Land Conservation Monitoring Specialist

King-County,-W; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks seeks a Land Conservation Monitoring Specialist to lead coordinated monitoring of conservation easements and PBRS lands. The role combines fieldwork, GIS, data management, and cross‑program collaboration.

You will develop monitoring protocols, assess property conditions, and partner with landowners to address issues, ensuring voluntary compliance where possible. Hybrid onsite work in Seattle, WA.

Qualifications

• Experienced with land conservation, including field inventory, inspection, monitoring, or assessment.
• Proven ability to build productive relationships with private landowners or stakeholders.
• Experience using mapping and data-management technologies, such as GIS, to assess property conditions.

Responsibilities

• Develop monitoring standards and protocols with program leads.
• Conduct conservation compliance monitoring of easements and agreements.
• Apply GIS, aerial imagery, and data systems to evaluate property conditions.
• Address compliance concerns collaboratively with program leads and landowners.
• Build and maintain a comprehensive monitoring data system for DNRP assets.
• Support continuous program improvement of monitoring practices.

Skills

Land conservation

Stakeholder collaboration

Data management

Tools

GIS

MS Office

Job description

This recruitment is open to both internal and external applicants and will be used to fill a Term‑Limited Temporary (TLT) position or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) with an anticipated 3‑year duration. In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Land Conservation Monitoring Specialist (PPM III) SDA/TLT roles throughout the Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) over the next six (6) months.

Join Our Team

Do you want your work to have a lasting impact on the lands, natural resources, and communities of King County?

The Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) is seeking a Land Conservation Monitoring Specialist (PPM III) to help strengthen how King County monitors and protects these important conservation investments. King County has a long history of land conservation, with more than 200,000 acres protected through County ownership or conservation easements, along with approximately 15,000 additional acres of privately owned land protected through the Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS). This is a unique opportunity to help build a coordinated monitoring program that spans multiple DNRP programs and combines field‑based land assessment, conservation easement monitoring, data management, GIS and remote monitoring technologies, landowner collaboration, and program development. Your work will directly support King County's efforts to conserve high‑value lands, protect working farms and forests, support healthy habitat and clean water, and ensure conservation commitments continue delivering their intended public and environmental benefits.

About the Role

The Land Conservation Monitoring Specialist is a newly established position responsible for helping create a coordinated approach to monitoring conservation easements, PBRS open‑space agreements, deed restrictions, and certain County‑owned lands associated with acquisitions led by DNRP's Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) and Parks and Recreation Division. Historically, monitoring has occurred within individual programs. This position will help bring those efforts together by developing consistent monitoring protocols, documentation practices, data systems, and approaches to compliance.

In this role, you will combine fieldwork, technology, data analysis, relationship‑building, and program coordination. You will assess current property conditions, document findings, identify potential compliance concerns, and partner with program staff and landowners to address issues and support voluntary compliance. Monitoring may include traditional site visits as well as review of aerial imagery, GIS information, and emerging technologies, including AI‑assisted remote monitoring platforms.

Your work will directly contribute to major King County priorities, including the Land Conservation Initiative, Local Food Initiative, Strategic Climate Action Plan, and policies established through the King County Comprehensive Plan.

About the Team

This position is housed within the Agriculture, Forestry, and Incentives Unit (AFI) of the Water and Land Resources Division and reports to the AFI Unit Manager. However, this is a highly collaborative, cross‑divisional role.

You will work closely with professionals across DNRP, including staff within:

• Agriculture, Forestry, and Incentives (AFI)
• Open Space Acquisitions (OSA)
• Environmental Policy and Initiatives (EPI)
• Recreation, Partnerships, & Property Management (RPPM)
• Parks Operations

Together, these teams conserve open space and working farms and forests, acquire and steward conservation lands, restore habitat, support environmental initiatives, manage County property, and maintain King County's extensive parks and trail system.

AFI works with forestland and farmland owners to improve land management, conserve working lands, restore habitat, increase environmental health and climate resiliency, and expand farmland access, including opportunities for farmers from historically underserved communities. This position will serve as an important connector across these programs, helping establish a consistent and effective approach to monitoring King County's conservation commitments.

Commitment To Equity 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. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Land Conservation Monitoring Specialist (PPM III) you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

What You Will Be Doing

• Develop monitoring standards and protocols. Partner with program leads to establish consistent guidelines for monitoring, documentation, communication, and outreach across programs and divisions.
• Conduct conservation compliance monitoring. Monitor King County‑held conservation easements, landowner agreements, deed restrictions, and certain County‑owned lands using field assessments and other monitoring approaches.
• Apply technology to conservation monitoring. Use traditional and innovative technologies—including GIS, aerial imagery, data systems, and emerging remote‑monitoring tools—to evaluate property conditions and identify potential compliance concerns.
• Address compliance concerns collaboratively. Work with program leads and landowners to identify issues, develop recommendations and corrective‑action timelines, encourage voluntary compliance, and coordinate appropriate corrective or enforcement measures when necessary.
• Build a comprehensive monitoring data system. Develop and maintain a system identifying DNRP assets with monitoring requirements, responsible parties, monitoring history, and current compliance status. This information is anticipated to eventually integrate with WLRD's parcel‑based Stewardship Hub.
• Support continuous program improvement. Work with program staff to identify opportunities to improve easement and agreement language, monitoring practices, and other processes that strengthen long‑term conservation outcomes.

Qualifications You Bring

• Experienced with land conservation, including field‑based land inventory, inspection, monitoring, or assessment.
• Proficient in building productive, collaborative relationships with private landowners or other property stakeholders to accomplish shared objectives.
• Knowledge of or experience working with conservation easements, deed restrictions, open‑space agreements, or similar land‑use protections, including monitoring for compliance.
• Ability to accurately collect, organize, manage, analyze, and report land‑use or property‑related information.
• Experience using mapping and data‑management technologies, such as GIS, to assess property conditions, land‑use changes, or past disturbances.
• Ability to develop, maintain, or improve data‑management systems and processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical or potentially sensitive information to different audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across programs, disciplines, and organizational boundaries.
• Ability to identify problems, recommend practical solutions, improve processes, and move work forward when priorities or stakeholder needs compete.
• Working proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word and Excel, and familiarity with collaborative tools such as Teams and Outlook.

Competencies You Bring

• Collaborate — Build partnerships and work effectively with colleagues, landowners, and stakeholders toward shared objectives.

• Communicate Effectively — Adapt communication approaches to clearly convey technical, programmatic, and potentially sensitive information to different audiences.

• Be Tech Savvy — Learn and effectively apply new technologies and digital tools to improve conservation monitoring and information management.

• Optimize Work Processes — Identify opportunities to improve systems and develop efficient, consistent approaches to accomplishing the work.

• Manage Conflict — Handle conflict situations effectively, with minimum of noise

• Drive Results — Maintain momentum and achieve meaningful outcomes when facing complex issues, competing priorities, or unexpected challenges.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring

• Experience developing, coordinating, or managing a conservation easement monitoring program.
• Experience establishing monitoring protocols, compliance processes, or land‑management data systems.
• Experience using GIS, aerial imagery, remote sensing, or other technologies to monitor conservation or open‑space lands.

Onsite Work Details

• Work Location: Agriculture, Forestry, and Incentives Unit (AFI) works in a hybrid model, with days in the office, and field, as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County‑issued laptop and must maintain an in‑home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117.

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.

Application Instructions

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.

Please ensure that your application materials clearly detail how your skills and experience meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this posting.

To Apply

• Complete Online Application (Required)
• Resume (Required)
• Cover Letter (Required)

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

Discover More About the Water and Land Division by visiting our website.

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.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high‑performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact William R. Herbert at [e-mail].

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

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No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

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.