Water Quality Program Manager

The mission of the Washington State Department of Ecology is to protect, preserve and enhance Washingtons environment and promote the sustainable management of the states air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations.

The Department employs over 1,500 employees in classifications including environmental specialists, environmental planners, environmental engineers, environmental education outreach specialists, hydrogeologists, information technology specialists and financial analysts. The Department Headquarters office is located in Lacey, Washington; regional offices are located in Lacey, Bellevue, Yakima, and Spokane; and field offices are located in Bellingham, Kennewick, Manchester, Twisp, Vancouver, and Walla Walla.

Detailed information about Ecology can be found on the agencys web site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov.
Information about the city of Olympia can be found at http://www.ci.olympia.wa.us

Duties:

This position reports to the Deputy Director and manages the Water Quality Program which is the largest program within the department of Ecology with responsibilities for the administration and management of federal and state programs to protect and preserve surface and ground water quality in the state of Washington.

The position is responsible for overseeing the planning, organizing, directing, implementing and managing of program activities, budget, resources, and staff.

The position administers a biennial operating budget of approximately $43 million and manages a staff of 205 people located state-wide. It also is responsible for administering a $115 million per year grant and loan program.

Other responsibilities of the position include rule and policy development, compliance and enforcement, technical assistance, education and outreach, information management, and effectively interacting with businesses, citizen groups, tribes, local government, federal and state agencies, legislators, the media and the general public, as well as the other programs in the agency. The program is made up of a combination of mature programs that have been around for decades and some that have been recently established with major emerging and challenging issues.

There are five major program areas. They are as follows:

• Prevent Point Source Water Pollution
  The area administers major federal and state permitting activities for communities and industries. It is funded by $25 million per biennium in permit fees and involves 90 staff.
  Reduce Nonpoint Source Water Pollution
  The largest remaining sources of pollution come from day-to-day activities related to agriculture, forestry, onsite septic systems, and urban and rural runoff. This is an activity that has been underway for a number of years but its importance has been increasing with salmon recovery and shellfish protection efforts.
• Control Stormwater Pollution
  A significant and emerging challenge for the Program is providing tools and compliance assistance for over 2,000 stormwater dischargers. A number of industrial, municipal, and construction activities have a relatively new requirement to be covered in the stormwater permit program. This is a highly visible and controversial program with a number of legal challenges and emerging federal requirements.
• Provide Water Quality Financial Assistance
  The Program provides $115 million per year in grant and loan funds primarily to local governments for water quality facilities. This grant program has been in place for a number of years with well established policies and procedures. The revolving loan program has been increasing as payments come in and will continue to increase in the future.
• Clean Up Polluted Waters
  About 34 staff develop water clean-up plans for 650 polluted water bodies statewide. One of the upcoming challenges for this part of the Program is overseeing the implementation of these plans and demonstrating the effectiveness of implementation.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelors degree and five years of professional management experience involving water and waste water management or other environmental related programs is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of environmental laws and regulations;
• Strong leadership skills;
• Proven ability to influence others and gain the respect of a diverse regulated community and environmental interests;
• Ability to establish and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders;
• Experience in short- and long-range planning, monitoring, and managing a large budget.
• Proven ability as a strategic thinker;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a dynamic climate;
• Experience in managing a diverse workforce in multiple locations;
• Excellent skills in Human Resource Management;

Application Instructions:

Individuals interested in this position may apply by submitting a current resume, a complete list of five or more personal and professional references, a letter of interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this announcement, and the optional affirmative action information request (below). Send all application materials to:

The hiring authority reserves the right and may exercise the option to make a hiring decision prior to this date. Candidate evaluation will be ongoing, and it will be to the applicants advantage to submit materials as soon as possible.

The State of Washington actively supports diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants wishing assistance or alternative formats in the process should contact Linda Riggle at (360) 664-1951, or TDD at (360) 664-6211.

Keywords: water quality manager, environmental, eco, water resources

Apply Online

[GJ.257127.1129]