Senior Ecologist

Summary

This opportunity is open only to current King County employees in the Environmental Scientist III classification that are represented by PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit . We are not accepting external applications at this time.

Are you excited for an excellent opportunity to apply scientific knowledge and love for our local environment and community to projects that make a difference! The Stormwater Services Section in King County's Water & Land Resources Division (WLRD) is hard at work on emerging flooding and water quality issues throughout the county's urbanized and rural areas and is looking for a candidate with knowledge of current fisheries and wetland sciences to join the team.

About the Role :
The Senior Ecologist (Environmental Scientist III) will be a resourceful, technically skilled, and field-savvy team player who can support our multi-disciplinary teams to advance high priority stormwater projects. The ideal candidate is someone who can apply their knowledge of current fisheries and wetland science to inform innovative stormwater designs and to meet maintenance timelines. Additionally, the most successful candidates will have a demonstrated ability to communicate scientific findings into verbal and written communications, work well with diverse teams, and collaborate effectively with internal and external partners.

This position performs work remotely and onsite.

About the Team:
The Stormwater Services Section is responsible for retrofit planning alongside communities and countywide National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) compliance. We also implement major repairs of existing stormwater facilities and the county’s Agricultural Drainage Assistance Program (ADAP). Moreover, The Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is at the forefront of King County’s efforts to protect and restore clean water and healthy habitat and strengthen the resilience of communities, environment, and infrastructure in the face of climate change. We are a dedicated workforce of more than 400 supported by an annual budget of ~$250 million. WLRD has a strong track record of developing innovative strategies to protect working farms and forests, restore habitat, improve water quality, and provide county residents equitable access to green space. We plan, design, and build salmon habitat projects as well as levees and stormwater facilities that help protect people and infrastructure while also enhancing habitat. Our Environmental Lab and Science sections maintain high-quality data sets used for long term water quality trend analysis and use Best Available Science to inform decision making. We house the Land Conservation Initiative, which aims to preserve our last, most important natural lands and urban green spaces over the next 30 years. Our forestry and agricultural programs help individuals protect their lands and support local food production.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice: King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Senior Ecologist , you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resource Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) or Wastewater Treatment Division. Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Ensure maintenance projects are permitted within NPDES maintenance timelines through identification of all local, state and federal environmental permits needed for project implementation and prepare, submit and monitor permit applications for timely acquisition.
• ADAP Permitting & Fish Exclusion Support-Assist on ADAP projects to reduce impacts to aquatic life and meet state/federal requirements.
• Project Planning Support- Support retrofit planning by ensuring projects have reasonable timelines based on permitting needs.
• Streamline Permitting Processes- Develop SOPs and implementation of a programmatic permit or other methods to reduce long-term permitting timelines.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in natural, physical, or environmental sciences, or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience which would provide the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties as described.
• Experience planning and/or monitoring maintenance projects related to development and infrastructure in critical areas such as streams, wetlands, floodplains, and steep slopes.
• Knowledge of aquatic and terrestrial monitoring techniques and approaches and the ability to lead physical, biological, and water quality monitoring studies.
• Working knowledge of current stormwater science and applied methods for reducing chemical and physical impacts to biota and people.
• Strong working knowledge of wetland, fish, stream, river and/or floodplain ecology in the Puget Sound lowlands.

Competencies You Bring:

• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Organizational Savvy: Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics.
• Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Optimizes Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.

Required Licenses:

• Valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to obtain one prior to starting work if selected for this position.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Knowledge and experience working on stormwater or other infrastructure projects in stream and wetland conditions in King County.
• Extensive experience applying for and obtaining permits for complex infrastructure projects in and around streams, wetlands and other critical areas.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements varying depending on season. Summer can have more frequent on-site field work requirements of up to 4 days per week while field work requirements in winter will likely be less frequent . During winter, there is an expectation to report to King Street Center 1 day per month. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work .
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to meet workplace reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible. The typical work schedule is 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday- Friday.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit.

Application and Selection Process: We welcome applications from all qualified candidates that are currently in the Environmental Scientist III classification and are represented by PROTEC Local 17A bargaining unit within King County. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. This posting may be used to create an eligibility list for future vacancies in similar positions over the next six months.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Online Application with response to supplemental questions.
• Resume.
• Cover Letter.

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Isaac Good at (206) 848-0576 or igood@kingcounty.gov .

Discover More About the Water Land & Resources Division: Visit our website .

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our " True North ", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer: No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 2/3/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• King County Water and Land Resources Division

• 206-477-4800

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