SUPERVISING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
(ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST IV)
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS
WATER AND LAND RESOURCES DIVISION
Ecological Services Unit
Hourly Rate Range: $36.66 - $46.47
Job Announcement: 08PJ7785
OPEN: 5/14/08 CLOSE: 5/27/08
WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to the general public.
WHERE TO APPLY: Required forms and materials may be sent by one of the following ways (must be received by 4:30 p.m. on the closing date):
- In person delivery or US mail:
Michelle Kobuki, Human Resources - 201 South Jackson, #600, (KSC-NR-0600), Seattle, WA 98104 or
Contact (206) 296-8022 for questions regarding this announcement.
FORMS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED:
Application materials must be sent to the location specified above and you must complete and submit all required materials; failure to submit all required forms and materials to the specified location may prohibit further consideration.
SELECTION PROCESS: Applicants will be screened for qualifications, clarity and completeness of application materials. Competitive applicants will be those with the most recent and relevant demonstrated qualifications. The most competitive applicants will be invited for an oral and/or written examination and interview.
WORK LOCATION: King Street Center, 201 South Jackson St., Suite 600, Seattle, WA, 98104, and occasionally in the field.
JOB DESCRIPTION: This position will be located in the Ecological Services Unit, Capital Projects Section of the Water and Land Resources Division. The position will assist the Manager of the Unit in the day-to-day management of the Unit, supervise selected environmental and scientific staff; develop business lines from external clients; supervise project managers; and provide expert level environmental and regulatory expertise and supervision to surface water capital projects and programs.
WORK SCHEDULE: This career service, full-time position is overtime eligible. The work schedule is typically 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Monday–Friday. Flexible work schedule may be considered.
BENEFITS: King County offers a generous benefits package including: employer paid medical, dental and vision benefits with the option of family and domestic partner coverage at little or no added cost; and annual paid leave consisting of12 days sick leave, 12 days vacation, 11 holidays and two personal holidays. Employees also receive paid annual training; a free transportation pass good on Metro, Pierce, Community and Sound Transit; and access to the exercise facility and indoor bike room at King Street Center. This position will participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement Plan and the option to participate in the King County’s deferred compensation plan.
PRIMARY JOB DUTIES:
- Supervise several multi-disciplinary project teams in the design and implementation of surface water capital projects, including development and tracking of scopes, schedules and budgets; giving strategic direction for successful project implementation; and reviewing technical adequacy and timely completion of products and projects.
- Manage and provide expert level scientific, technical, regulatory, and strategic management guidance on complex or highly sensitive projects, especially habitat restoration projects with multiple stakeholders and complex funding strategies, and which require integration of complex and sometimes conflicting political, community, and technical interests.
- Provide expert level expertise on environmental, cultural resource and regulatory compliance of the section’s programs and projects. Review regulatory compliance strategies of projects, review permit applications, negotiate with regulatory agencies and Native American tribes, provide expert level analysis of laws and regulations affecting design and construction of capital projects, and develop and provide relevant training.
- Assist the Unit manager in hiring, supervising, training, and evaluating performance of selected staff with the Unit; may directly supervise up to 6 staff.
- Develop and administer technical support contracts necessary for design, permitting and construction of capital projects.
- Assist the Unit manager in financial planning and preparation of the Unit’s annual budget; coordinate financial and staffing information with clients, other managers and finance officers.
- Assist the Unit manager in business development. Supervise the “loan-out” of Unit staff to external clients to facilitate continued lines of business and accomplish broader department goals. Oversee development and tracking of scopes, schedules and budgets for projects with clients and provide technical review of products prepared by staff.
- Provide expert level scientific, ecological and biological review of surface water programs and projects, including supervising and providing direction to select project teams. Ensure that project designs reflect state-of-the-art scientific and habitat restoration principles and that project designs are consistent with current ecosystem protection, conservation and restoration principles.
- Prepare external and internal correspondence and reports for the Unit manager on a variety of scientific, technical, and regulatory topics.
- Present conclusions orally to a variety of managers, staff, elected officials, regulators and stakeholders on projects and programs.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, natural resources or related scientific field, and at least 10 years of increasingly responsible program, project management and lead scientific work that is applicable to the primary job functions of the position, 2 years of which must include capital project and program management.
- Demonstrated expert level knowledge of wetland, fish, stream, river and/or floodplain ecology in Puget Sounds lowlands.
- Demonstrated expert level knowledge of state-of-the-art methods and techniques used in habitat protection and restoration in wetlands, streams, rivers and floodplains in Puget Sound lowlands.
- Minimum of 5 years experience working at the senior level in a surface water capital improvement program, and specifically in the design, permitting, implementation and monitoring of surface water capital projects.
- Proven success working in complex, interdisciplinary surface water management capital project teams, especially habitat restoration project teams.
- Demonstrated expert level knowledge of King County, Washington State and federal environmental laws and regulations. Proven ability to accurately assess permit requirements for complex surface water management projects; prepare permit applications; develop permit strategies and schedules necessary for successful, timely and cost-efficient implementation of surface water projects; and negotiate with regulatory agencies and Native American tribes.
- Proven ability to develop and track scopes, schedules and budgets for complex projects in a cost-efficient and timely manner.
- Demonstrated success as a project manager, developing and administering scopes, schedules and budgets; directing the work of team members; interfacing with clients; and implementing projects on time and within budget.
- Demonstrated skill in reading and interpreting engineering plans, specifications, drawings and technical maps and documents.
- Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with diverse groups of individuals, including government officials, the public, community groups, citizens and landowners.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, on technical and policy issues with a variety of elected officials, regulators, managers, staff, consultants and stakeholders.
- Advanced ability to gather, analyze and present complex information in reports and spreadsheets.
- Proven ability to work effectively as a team member in a variety of settings, especially in CIP project teams and with clients.
- Experience using a variety of computer programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Professional certification in ecology, wetland ecology, fishery biology, or other related scientific field relevant to the design and implementation of surface water management projects, especially habitat restoration projects.
- Ability to obtain certification in the individual’s scientific discipline, if certification or licensing becomes a requirement in the State of Washington in order to practice in that discipline.
NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS:
- A valid Washington State Driver's License or the ability to travel throughout the County in a timely manner.
- Applicants will need to pass a written exam that demonstrates key proficiencies described above.
- An offer of employment will be contingent on the success of a pre-employment physical examination.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Applicant must work out-of-doors and in rough terrain for extended periods of time and under adverse weather conditions.
- Must be able to carry up to 50 lbs. of equipment independently.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Heavy workloads, deadline pressure and interruptions due to changing priorities are common. Work is performed in both an office environment and in the field and may require work in excess of standard workdays, including evenings, weekends and holidays. Field work is often conducted in inclement weather, in remote locations and on uneven terrain.
UNION MEMBERSHIP: Positions in this classification are represented by Local 17A, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers. Union membership and accompanying monthly dues will be required within 30 days of employment.
Position Number: 74-6997-8561-1010
