work closely with the DNR’s Policy and Outreach programs and other programs within DNR as well as partners within the Snohomish Basin to drive implementation of the WRAP and coordinate other restoration and resilience projects within the Snohomish Watershed.
The Watershed Steward will share our vision of creating a healthier Washington which begins with the perspectives and meaningful engagement of those most impacted by environmental injustice. As a Watershed Steward you will be working at the intersection of many competing interests and will hold accountability to reducing environmental and health disparities at the core of your work product.
The Watershed Steward reports directly to the Strategic Advisor of Forest Resilience and Regulation and Aquatic Resources. The Watershed Steward will contribute to the agency with expertise and project support on major strategic policy and resilience issues related to watershed resilience. They will also be responsible for specific planning and implementation related to the Watershed Resilience Action Plan, engagement with communities and Tribal nations, and contribution to future watershed policy within DNR.
Initial topics for a Watershed Steward may include:
*Focusing on riparian restoration, small forest landowner outreach and
developing projects with private sector, education and community organizations
in the Snohomish Basin to implement the WRAP.
*Tracking and reporting project successes and developing solutions to
circumnavigate project barriers.
*Working with agency science advisors and technical experts to advance a
science based policy approach to natural resources, environmental justice and
climate resilience.
*Coordinating with DNR’s Outdoor Education and Training Program Manager to
advance education and workforce development opportunities within the
watershed resilience framework.
*Coordinating with DNR’s Grants Director to develop a grants strategy for
implementing the Watershed Resilience Action Plan.
*Expanding communication and engagement resources including leveraging
online engagement tools, dashboards, and ArcGIS.
The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to achieve these outcomes by coordinating with subject matter experts from internal, external and interagency groups, ultimately stewarding the implementation of the Watershed Resilience Action Plan.