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

State of Washington; Lacey (WA); On-site; 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 statewide real property transactions, develop policy, and optimize revenue from leases and land use. This senior role coordinates with multiple partners and ensures rigorous regulatory compliance.

The candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field and have at least five years of real estate experience, including supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, property management, business, geography or another closely related land use field is required.
• Five years of experience in real estate or property management, including supervising professional staff.
• Experience with land acquisitions, leases, easements, and regulatory compliance is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Directs implementation of land exchanges, acquisitions by purchase and donations, and manages licenses, permits, leases, and easements.
• Directs identification, protection, and evaluation of water rights related to park land.
• Develops policy for revenue from commercial leases and sustainable long-term lease programs.
• Plans and oversees disposition of surplus properties and reinvestment of proceeds.
• supervises staff and provides mentorship for program leaders and staff.
• Manages lands database and contract management system.

Skills

Leadership

Real estate knowledge

GIS

Education

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

Tools

GIS

Job description

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Real Estate Program Manager (WMS Band 2)

Location: Lacey, WA | Salary: $86,880 - $115,840 | Closing Date: October 6th, 2026, 11:55 p.m. PDT

Travel: Periodic travel to parks throughout the State Park system may be required.

This position will lead the agency's efforts associated with acquiring and disposing of real property while ensuring agency compliance with any legal and regulatory requirements. It involves granting and obtaining legal documents for less-than-fee simple property transactions and developing agency policy and programs to improve revenue from commercial leases and sustainable long-term lease programs.

Responsibilities

• 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. Occasional evening or weekend 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. Ability to operate a state vehicle is required.

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.

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.

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.