Planning and Recreation Section Manager - Environmental Planner 5

The Wildlife Society; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife invites applications for the Planning and Recreation Section Manager, Environmental Planner 5, in Olympia, WA. The role leads policy, planning, and recreation programs for Lands Division, overseeing staff and coordinating multi-agency partnerships.

Responsibilities include directing the Planning and Recreation Section, managing WLA and WAA planning, and guiding recreation policies while engaging Tribes, state and federal land managers, and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning.
• Bachelor's degree with similar emphasis; multiple pathways acknowledged.
• Plus at least 5 years of professional planning experience and 1 year of leadership/supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct the Planning and Recreation Section, providing policy and planning guidance to staff.
• Direct management of Wildlife Areas and Water Access Areas planning efforts.
• Develop and implement strategic and operational plans for recreation and lands management.
• Represent WDFW in partnerships with Tribes, other state/federal managers, and stakeholders.
• Coordinate public-facing planning activities and communicate policies to the public.

Education

Master's degree in land use/planning

Bachelor's degree in land use/planning

Job description

Title- Planning and Recreation Section (P&RS) Manager
Classification- Environmental Planner 5
Job Status - Full-Time / Permanent
WDFW Program - Wildlife Program – Lands Division
Duty Station - Olympia, Washington – Thurston County
Hybrid/Telework- While this position may offer a telework option, the successful candidate must be available to report to the duty station as needed.
Closing Date- 9/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

This position plays a key role in shaping how WDFW-managed lands and recreation opportunities are planned, managed, and enjoyed. The Planning and Recreation Section (P&RS) Manager serves as the principal planning and recreation consultant to the Wildlife Program Lands Division Manager (LDM), providing leadership and expertise on complex planning and recreation issues.

In this role, you’ll coordinate the development and implementation of environmental resource plans, programs, policies, and regulations related to the management of more than 1,000,000 acres of WDFW-managed lands and more than 480 water access sites that support recreational and commercial fishing and boating opportunities.

You’ll also provide leadership on outdoor recreation and visitor use management, travel management, and efforts to address recreation-related impacts while protecting natural and cultural resources. The P&RS Manager represents the agency’s planning and recreation interests both internally and in collaboration with other agencies, partners, stakeholders, and the public.

What to Expect: Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Planning and Recreation Section (P&RS) Manager will,

Lead and direct the Planning and Recreation Section:

• Manage the P&R Section and provide guidance on policy and planning to other technical staff within the Department.
• Supervise, plan, assign, and review the work of P&R Section employees, adjust assignments and schedules to respond to fluctuating workloads or constraints to deliver complete projects.
• Develop and implement strategic and operational planning for the P&R Section.
• Ensure P&R Section work products conform with WDFW Strategic Plan, the agency’s Conservation Principles, the 10-year Recreation Strategy, and other relevant agency positions, commitments and guidance.

Direct Management Planning for Wildlife Areas (WLA) and Water Access Areas (WAA):

• Direct and guide production of quality WLA and WAA Management Plans.
• Provides oversight of multi-disciplinary teams to advance Departmental conservation and recreation goals and facilitate solutions for WLA and WAA specific challenges.

Manage Recreation on DFW-Managed Lands:

• Lead development of recreation management policies, procedures, and rules for WDFW-managed Lands.
• Lead and support implementation of recreation and access policies, procedures, and rules.
• Ensure clear communication of recreation and access opportunities and rules with the public.
• Facilitate cross-agency collaboration on recreation issues with other state land managers.
• Provide leadership and/or strategic planning to address emerging recreation management needs.
• Lead efforts to support responsible recreation on WDFW-managed lands and water access areas.

Represent WDFW in Key Planning and Recreation Partnerships:

• Lead WDFW efforts to remain a recognized partner and leader in balancing conservation with compatible recreation in Washington State.
• Develop and maintain partnerships to facilitate recreation planning and management with Tribes, other state and federal land managers, conservation and recreation groups, boards, commissions, and the legislature.

Participate in Lands Division Leadership Team:

• Participate in and share leadership of regular Lands Division Leadership Team and Lands All-Staff meetings.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards: Office environment (95%) with occasional tours or site visits to WAA or WLA locations throughout the state (5%). Hazards may involve exposure to inclement weather, uneven or unstable terrain, slippery surfaces, vegetation, insects, wildlife, and other natural hazards. This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule: Typically, Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, with infrequent evening or weekend meetings, tours, or site visits.

Travel Requirements: Occasional travel for meetings, conferences, or for site visits, infrequent overnight travel may be authorized.

Tools and Equipment: Standard office equipment and software such as Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, SmartSheet, Garmin GPS, and mobile phone applications.

Customer Interactions: Interact primarily with other professionals within and outside of the Department. This role requires participation in public forums including briefings for the Fish and Wildlife Commission and various Committees, Citizen Advisory Committees, Tribal Roundtable discussions, and various conferences and meetings in which public comments and interaction are solicited.

Required Qualifications:

Option 1 – All of the following (experience may be gained concurrently):

A Master's degree or higher with a major emphasis in one of the following:

• • Land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning.
  • Landscape architecture.
  • Geography.
  • Land use or environmental law.
  • Public administration with an environmental emphasis.
  • A closely related field.
• Five (5) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.
• One (1) year or more of leadership or supervisory experience, including conflict resolution, training and development, planning and assigning work, and evaluating performance.

Option 2 – All of the following (experience may be gained concurrently):

• A Bachelor’s degree with a major emphasis in one of the following:
  • Land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning.
  • Landscape architecture.
  • Geography.
  • Land use or environmental law.
  • Public administration with an environmental emphasis.
  • A closely related field.
• Seven (7) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.
• One (1) year or more of leadership or supervisory experience, including conflict resolution, training and development, planning and assigning work, and evaluating performance.

Option 3 – All of the following (experience may be gained concurrently):

• Eleven (11) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning; landscape architecture; geography; land use or environmental law; public administration with an environmental emphasis; program development; or a closely related field.
• One (1) year or more of leadership or supervisory experience, including conflict resolution, training and development, planning and assigning work, and evaluating performance.

Certifications/Licenses: Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Knowledge of planning principles, techniques, and current trends; environmental laws, policies and programs related to recreation, cultural resources, and natural resource development; government administrative structures; and challenges affecting planning and recreation programs.
• Knowledge of recreation, cultural, and natural resources planning and objectives, as well as principles of staff supervision.

Leadership:

• Ability to organize, coordinate, and lead programs, processes, and multidisciplinary teams; assign and monitor work; and guide others toward project goals and objectives.
  Ability to interpret information, evaluate options, and recommend decisions or courses of action to management based on project goals and multidisciplinary team input.

Communication Skills:

• Experience presenting information to groups, preparing written and verbal reports and recommendations, and analyzing and interpreting information to identify effective options and courses of action.

Facilitation and Organizational Skills:

• Experience facilitating meetings and collaborative processes to make decisions, solve problems, develop plans, and resolve disputes.
  Experience building collaborative relationships, identify areas of common interest, and gather, research, and organize information from diverse sources.

Planning Skills:

• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans for WDFW-managed lands, including Wildlife Area plans, recreation management, outreach, and Discover Pass initiatives.
• Experience evaluating proposed actions and timelines against organizational mission and values, integrating plans across programs and disciplines, and making informed decisions regarding the relevance, feasibility, and overall value of plans.
• Experience developing instructional materials and guidance for implementing legislation, rules, policies, procedures, and program strategies.

Your application should include the following:

• An unofficial or official college transcript.
• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three (3) professional references with current contact information.