Human Resources

Job Location

County of Chelan Natural Resources 411 Washington Street, #201 Wenatchee, WA 98801

Description

Application Deadline: 05/15/2024

Salary: PW26 Steps 2-4 at $7,219.79-$7,918.31 Longevity Steps 5-8 $8,293.98-$9,537.47

The position includes a state retirement system (PERS), with a Deferred Compensation Program available for supplemental retirement savings. Health insurance package includes Medical, Dental, Vision and county contributions to a personal Health Savings Account. Includes 11 paid holidays and 1 floating personal holiday with monthly accrued vacation and sick leave.

Job Summary:  The Natural Resource Senior Program Manager is responsible for managing priorities and funding for department programs including water resources, forest health, aquatics, construction management, recreation or related areas. The program manager also performs difficult to complex professional level Natural Resource activities involving multiple or complex projects, attends or facilitates meetings related to projects; and provides direction, training, guidance and feedback to technical and professional staff. The Senior Program Manager conducts staff supervision activities including assessing and balancing workloads, directing work priorities, developing engagement strategies with outside partners, and monitoring staff progress on projects and professional development goals. The Senior Program Manager serves on a Leadership Team that works with the Department Director to manage Department goals and priorities.

Distinguishing Characteristics:  The Natural Resource Senior Program Manager class is the third level in a three-level professional natural resource specialist series.  The Natural Resource Senior Program Manager is distinguished from the Senior Natural Resource Specialist and Natural Resource Specialist class by responsibility for managing department programs and prioritizing and directing the work of other Natural Resource staff, consultants and contractors. The Senior Program Manager divides time between project work and staff management responsibilities- approximately 30-50% of the Program Manager’s time is spent on staff supervision and Leadership Team responsibilities.

The Natural Resource Senior Program Manager performs professional-level staff supervision, project management, technical analysis, and advanced facilitation and dispute resolution to implement projects and programs of the Natural Resource Department.  The position requires an experienced professional with a proven ability to work effectively with a diverse set of stakeholders in a coordinated and timely manner across a broad range of natural resource projects with a high level of financial accountability. 

The incumbent should be:

•    Adept at communicating with staff members about project management and professional development
•    Able to effectively carry out leadership responsibilities and work with a leadership team  
•    Self-motivated and able to work with limited supervision
•    Familiar with a broad range of natural resource policies and regulations
•    Able to convene and facilitate stakeholders for successful project and program development
•    Able to set priorities and perform a variety of tasks effectively often under tight timeline and budget constraints
•    Able to support and coordinate with other team members in a small office environment
•    Experienced in public speaking and in presenting materials effectively to the general public
•    Comfortable working outdoors in sometimes adverse conditions

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Prioritizes, assigns, reviews and directs natural resource projects or programs; provides direction, training, guidance and feedback to technical and professional staff, consultants, contractors and engineers
• Manages work load assignments and professional development of lower-level staff
• Serves on a leadership team to continually address department priorities and regularly communicate with Department Director
• Communicates with external agencies, tribes, non-profit organizations and other partners as a ‘point of contact’ for the department
• Prepares, coordinates and monitors preparation of project designs, plans, drawings, specifications, estimates, spreadsheets and graphic materials; collects, gathers and interprets data for projects with a broad scope and high level of financial responsibility
• Prepares complex plans such as water resource, forest health and landscape recreation plans
• Manages projects and related activities such as recommending or approving materials, schedules, pay estimates and contract awards; negotiates change orders and provides quality control
• Coordinates work and provides direction, training, guidance and feedback to technical and professional-level staff, consultants, contractors and engineers.  Ensures plan, drawing, specification and project compliance.  Coordinates projects with other departments, regulating agencies and landowners.  Responds to questions and concerns of the general public and property owners.
• Conducts natural resource investigations and studies and prepares technical reports.
• Prepares funding applications for state, federal and other grants and contracts
• Reviews, drafts and processes natural resource documents, resolutions and ordinances; conducts engineering investigations and studies.
• Attends or facilitates meetings related to natural resource projects
• Establish, manage, facilitate and perform dispute resolution for collaborative multi-stakeholder natural resource forums and committees
• Develop and implement technical studies for the collection and analysis of natural resource data, including water quality, temperature, forest health, and water resources
• Develop and implement technical monitoring programs for adaptive management of natural resource projects
• Performs other duties as required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position is responsible for supervision of Natural Resource department staff, including work load, project management, work priorities, assignments, and budget management.  The position effectively recommends hiring, firing and disciplinary actions for the positions under its control and may issue corrective action including coaching/counselling, verbal warning and written warning without additional authorization.

Knowledge of the following:

• Natural resource project planning and development
• Federal, state and local laws and policies
• Project management principles and techniques
• Technical writing and editing
• Operational plan and budget preparation
• Preparation and administration of service/consulting contracts.
• Customer service techniques
• Microsoft Office and ESRI ArcView software.

Skills in the following:

• Monitoring and reviewing the work of contractors and technical consultants
• Prioritizing, monitoring and supervising projects
• Coordinating complex engineering and construction projects
• Providing technical advice to professional level staff
• Writing contract specifications
• Reading and interpreting maps, blueprints, schematics, plans and specifications
• Designing construction projects
• Drafting designs and plans
• Making complex mathematical calculations
• Tracking and monitoring records for projects
• Preparing pay estimates
• Advanced facilitation and leadership skills
• Preparation of proposals and competitive grant applications
• Using computers and related software applications
• Establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships at all organizational levels and with the public
• Communication, both oral and written, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, engineering, fisheries biology, natural resource management, environmental science or related field and
• Five years of professional experience in related fields
• Must have a valid WA state driver’s license.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed approximately 80% in an office environment and 20% in the field. Must be able to traverse all types of terrain and work in varying weather conditions. Attendance at evening meetings and overnight travel is required.

Additional Information

To apply: Include the following in one document (PDF or Word) 

• Chelan County Application
• Resume 
• Cover Letter 

Email tohuman.resources@co.chelan.wa.us or mail/drop off at address below.

Human Resources
400 Douglas Street, #201
Wenatchee, WA 98801