Director of Environmental Programs

Port of Olympia; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick leave

Retirement plan

Educational assistance

Job summary

The Port of Olympia is seeking a Director of Environmental Programs to lead the environmental, regulatory compliance, and sustainability functions. Under the Executive Director, you will shape strategies for asset management, long-range planning, and capital projects while guiding a team.

You will serve as SEPA official, manage budgets for Environmental Dept and facilities, oversee remediation and compliance, and collaborate with senior managers to minimize risk and advance climate initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in environmental management, land use planning, biological or fisheries sciences, toxicology, construction management or engineering, business, or a related field.
• Five or more years of related experience in this field.
• Five years of experience with environmental regulations and permit requirements including SEPA, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act.
• Five years of program and staff management, evaluating performance and fostering teamwork.
• Knowledge and experience managing contracts or contracted projects.

Responsibilities

• Oversee environmental, regulatory compliance, and sustainability programs.
• Provide strategic direction and supervise the Environmental Department staff.
• Develop asset management and long-range planning aligned with capital projects.
• Serve as SEPA responsible official and coordinate with legal counsel.
• Oversee budgets for the Environmental Department, Stormwater Treatment Facility, and Cascade Pole Facility.
• Lead environmental remediation projects and cost-recovery negotiations.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Program management

Staff management

Contract management

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental management or related field

Job description

Creating economic opportunities and building community for all of Thurston County through responsible resource use.

The Port of Olympia is a Washington State special purpose municipal corporation serving all of Thurston County. With a proud history deeply rooted in the region, the Port of Olympia stands as a beacon of community service, economic development leadership, tourism, and environmental stewardship. The Capital City port owns and operates four distinct business lines. From the diverse commercial real estate portfolio to the specialized break bulk marine terminal, from the vibrant Swantown Marina and Boatworks to the strategically located Olympia Regional Airport, your Port is well balanced and committed to fostering economic growth of the South Puget Sound region while serving the needs of the global clientele.

For over a century, the Port of Olympia has been a cornerstone of economic prosperity in the community and region. The Ports operations have not only created thousands of jobs but also bolstered the tax base, fueled business expansion, and heavily contributed to the local tourism in the area. Today, the Port sustains well over 5,000 jobs throughout Thurston County, generating millions in revenue and contributes substantially to state and local tax, further underlining our commitment to the growth and vitality of our region.

The Position

Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Director of Environmental Programs oversees the Port’s environmental, natural resource, regulatory compliance, and sustainability functions. This position within the Port requires the broadest set of environmental program management skills and the specialized knowledge needed to perform them. Provides strategic direction and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Environmental Programs.

The incumbent works independently and has the authority to make decisions within granted authorities and make recommendations on policy issues. The Director of Environmental Programs also supervises staff in the Environmental Department.

This position provides leadership and oversees the Port’s Environmental Programs. This includes programs such as environmental and regulatory compliance, environmental cleanup and remediation, natural resource management, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) compliance, and sustainability. This position works as part of the executive team to develop and implement strategies for asset management, long-range planning, and the capital improvement program. This position provides leadership on the Port’s sustainability and resiliency initiatives such as sea level rise adaptation, zero emission goals, and climate mitigation and adaptation. The Environmental Programs Director supervises staff in the department and creates a team environment for employees to be successful. This includes developing department goals, objectives, and work plans, conducting annual performance reviews, and coaching individuals and the team for success.

Additional duties include:

• Oversees all Port environmental programs and initiatives, including regulatory compliance, contaminated site cleanup, mitigation, restoration projects, environmental stewardship, and sustainability.
• Advises the Port on issues associated with environmental regulatory compliance, liability, and risk minimization and resolution.
• Provides the Executive Director and other directors and senior managers with notice of regulatory trends and projected future compliance requirements.
• Works with other directors and senior managers in negotiating cost recovery for environmental compliance activities.
• Provides strategic direction for environmental remediation projects. Oversees technical staff and consultants from investigation to long-term monitoring. Negotiates resolution of Port liability and works with legal counsel and consultants on cost recovery.
• Prepares environmental analyses and decisions for compliance with State and Federal environmental laws and coordinates with Port legal counsel.
• Serve as the delegated SEPA responsible official for the Port, with responsibility for assisting legal staff with preparation of SEPA documents, making SEPA determinations, and ensuring Port compliance with Port SEPA policies and state law. Works with the Public Works staff to ensure SEPA checklists are timely prepared and all necessary SEPA processes are followed. Oversees the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements, when necessary.
• Develops and oversees budgets for the Environmental Department, Stormwater Treatment Facility, and Cascade Pole Facility.
• Works with other directors and senior managers on the development of the annual capital budget. Provides input into the Port-wide long-term asset management plan.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental management, land use planning, biological or fisheries sciences, toxicology, construction management or engineering, business, or a related field, AND five (5) or more years’ related experience in this field.
• Five (5) years of experience working with environmental regulations and permit requirements applicable to the Port, including:
  1. SEPA
  2. Clean Water Act
  3. Clean Air Act
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience managing programs and staff, conducting performance evaluations, and creating team collaborations.
• Knowledge and experience of managing contracts or contracted projects.

Desired Qualifications

• Work on cleanup projects under the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) or Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), including developing strategies around cleanup selection, cost recovery, and grant acquisition and management.
• 40 Hour Hazardous Waste Certification.
• Knowledge of environmental regulations applicable to Port; familiarity with regulatory and permitting processes affecting Port projects.

The Port of Olympia is committed to providing equal employment opportunity and equal access in a non-discriminatory manner to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, creed, color, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, political affiliation, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any real or perceived sensory, mental, or physical disability.
Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or for an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Consultant, Tracy Aga at [phone] or [e-mail]. Persons of disability or those who are deaf or hard of hearing can call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388. The Port of Olympia complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the Federal Form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.

Compensation and Benefits

• $116,058 - $174,085
• Medical, prescription, vision, and dental insurance with no out-of-pocket employee premiums and full coverage for employee, spouse, and all eligible dependents.
• Life and AD&D insurance with a maximum of $100,000, with optional supplemental coverage by employee
• 12 paid holidays
• Earned vacation and sick leave
• Bereavement leave
• Educational assistance
• Long-term disability insurance, with optional supplemental coverage by employee
• Washington State Retirement System
• Wellness fringe benefit
• Optional Ameriflex Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Account (DCA) Plans
• Optional AFLAC Insurance Plans