Noxious Weed Control Specialist III - Healthy Lands Project Manager

Job Description:

Noxious Weed Control Specialist III - Healthy Lands Project Manager

Description

Summary

About the Role:
This position is responsible for the delivery of the Healthy Lands Project, a major landscape-scale noxious weed control project, in the noxious weed control program. Develop plan and coordinate the implementation of this project, coordinating the participation and activities of all targeted landowners, public agencies, contractors, and other county staff. The project’s goal is to control all noxious weeds (both regulated and unregulated) to below levels of significant impact across all 65,000 acres lands planned for protection under the County’s Land Conservation Initiative (LCI). This position also supervises the Riparian Team whose aim is to carry out cooperative, comprehensive knotweed control projects on four river systems: South Fork Skykomish and Tye Rivers, Upper Snoqualmie River, Lower Cedar River, and Green-Duwamish River as well as targeted control on other impactful noxious weeds within these river systems.

This position performs work remotely and onsite.

About the Team:

The noxious weed control program works throughout King County to prevent and reduce the economic, environmental, and social impacts of noxious weeds in King County, Washington. Our mission is to provide benefits to the environment, recreation, public health, and economic resources of King County by preventing and minimizing harmful impacts of noxious weeds. We do this through education and technical assistance to landowners and public agencies to help everyone find the best control options for noxious weeds on each site and to reduce the overall impact of noxious weeds throughout the county.
This position is a unique opportunity for a knowledgeable and motivated environmental professional to make tangible and substantial positive impacts to significant environmental outcomes in King County: the Healthy Lands Project, the Land Conservation Initiative (LCI) and the Clean Water Healthy Habitat Initiative . This position joins a dynamic team that seeks to reduce the impacts of Noxious Weeds throughout King County while also finding collaborative and innovative approaches to noxious weed control on a landscape scale.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Noxious Weed Control Specialist III - Healthy Lands Project Manager, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resources Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:
1. Responsible for the delivery of the Healthy Lands Project, a major landscape-scale noxious weed control project in the noxious weed control program. Develop plans and coordinate the implementation of this project, coordinating the participation and activities of all targeted landowners, public agencies, contractors, and other county staff. Advance and maintain internal and external strategic partnerships. Prepare and give presentations to the public, county staff and outside agencies. Serve as the public information specialist for the project. (Program/Project Management)

2.Develop and manage the budget component for the Healthy Lands Project and Riparian Team. Monitor financial and performance indicators on behalf of program for responsible projects. Produce monthly/quarterly work program or budget reports for the board and management. Monitor scope, schedule, and budget related to contracts and grants. (Budget Coordination)

3.Collect pre- and post-project monitoring data such as noxious/invasive weed area, area controlled, restoration planting areas and vegetation survival. Generate technical information from collected monitoring data to aid in changes to management strategies and improve best management practices. Prepare written reports on the implementation of this noxious weed initiative (including reports to the Executive, elected representatives, senior managers, grantors and other stakeholders) and grant applications. (Operations Management)

4. Supervise FTEs and seasonal staff working on the Healthy Lands Project and staff on the Riparian Team (includes recruitment). (Supervision)

5.Maintain and advance the program’s subject matter expertise on noxious weed control. Develop a strong link between current research and applied practice through the implementation of innovative control methods. Write and present results of innovative control techniques to partners and public. (SME)

6.This position seeks opportunities to advance equity - It works to ensure the Healthy Lands Project aligns King County and the Noxious Weed Control Programs equity goals. Leverage the resources of HeLP to increase access to and enhance open space within Opportunity Areas across King County. (Advance Social Justice)

7. Assist with other program activities as needed including noxious weed control surveys and control, technical assistance, education and outreach events, mapping and data management, program planning and other duties as needed.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Two years or more of demonstrated experience with the life cycle of a project and its management- strategic plannings, partnership coordination, budget development and reporting out on outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience as a supervisor, team lead, crew lead or similar position requiring coordination, coaching, mentorship, supervision, hiring, and direction of the work of others.
• Experience implementing invasive weed control projects and or ecological restoration projects including extensive knowledge of invasive and native plants and ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest.
• Thorough knowledge about Integrated Pest Management and effective noxious weed control methods including the use of herbicides including knowledge and understanding of WSDA’s Laws and Safety regulations around herbicide application methods and record keeping.
• Competency with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and applications handling large tabular and spatial data sets including ESRI’s ArcGIS web-based products, as well as other applications and reporting platforms.
• Experience working on contracts, scopes of work, and specifications.
• Ability to conduct field surveys from a car, and or foot over terrain of varying difficulty, including steep areas and dense vegetation.
• Skill communicating and working with people from diverse backgrounds especially people from traditionally underserved populations such as low income, non-white, limited English or recent immigrant populations
• Experience creating budgets and tracking project expenses.
• Strong public speaking skills necessary.

Competencies You Bring:

• Action Oriented - Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Plans and Aligns - Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Instills Trust - Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Strategic Mindset -Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.

Required Licenses:

• A final offer of employment will be contingent upon successfully passing a pre-employment physical.
• Possession of a valid Washington State Driver's license prior to employment.
• Must be able to obtain a Washington State Public Pesticide Operator license within 30 days of hire (can prepare for and obtain the license while on the job). License and testing fees paid by employer.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Demonstrated success developing, managing and expanding an environmental services program to improve ecological and social outcomes on a landscape scale.
• Ability to produce reports and summaries especially using applications such as PowerBi.
• Demonstrated success coaching and leading a team to achieve a higher level of performance.
• Ability to communicate in other languages in addition to English, specifically the top six non-English languages spoken in King County: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Somali, Russian, and/or Korean.
• Successful candidate will have experience successfully operating in a complex bureaucracy, comfortable operating in and managing around uncertainty.
• Knowledge of Critical Areas ordinances and regulations for King County and incorporated areas within King County.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with the public on sensitive and technical issues, and to develop and maintain effective working relationships with landowners, public agencies, community partners.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

Remote and Onsite Work Details:
Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically 2-3 days in the field or on site. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work.

Remote Work Location Requirement:
Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.

Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.

Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Optional Resume (will be reviewed if submitted)
• Required Cover Letter

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Sr. Human Resources Analyst Calvin Rivers at 206-263-1968 or at crivers@kingcounty.gov .

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website , explore an interactive map ?of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube ?and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference Come join the team ?dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 2/27/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$94,224.00 - $119,454.40 Annually