Project Specialist IV - Everett, United States - Snohomish County

Description

First application review date is March 12, 2024.
Snohomish County Surface Water Management (SWM), a Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is hiring one

Project Specialist IV

to join SWM's Program Planning team.

SWM is seeking a highly motivated candidate for a

Project Specialist IV

position for a lead role in a new and growing Integrated Floodplain Management Program.

The program works with partners to engage the local floodplain community to understand the dynamics of living in a floodplain and help chart a future of resiliency by implementing actions that support fish, farms, and floods.

The Project Specialist IV position will lead Integrated Floodplain Management Planning for Snohomish County.

SWM conducted a multi-year assessment and planning effort with several county departments including the Department of Planning and Development Services (PDS), the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

The process resulted in a framework that outlined how County Departments could work more collaboratively together to improve the county's management of our floodplains.

This position will lead further collaboration and planning with county departments and explore future planning actions with our partners and floodplain communities.

If you are dedicated, motivated and team-oriented with professional experience in natural resource planning in the areas of watersheds, floodplains, and habitat protection and restoration, this is your opportunity to make a difference.

We are looking for talented applicants with a proven track record of working collaboratively with colleagues, management, stakeholders, and key partners.

The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills, including writing, facilitation, public speaking, collaborative decision making and problem resolution.

The successful candidate will have strong project management skills, including contract and consultant management, budgeting, and the ability to manage very complex projects.

The successful candidate shall demonstrate the ability to excel in a team environment and interact effectively with a diverse group of professionals.

In addition, this position will lead and/or coordinate the work of other staff, so the preferred candidate will be able to give and review work assignments.

About Surface Water Management
SWM is a stormwater utility that provides services to unincorporated Snohomish County. These services are 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 $54.6 million.

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

. Our 2022 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. For further information on Snohomish County Surface Water Management's programs, please go to

.

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.
Snohomish County - The Future We Choose
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 8 hours of vacation leave per month totaling 2.4 weeks of vacation in your first 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.

For information about this job opportunity and posting, please email:

.


STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Assumes lead role in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of solid waste or surface water programs and projects; has lead responsibility for identifying information required, choosing data collection methods and collecting data; assumes lead role in developing program and project options; leads efforts to analyze proposals and cost estimates; leads efforts to solicit input and involvement from department staff and citizens.

Assumes lead role in the management of multiple, complex programs and projects as assigned.

May direct and coordinate the activities of Project Specialist I's, II's and III's, or Associate Planners and Senior Planners, public involvement staff and/or technical staff in the planning and implementation of programs and projects as assigned:
insures that the completed work complies with applicable laws, regulations, ordinances and grant requirements.

Responsible for development and administration of program/project team's budget, work plan, and schedule to ensure cost effective and timely project completion.

Responsible for and may lead team in preparing bids, requests for proposals, and contract documents; is responsible for shepherding contracts and inter-local agreements through the approval process; monitors the performance of various contractors, consultants, and cooperating local agencies; approves work in progress and upon completion; approves billings for services received; prepares status reports as required.

Prepares and submits various grant and loan proposals; implements or leads team which implements the various grant tasks; drafts and negotiates subcontracts under grants; coordinates, monitors and approves work completed by grant funded subcontractors and recipients; administers non-accounting aspects of major and minor grants.

Serves as principal staff representative on various advisory committees, commissions, and interest groups; coordinates the formation of various groups as necessary; develops agendas and keeps the group informed about problems, needs, pending changes and various topics of interest; moderates discussions, mediates disputes, and resolves conflicts among numerous diverse groups both in-house and outside; arranges for presentations by other staff and agencies; as needed delegates tasks and work assignments to team members; leads the effort to develop group policies, documents and reports.

STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES

Acts as prime contact when questions about programs and projects arise from the public, government officials, business leaders, the media and interest groups; resolves conflicts between various individuals and interest groups; researches files and records and provides information over the phone, in person, and in writing.

Acts as the program or project's prime spokesperson; principal representative of the county for project or program-related presentations; attends meetings and participates in, or leads discussions.

Responsible for and may lead team in developing strategic approaches for presenting sensitive issues and information to a variety of audiences; leads group that arranges for, sets up, and/or participates in public meeting, hearings, and council sessions; supervises the preparation of graphics, displays, brochures, leaflets, and slide/tape shows; prepares oral and written presentations including findings and reports; acts as the department's key representative by responding to questions; solicits input at public meetings as appropriate.

Prepares or leads team which develops and revises various county codes and policies addressing solid waste management issues or land and water resources.

Prepares or leads team which formulates, prepares and circulates SEPA documents including checklists and environmental impact statements; reviews and comments on environmental assessments, threshold determinations and statements prepared by other departments and agencies; provides written and oral interpretations of applicable environmental ordinances and policies as necessary.

Performs related duties as required.

A bachelor's degree in environmental sciences/studies, engineering, public administration, political science, economics, geography, urban planning, sociology or a related field; AND, three (3) years experience in work specific to the specific requirements of the position; OR, any combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

A Master's degree may be substituted for one (1) year of experience. Must pass job related tests.


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


KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:
the principles and practices of solid waste issues or surface water management;
research and data collection techniques;
current literature, trends, regulations and developments in the solid waste, recycling, moderate risk water or surface water and water resources fields;
the use of personal computers.

Ability to:
serve as team leader and direct the activities of subordinate employees;
gather, evaluate and document technical data;
read, interpret and apply legal documents;
independently prepare and implement comprehensive programs;
independently organize tasks, delegate responsibility and coordinate a team effort under deadlines;
synthesize research results and use these results as a basis for recommendations;
communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
make effective group presentations;
establish and maintain effective work relationships with all levels of county management and staff, representatives of other agencies and the general public;
read, interpret and apply federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations governing assigned duties;
Communicate effectively with people of all ages and from a variety of cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds;
negotiate contracts and oversee contractors;
resolve conflicts.

SUPERVISION
Employees in this class receive direction from a Project Specialist Manager, or administrative superior. The work is performed with considerable independence and is reviewed through meetings, periodic status reports and results obtained.


WORKING CONDITIONS

The work is performed in the usual office environment with field trips to locations throughout the county for the purpose of attending community meetings and public hearings and making site visits.

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

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