Director of Water & Environmental Center

Walla Walla Community College; Walla Walla (WA); On-site; USD 90,519 - 102,414; Full time

Job summary

Walla Walla Community College invites applications for a full-time Director of the William A. Grant Water and Environmental Center at the Walla Walla campus.

The position oversees leadership, grant writing, budgeting, and program development for water, land and environmental initiatives. The Director collaborates with administration, faculty and external partners, including co-locators, to promote community engagement, education programs and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in water resources, environmental studies, natural resources, natural sciences, agriculture, or related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in preparing, conducting and evaluating community and/or youth informal education programs, community events and programs, and/or classroom curriculum.
• Advanced degree preferred and experience cultivating internal and external partnerships.
• Experience creating and presenting curriculum, interpretation materials and working with social media, videography or photography.
• Spanish language proficiency is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, vision, planning, grant writing and reporting, and budget oversight for the Water & Environmental Center.
• Oversee development, promotion, presentation and evaluation of community, professional, and youth education programs and events.
• Maximize use of the WEC interior facilities and exterior spaces in support of academic instruction, community education and collaboration.
• Foster ongoing communication with and support of WEC co-locators.
• Strengthen existing and identify new external program partnerships.

Skills

Leadership

Grant writing

Budget management

Community partnerships

Communication

Event planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in water resources, environmental studies, natural resources, natural sciences, agriculture, or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

MS Office

Teams

Webpage editing

Videography

Photography

Social media

Job description

Director of Water & Environmental Center

Walla Walla Community College

Salary: $90,519.00 - $102,414.00 Annually

Job Type:

Job Number: 2026-1430 WEC

Location: Walla Walla, WA

Department: VPI/INSTRUCTION OFFICE

Closing: Continuous

Join our team to help inspire all students to discover their potential and achieve their goals by providing relevant, equitable, and innovative learning opportunities and services.

Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) is seeking applicants for a full-time Director of the William A. Grant Water and Environmental Center at the Walla Walla campus.

At Walla Walla Community College, we inspire all students to discover their potential and achieve their goals by providing relevant, equitable, and innovative learning opportunities and services. As an organization, we value learning opportunities, a sense of community, diversity, health and humor, excellence, integrity, teamwork, innovation, personal and professional growth, and sustainability.

This position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to applicants whose complete application has been received by August 16, 2026 @ 11:59pm PST. See Required Application Materials section for more information

General Description

The mission of the Water & Environmental Center (WEC) is to serve as a resource where people can learn, share knowledge, and work together to create healthy natural environments, engaging community dialog, and thriving local economies. The Director provides leadership and support for the WEC initiatives, projects, partnerships and programs. The Director works collaboratively with administration, faculty and staff to cultivate and support effective WWCC, WEC co-locator and external partnerships. Current co-locators include: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Snake River Salmon Recovery Board, Sustainable Living Center, and Washington State Department of Ecology.

Essential Functions

• Provide leadership, vision, planning, grant writing and reporting, and budget oversight for the Water & Environmental Center.
• Oversee the development, promotion, presentation and evaluation of community, professional, and youth education programs and events to address current and emerging water, land and environmental issues.
• Maximize use of the WEC interior facilities and exterior spaces in support of academic instruction, community education and collaboration.
• Foster ongoing communication with and in support of WEC co-locators.
• Strengthen existing and identify new external program partnerships.

Competencies

• Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within the college, with WEC co-locators, and in the community.
• Capacity to maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field and use this knowledge in planning programs and activities at the WEC.
• Ability to convey ideas, concepts, facts, and strategies orally, visually, and in writing at a level appropriate for the intended audiences both in person and virtually.
• Ability to work with students, staff, co-locators and external partners from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to prepare and manage budgets.
• Capacity to write grants, reports, and other documentation in support of the WEC.
• Ability to manage facility and landscape operations and improvements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Teams programs; knowledge of or ability to learn webpage editing, videography, photography and social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook; ability to operate, maintain and facilitate the use of WEC display/exhibit materials and conference room and classroom equipment and technology.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities

• Supervise the WEC Staff, WEC Interns, and support staff.

Budget Authority

• Develop and manage the WEC budget and grant budgets as secured.
• Successfully complete funding reports on or before due dates, including Department of Commerce funding reports due December and June annually.

Required Qualifications

Any combination of education, experience, and/or training that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills to perform the job may be considered by the college.

• Bachelor's degree in water resources, environmental studies, natural resources, natural sciences, agriculture, or related field
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in preparing, conducting and evaluating community and/or youth informal education programs, community events and programs, and/or classroom curriculum.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in related field
• Experience cultivating internal and external partnerships or collaborations
• Experience creating and presenting curriculum, interpretation materials and working with social media, videography or photography
• Experience in managing conference and classroom facilities and facility landscapes and exterior spaces
• Spanish language proficiency

You don't check every qualification listed? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that traditionally marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification - even if they might be a great fit for the role! If you're excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider applying.

Conditions/Terms of Employment

This is a full-time, overtime exempt professional position. Persons hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of lawful authorization to work in the United States within three (3) days of employment. WWCC participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Official college transcripts required at time of hire. Candidates may be subject to a criminal history background check as a condition of employment. Information from the background check may not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. The college is a tobacco free institution.

Work will be performed both inside and outside, including WWCC and WEC facilities, display gardens and outdoor classroom, plus K-12 classrooms, fairgrounds and other community event venues. Work will be performed during normal business hours plus occasional weekday evenings and weekends. Duties require the use/manipulation of hands-on activity and demonstration tools such as water quality testing equipment, stream simulation table, fish tanks, and gardening tools. Limited regional travel is required (valid driver's license is required), generally to K-12 schools and community venues within the region. During the summer, work schedule is Monday through Thursday 10-hours each day.

Compensation

Annual salary range for initial placement based on the non-represented exempt salary schedule is NR10, Step A-F: $90,519-$102,414, with scheduled salary increment increases every 12 months until you reach the top of the scale. The college has an excellent benefit program including paid sick leave; paid vacation leave; medical, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance; retirement and two optional deferred compensation programs. All full-time employees will automatically have 3% of taxable income deferred into the State of Washington Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). All administrative exempt staff set aside 1% of their gross salary in a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) (VEBA). All exempt employees are required to participate in this program. Walla Walla Community College requires all employees to participate in direct deposit for payment of salary.

Required Application Materials

• Online NEOGOV application.
• Cover letter
  • Please provide a cover letter detailing your interest in this position. Please describe any professional experience, experience in developing and implementing education programming, and/or educational background that makes you an ideal candidate.
• Resume
• Names and contact information for three professional references
• Answers to four (4) supplemental questions
• Unofficial transcripts for application purposes; official transcripts are required prior to an official start date.

Walla Walla Community College is committed to provide equal opportunity and nondiscrimination for all educational and employment applicants as well as for its students and employed staff, without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, including gender expression/identity, marital status, age (over 40), the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, the use of trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, or status as a Vietnam and/or disabled veteran, National Guard member or reservist in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Federal Rehabilitation of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and any other applicable Federal and Washington State laws against discrimination.

The Human Resources Office is accessible to persons with disabilities. If you need accommodations in the application/employment process, please contact the Human Resources Office at [phone] - TDD [phone], email [e-mail], address: 500 Tausick Way, Walla Walla WA, 99362.

WWCC reserves the right to not fill this position, reject all applicants, or reopen the position. Applications received during this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies at the College's discretion.