Ocean Job Board

State of Washington
The Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Regional Section Manager (WMS Band 2) position. This position is located in our Headquarter Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
Ecology established the Coastal Monitoring & Analysis Program (CMAP) in 1996 and has recently added complementary work units including a Shoreline Mapping Unit and Coastal Engineering Team as part of the newly titled SEA Applied Coastal Research and Engineering (ACRE) Section. Collectively the team performs state of the art research to better understand physical changes along Washington’s beaches, bluffs, and nearshore zones to enhance their management, protection, and restoration while reducing coastal hazards and increasing community resilience. Climate impacts are rapidly increasing in frequency and intensity, changing Washington’s marine areas. This is a unique opportunity to manage a multi-disciplinary team of professional staff who lead research, engineering, mapping, monitoring, data analysis, and technical assistance to support state and local efforts to collaboratively shape a resilience future for communities and the environment.
This Section Manager position offers a unique opportunity to join a dynamic and collaborative team – Washington State’s Applied Research and Coastal Engineering (ACRE) Section – focused on documenting, understanding, and forecasting coastal processes and change on Washington’s high-energy ocean shorelines as well as the sheltered shorelines of coastal estuaries and the Salish Sea. In this role, you will engage with a wide variety of key issues regarding coastal community and ecosystem resilience, including chronic coastal erosion and flood hazards, climate change impacts on coastal hazards, shoreline and bluff retreat, natural and nature-based multi-benefit coastal projects, process-based restoration projects, and the application of morphodynamic approaches to nearshore habitat and ecosystem services studies.
You will be responsible for fostering the connection between science and policy – coordinating and collaborating across different sections within the SEA Program, the agency, and many other state, federal, and local partners to carry out shared duties to implement state laws and directives. This includes Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58), the Ocean Resources Management Act (RCW 43.143), the Flood Control statutes (Title 86 RCW), and the regulations under each act / statute. You will also implement the Coastal Zone Management Act by administrating tasks under the state’s federally approved Coastal Zone Management Program. You will influence state ocean management actions by providing data and analysis for the state’s Marine Spatial Plan. It is imperative that you uphold quality assurance in the work so policy decisions reflect robust scientific methods, best available information, peer review, and best practices.
Agency Mission: The mission of the Department of Ecology's is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations.
Program Mission: The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.
Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 60% tele-work schedule. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled; with a next screening date of October 27, 2023. In order to be considered for the next screening, please submit an application on or before of October 26, 2023. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Please Note: We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.
Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information
About the Department of Ecology
Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.
What makes this role unique and challenging?
In this role, you will supervise, provide guidance, and support 10-15 direct reports and a team of over 20 staff that include permanent and project status. You will manage a highly technical staff of Environmental Engineers, Natural Resource Scientists, Hydrogeologists, and Environmental Specialists.
You will function as a member for the SEA Program Management Team, assign and manage resources, sponsor program initiatives, inform legislative policy and recommend and approve policies pertaining to personnel, budget, and environmental management.
What you will do:
Section work includes:
Full authority for final decisions:
Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.
A total of eleven (11) years of experience and/or education as described below:
Professional level Experience: related to coastal monitoring, mapping or scientific investigations.
Education: Involving major study in coastal science, engineering or related field.
See chart below for a list of ways to qualify for this position:
Possible Combinations |
College credit hours or degree - as listed above. |
Years of professional level experience - as listed above. |
Combination 1 |
No college credit hours or degree. |
11 years of experience. |
Combination 2 |
I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. |
10 years of experience. |
Combination 3 |
I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). |
9 years of experience. |
Combination 4 |
I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. |
8 years of experience. |
Combination 5 |
A Bachelor's Degree. |
7 years of experience. |
Combination 6 |
A Master's Degree. |
5 years of experience. |
Combination 7 |
A Ph.D. |
3 years of experience. |
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
Knowledge of the principles of management as applied in a scientific work environment, including familiarity with coastal monitoring, analysis and assessment methods.
Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.
Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?
Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:
If you have specific questions about the position, please email Joenne McGerr at: Joenne.McGerr@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Joenne to inquire about the status of your application.
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov
Why work for Ecology?
As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.
Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.