Description

Snohomish County Surface Water Management (SWM), a Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is seeking a Habitat Specialist, Senior to join our team.

The Habitat Specialist, Senior will join our habitat science and salmon recovery team. Specific tasks will include:

• Providing scientific guidance on Snohomish Basin salmon recovery: You will provide scientific guidance on salmon recovery issues, including habitat improvement projects, to SWM and other County Departments. You will also represent the County on stakeholder groups, including co-leading the Snohomish Basin Salmon Recovery Technical Committee. In the co-lead role, you would partner with the Tulalip Tribes and King County on meeting planning and facilitation.
• Stream and river habitat monitoring: You will be part of the State of Our Waters team and participate in our annual stream and river monitoring program. This will include planning, program improvement, data collection, analysis, and reporting on the health of streams and rivers.
• Project monitoring: You will design and implement pre and post monitoring of habitat capital projects. This includes supporting monitoring of the Snohomish estuary which is an intensive monitoring effort with our partners the Tulalip Tribes and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
• Providing scientific guidance on issues related land use and sensitive environmental areas: This includes providing expertise related to land use impacts on sensitive areas such as critical areas and shorelines. Tasks may include evaluating land use changes in critical areas and developing, implementing, analyzing, and reporting on change and impacts to functions and values.

We are looking for a candidate who has:

• Significant education and experience in salmon recovery and river processes. Knowledge needed for the position includes factors necessary for recovery of Puget Sound salmon populations, river geomorphology, fish biology, and watershed processes. Knowledge of Snohomish Basin salmon recovery a plus.
• Experience with habitat capital project development, design criteria, and implementation.
• Professional experience building collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Implemented scientific monitoring programs in streams and rivers. This includes having:
  • Knowledge of scientific monitoring program sample design theory
  • Experience designing and conducting habitat surveys in rivers and streams
  • Experience analyzing large complex datasets
  • Experience producing data summaries and reports
• Experience using GIS for habitat data organization, summarization, and analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to work well in teams.

Our ideal candidate will have qualities in alignment with SWM’s core values: providing and demonstrating high quality service, leadership, stewardship, accountability, respect, and integrity. Apply for this position to positively contribute to the delivery of high-quality projects and service to residents of Snohomish County.

About Surface Water Management
SWM is a stormwater utility that provides services to unincorporated Snohomish County. These services are primarily 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 $45 million, SWM maintains 108 full-time positions filled by dedicated professionals in their field. 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 2020 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.

About Snohomish County
Snohomish 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.

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 two weeks of vacation a 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 Options
The work associated with this position can be performed with a hybrid of remote work and in-office work as needed and assigned. 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.

Job Duties

STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Participates in the following county wide fish habitat protection and restoration program elements: habitat acquisition and restoration, incentives and voluntary programs, public involvement and education, regulations implementing county comprehensive plan policies, inter jurisdictional coordination, and monitoring program effectiveness.
• Conducts analysis and evaluation of freshwater and estuarine habitat, supporting ecosystem, and population levels of priority fish species; participates in drafting annual report on fish habitat conditions and population levels in the county.
• Coordinates and provides technical assistance to county staff, such as engineers and planners, and cooperators, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, conservation districts or Indian tribes, in the design and implementation of habitat restoration projects; conducts on site inspections to help resolve disputes or conflicts; contributes to preparation of environmental assessments and impact statements.
• Prepares and presents oral, written, and multimedia presentations (e.g., graphic and data displays, brochures, leaflets, slide/tap shows) for public and interagency meetings, hearings, planning commission briefings and county council work sessions.
• Presents technical, regulatory, and policy options for habitat protection and improvement to surface water management division, the county , public works dept. management team.
• Participates in the development of various environmental standards, regulations, and policies, interprets federal, state, and local laws, regulations and policies as necessary.
• Contributes to the preparation of the annual work plan, goals and objectives, and budget for assigned functions; monitors and evaluates related work for compliance with grant/project requirements and budget constraints.
• Plans and supervises the work of technicians performing natural resource inventories; provides training in inventory methods, equipment use, safety, data collection and basic data analysis.
• May represent the county in court cases dealing with land use, aquatic resources, habitat damage, or other issues.
• Conducts habitat related special projects as assigned.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree in fish/wildlife biology/management, natural resource management, environmental science, ecology, geology, hydrology, fisheries/civil engineering or closely related field AND three (3) years of professional experience closely related to the responsibilities listed above; a Master's degree can substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience; OR, any equivalent combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities. Must pass job related tests.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid Washington State Driver's License is required for employment.

Additional Information

Knowledge of:

• habitats and life cycles of Puget Sound salmonid species;
• Pacific Northwest/Puget Sound fisheries management issues;
• land use and watershed management issues affecting aquatic habitat;
• habitat restoration science and technologies;
• federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding fish habitat protection;
• groups and agencies involved in fish habitat protection and restoration.

Ability to:

• establish and maintain effective work relationships with county management and staff, and the groups, agencies and governments involved in fish habitat protection and restoration;
• work effectively with individuals and groups from varied cultural backgrounds;
• evaluate plans, designs, and specific practices and methods for their effects on fish habitat;
• analyze and propose solutions for a wide variety of habitat management problems;
• develop reports and formulate policy recommendations based on field and literature review;
• clearly present information to county management, elected officials, technical staff, and the general public;
• plan, supervise the work of technical staff.

SUPERVISION
This position reports to the Salmon Recovery Coordinator and receives direction form the Principal Habitat Specialist.

WORKING CONDITIONS
The work is performed in the usual office environment or in the field in varying weather conditions.

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.
EEO policy and ADA notice