Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager - Region 3

The Wildlife Society; Ellensburg (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking an Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager for South Central Region 3 to lead habitat professionals in implementing regulatory programs and advancing habitat conservation.

This role involves overseeing complex projects, coordinating with tribal and state agencies, and guiding hydraulic permitting, land use planning, and restoration efforts to protect fish and wildlife habitats across the region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, environmental science, or related field.
• Five years of professional experience in fish/wildlife/habitat management or related environmental resource field.
• Experience supervising, leading, and coaching employees; budget and project management knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Provide immediate management, supervision, and guidance of Habitat Program staff within South Central Region 3.
• Communicate policies, procedures, and guidance clearly and promptly.
• Coach, train, mentor, and manage workload and performance in hydraulic project approvals, land use, forest practices, and restoration.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Strategic planning

Budget management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, environmental science, or related field

Job description

Title – Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager (ARHPM) – South Central Region 3
Classification - WMS Band 1
Job Status - Full-Time/Permanent
WDFW Program – Habitat Program
Duty Station – Ellensburg, Washington (Kittitas County) is the current duty station, however, depending on the successful candidate, Yakima, Washington (Yakima County) may be considered.
South Central Region 3 Counties Served - Benton, Franklin, Kittitas, and Yakima counties.
Remote Employment – This position may include telework options up to 2 days per week, at the discretion of the supervisor.
Posting Timeframe -This recruitment is scheduled to be re-posted until September 7, 2026. Application review is ongoing, and applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible, this recruitment may be closed at any time.
Re-Opened Recruitment - This recruitment has been re-opened to increase the applicant pool. If you applied previously your application is still under consideration and you do not need to reapply.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Help shape the future of fish and wildlife habitat conservation in Washington!

As the Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager (ARHPM), you will lead a team of habitat professionals responsible for implementing regulatory programs and advancing habitat conservation throughout South Central Region 3.

This is an opportunity to oversee complex and high-profile projects, work collaboratively with partners to achieve sustainable conservation, and provide tactical leadership on hydraulic permitting, land use planning, forest practices, mitigation, and restoration.

In this role, you will help ensure consistent implementation of agency policies, collaborate with Tribal governments, local governments, state and federal agencies, and stakeholders, and contribute to regional and statewide strategies that protect and restore fish and wildlife habitats for future generations.

What to Expect -

As our Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager (ARHPM), you will shape habitat conservation outcomes through tactical leadership and management, internal and external collaboration, and influence in shaping new policies and guidance. Key responsibilities include:

• Provide immediate management, supervision, and guidance of professional Habitat Program staff within South Central Region 3.
• Provide clear and timely communication of agency policies, procedures, and guidance.
• Coach, train, mentor, perform workload planning/prioritization, and performance management in the following areas:
  • Hydraulic Project Approvals, Project Level engagement in Land Use, Forest Practices, and Aquatic and/or Terrestrial Restoration.
• Manage and coordinate the distribution of information and receive feedback from staff and ensure compliance with policy, procedures, and guidance in the above-listed work areas, as well as the following major policy areas:
  • Hydraulic Compliance Actions, Planning level engagement in land use actions, Forest Health and Stewardship, Aquatic and Terrestrial Restoration, Fish Passage and Screening, and Energy and Major Projects.

District Policy Lead and Liaison:

• For new and updated policies, procedures and guidance, work within the Senior Management Team (SMT) to develop and maintain a consistent state-wide approach to implement new and updated policies, procedures and guidance.
• Actively engaged in the SMT to identify issues that are common across regions and/or the state finds broad solutions and support for engagement from the Program Leadership.
• Serve as Liaison and Policy Lead within the cross-program District(s) for projects/issues/processes that are impacted by new or redirected policies or significant initiatives.
• Build and maintain key internal District relationships in order to gain perspective on goals and objectives and work collaboratively in resolving or flagging issues and finding solutions that are mutually beneficial.

Program Strategic Planning:

• Actively engage with the SMT to assist Program Leadership in Program or Agency level short-term and long-term strategic planning.
• Work with Regional Habitat Program Manager (RHPM) and SMT to review and provide feedback and bring regional perspectives to strategic planning efforts.
  

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in an office and outdoor environment. May encounter adverse weather and sea conditions, noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, long periods of squatting, walking, boating, climbing in and out of boats, carrying, kneeling, rarely lifting heavy objects such as electrofishers (up to 40 lbs. unassisted), standing in confined spaces, slippery surfaces, biting and stinging insects/vegetation, and the use of knives.

Fieldwork may also include uneven terrain, biting and pinching animals, possible encounters with wildlife, and at times working independently, in remote locations during the day and at night.

This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments, walking over rough terrain for short distances (<1 mile) regularly or occasionally over long distances (several miles).

Schedule: Typically, Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with occasional evening meetings and may be called out on weekends, holidays, or after hours for emergency permitting. A flexible work schedule may be considered and is subject to supervisory approval.

Travel Requirements: Frequent travel throughout Region 3 and occasional trips to Olympia and other state-wide locations occur which may include overnight travel (about 1-2 nights a month, on average). May be required to operate agency vehicles to transport staff and equipment.

Tools and Equipment: Laptop, agency issued cell phone, Garmin InReach, first aid kit, waders, muck boots, rain jacket/element appropriate clothing. PPE identified in Job Hazard Analysis, including but not limited to: agency approved hard hat, roadside safety vest, personal flotation device, and eye protection.

Customer Relations: Agency staff, other government agencies, tribal, private stakeholders, restoration partners, funders, and the public.

Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year base.

Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife management, natural resource science, environmental science, or a related field.

AND all of the following (may be gained concurrently):

• Five (5) years of professional experience in fish management or fish research, wildlife management or wildlife research, or habitat management or habitat research, or any environmental or natural resource field.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, leading, and coaching employees, including performance management.
• Working understanding of advanced principles of program/project management, conflict resolution, strategic planning, and working with budgets.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid unrestricted Driver’s License.

Please note:

• A Master’s degree in the applicable science may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
• A Ph.D. in the applicable science may substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:

• Experience building working relationships among various stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills in sensitive work settings.
• General understanding of various regulatory processes, including the Hydraulic Code, Growth Management Act (GMA), State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and Shoreline Management Act (SMA).
• Experience working within the regulatory environment including reviewing, issuing, monitoring or complying with federal, state or local environmental permits.