Real Estate Program Manager (WMS Band 2) Lacey, WA

State-of-Washington-Parks-and-Recreation-Commissio; Lacey (WA); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission in Lacey, WA is seeking a Real Estate Program Manager to lead the agency's land transactions, leases, and related programs. You will supervise professional staff, develop policy, and coordinate with leadership to minimize risk and maximize revenue from commercial leases.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and five years in real estate or property management, including supervision, with strong knowledge of water rights and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five years in real estate or property management, including supervising staff.
• Experience with water rights laws and land-use agreements.
• Ability to research, interpret, and address water rights issues as they relate to parks.
• Strong knowledge of liens, property defaults and other encumbrances.

Responsibilities

• Directs land exchanges, acquisitions by purchase and donations; manages statewide licenses, permits, leases, and easements.
• Oversees evaluation of water rights for park lands and operations.
• Develops policy to enhance revenue from commercial leases and sustainability.
• Leads staff development and training within the Real Estate Program.
• Represents the agency in high-visibility settings and with tribal/private partners.

Skills

Staff supervision

Real estate management

Policy development

Education

Bachelor's degree in real estate, property management, business, geography or related land use field

Job description

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Job Title: Real Estate Program Manager (WMS Band 2)

Location: Lacey, WA.

Closes: October 6th, 2026, at 11:55 p.m. PDT

Travel

Periodical travel to parks throughout the State Park system may be required.

Position Overview

Washington State Parks is seeking an experienced, highly skilled real estate leader for the position of Real Estate Program Manager (WMS 0 2). This position is located at Parks' headquarters' office in Lacey, Washington. The annual range of compensation is between $86,880– $115,840, depending on qualifications, although the expected hiring salary will typically be less than the top of the range.

The Real Estate Program Manager will lead the agency's efforts associated with acquiring and disposing of real property while ensuring agency compliance with any legal and regulatory requirements.

They will grant and obtain legal documents as needed for less-than-fee simple property transactions and develop agency policy and programs to improve the revenue generating capacity from commercial leases and improve sustainability and partner development in the agency's long‑term lease program.

In this role, you will be the primary liaison between the Real Estate Program and leadership from other agency programs and divisions, the Commission, and external partners.

The position's main purpose is to limit agency risk and legal exposure associated with acquiring and disposing of real property; ensuring agency compliance with any legal requirement of regulation obtained through legal contract; granting and obtaining legal documents as needed for less-than-fee-simple property transactions; developing agency policy and programs as needed to improve the revenue-generating capacity from commercial leases; developing agency policy and programs to improve sustainability and partner development in the agency's long-term lease program; and training, mentoring, and supervising Real Estate Program staff in accomplishing the above.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, highly skilled real estate leader with deep expertise in public‑sector real property management, complex land transactions, and policy development. They bring a strong record of managing acquisitions, disposals, exchanges, leases, easements, water rights, and other less-than-fee-simple agreements with precision, sound judgment, and a clear focus on reducing agency risk.

They excel at navigating legal requirements, collaborating with the Attorney General’s Office and OFM, and ensuring that all instruments, records, and transactions meet the highest professional standards.

This candidate is an experienced people leader who develops and mentors professional staff, builds a positive and accountable team culture, and ensures high-quality work products that support statewide operations. They are adept at representing the agency in high‑visibility settings, communicating complex information to diverse audiences, and cultivating productive relationships with tribal partners, public agencies, private‑sector entities, and park neighbors.

They thrive in a role that requires statewide coordination, strategic planning, and stewardship of public lands, and they bring the analytical, interpersonal, and policy‑shaping skills needed to guide the Real Estate Program’s long‑term direction.

Hybrid Telework Flexibility

This position offers hybrid telework flexibility, though frequent on‑site attendance is required to meet business needs. The default assigned work location of all Parks positions – both on‑site and telework eligible positions – is within the State of Washington. Frequency of on‑site work will vary based on business and operational needs.

Washington State Parks offers a collaborative culture focused on public service, environmental preservation, and outdoor equity. We offer a competitive salary, an outstanding state benefits package (medical, dental, and retirement plans), a generous leave policy, and the unique opportunity to spend your career protecting the most beautiful landscapes in the Pacific Northwest.

Duties

• Directs the implementation of all land exchanges, acquisitions by purchase and donations and administers the statewide system by which applications for licenses, permits, leases, and easements are evaluated, processed, implemented, and recorded.
• Directs the program in identification, protection and evaluation of water rights associated with park land and as required for the operation of individual parks.
• Surveys and records the Seashore Conservation line each decade and develops real estate policy regarding the Seashore Conservation Area.
• Identifies and works towards curing trespassing and unauthorized use of state land; assures that park land is legally owned, managed and surveyed and maintains files with the relevant documentation.
• Responds to requests from OFM for specific property information on a routine basis.
• Responsible for identifying and executing large‑scale land management agreements with federal, state, and local governments as well as with parties and partners from the private sector.
• Strategically promotes and nurtures mutually advantageous relationships with the private business sector; develops policy as needed to create working‑revenue lands as directed by adopted agency strategic initiatives.
• Plans, leads, and determines when surplus properties are disposed of and makes recommendations on how subsequent proceeds from sales are re‑invested back into the park system.
• Responsible for a wide variety of specialized real estate services including real property condemnation, tenant relocation or relocation assistance.
• Plans, coordinates, and oversees staff activities related to monitoring and compliance of lease provisions, real property agreements, and deed reservations.
• Responsible for real estate related fiscal notes and bill analyses in response to proposed legislation.
• Manages and leads professional real estate staff including all levels of Property and Acquisition Specialists. Trains, mentors, and assists with the professional development of program leaders and other professional staff. Models agency leadership principles for program staff.
• Manages the lands database and contract management system.

Schedule

Generally, Monday through Friday with core work hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Incumbent may be expected to adjust the work scheduled to meet business needs – occasional evening or weekends work may be required. A flexible or hybrid work schedule will be considered at the incumbent’s request, subject to supervisory approval.

Work Setting

This position works primarily in an office or home office environment.

Travel

Periodic travel will be required for statewide site visits, meetings, or public engagement with occasional overnight or multiple‑day trips. You must have the ability to operate a state vehicle.

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree in real estate, property management, business, geography or another closely related land use field. AND Five (5) years of experience in real estate or property management that includes experience supervising professional staff.

Additional qualifying experience may substitute year-for-year for education.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in water rights laws, regulations and adjudication procedures. Ability to research, interpret, explain and address water rights issues as they relate to individual parks and the park system.
• Experience working with a wide range of interested second parties in granting to them or obtaining from them land‑use rights through legal instruments as provided for by statutory law, regulation and Commission authority.
• Advanced level knowledge of processing, implementing or removing liens, property defaults, restrictive covenants, and other forms of property encumbrances.

Core Competencies

Technical Expertise - Expert knowledge of all standard real property use agreements or legal instruments necessary in managing real property; ability to minimize risk to the agency by exercising sound, independent, professional judgement in implementing all real property transactions, records management responsibilities.

Strategic Leadership & Program Management - Provides statewide leadership and direction for real estate program. Develops and implements agency‑wide policies, standards, and best practices.

Manages and leads professional real estate staff including all levels of Property and Acquisition Specialists. Trains, mentors, and assists with the professional development of program leaders and other professional staff. Models agency leadership principles for program staff.

Land Surveying and Mapping Principles – Knowledge of the procedures and practices pertaining to the establishment, locating, and defining of corners, monuments, lines, and boundaries. Experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and professional‑level ability to understand, interpret and communicate technical information related to legal property descriptions (metes & bounds) to nontechnical staff.

Legal Compliance & Risk Mitigation - Expert knowledge of all standard real property use agreements or legal instruments necessary in managing real property; ability to minimize risk to the agency by exercising sound, independent, professional judgement in implementing all real property transactions, records management responsibilities.

Public Representation & Communication - Expert level skills in communicating, verbally and in writing, with diverse audiences about technical and complex information (e.g., subordinates, peers, superiors, legislators, government officials, tribal members, corporate officials, the media and the general public.) Highly effective working with diverse audiences and in potentially hostile formats (e.g., public hearings, commission meetings). Sensitive to political and public‑relations aspects of agency issues and decisions.

Ability to Learn and Grow – Takes responsibility for knowing own strengths and weaknesses and uses learning to make programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all in Washington.

Ability to Take Action to Meet the Needs of Others – Flexible, adaptable, customer‑service focused, and willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of co‑workers and customers.

Other Critical Skills, Abilities, and Perspectives

• Advanced-level knowledge of natural resource and asset management, conservation and highest‑and‑best use property principles, including knowledge of state and federal laws relating to resource lands and waters, and of governmental structures, policies, and processes.
• Ability to research, interpret, explain and address water rights issues as they relate to individual parks and the park system.
• Expert knowledge of all standard real property use agreements or legal instruments necessary in managing real property; ability to minimize risk to the agency by exercising sound, independent, professional judgement in implementing all real property transactions, records management responsibilities.
• Advanced level knowledge of processing, implementing or removing liens, property defaults, restrictive covenants and other forms of property encumbrances.

About Parks

State parks connect all Washingtonians to their diverse natural and cultural heritage and provide memorable recreational and educational experiences that enhance their lives, this is a mission like no other state agency. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages one of the largest, most diverse, and beautiful state parks systems in the country. The state park system is comprised of 124 state parks and properties covering over 138,000 acres throughout the state. The park system includes marine parks, heritage sites, historic parks, interpretive centers, retreat centers, ocean beaches and hundreds of miles of trails. The agency is also responsible for the state’s winter recreation program, boating safety and vessel pump‑out program and numerous contracted concession operations. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission cares for Washington's most treasured lands, waters, and historic places.

Diversity Policy Statement

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to build a workplace culture that is welcoming and inclusive in which all employees feel respected and empowered to bring their unique ideas to the agency. At State Parks, we believe that embracing diverse backgrounds and experiences is essential to growing a strong workforce. We encourage applicants underrepresented in natural resources and outdoor recreation fields to apply, including but not limited to women, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), individuals with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, persons over 40 years of age, and individuals who identify as a part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resources office at [phone]. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

All applicants with a legal right to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.