Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program Manager (EMS Band 4)

Washington State Department of Ecology; Lacey (WA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Department of Ecology is seeking a Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program Manager to lead our statewide program from the Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. This executive role participates in the Executive Leadership Team and oversees critical environmental initiatives across shorelands, wetlands, and coastal resilience.

The position requires strategic leadership, budget oversight, and experience guiding multiple agencies and communities toward resilient outcomes.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent professional experience in environmental/public policy or related field.
• Proven track record in strategic leadership, budgeting, and policy management.
• Experience coordinating with multiple agencies, Tribes, and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct the statewide SEA program, negotiating scope, priorities, resources, and outcomes.
• Oversee policy development across shorelands, wetlands, floodplain management, and coastal resilience.
• Align program strategy with Ecology's mission and state environmental priorities.
• Administer state and delegated federal programs (SEPA, SMA, CZMA, Sec. 401).
• Manage budgets, personnel, and resources with transparent stewardship of public funds.
• Recruit, develop, and lead senior staff toward a collaborative, high‑performing workplace.
• Ensure defensible regulatory and scientific outcomes across planning, permitting, and coastal hazard mitigation.
• Oversee major statewide initiatives (Floodplain by Design, Wetland Mitigation Banking, SMA).
• Represent Washington in federal matters as Coastal Manager and coordinate disaster response.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Budget and Planning

Communication

Intergovernmental Coordination

Policy Management

Regulatory Oversight

Stakeholder Engagement

Diversity & Inclusion

Environmental Regulatory Expertise

Education

Public Administration

Business Administration

Environmental Management

Environmental Sciences

Natural Sciences

Physical Sciences

Engineering

Planning

Related Fields

Job description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen. The Department of Ecology is hiring a Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program Manager (EMS Band 4) as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Location

Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Employees are required to live within a commutable distance from the duty station upon hiring.

Schedule

• The position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A minimum of three days per week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent on position needs and may change.

Application Timeline

• Apply by August 09, 2026.

Duties

We are looking for a transformational leader to partner with dedicated professionals to guide Washington’s statewide efforts to protect and restore shorelands, wetlands, coastal areas, and floodplains; strengthen community resilience; advance clean energy siting; and support conservation and hazard‑mitigation initiatives across diverse landscapes.

Responsibilities

• Plan, lead, organize, and direct the statewide SEA program by negotiating program scope, priorities, resources, and outcomes.
• Oversee the development and implementation of policies, rules, and guidance that shape statewide shorelands, wetlands, floodplain management, clean energy coordination, and coastal resilience across all 39 counties.
• Lead the program’s strategic direction to align shoreland protection, watershed‐based planning, coastal management, hazard mitigation, clean energy siting, and community conservation initiatives with Ecology’s mission and statewide environmental priorities.
• Administer state and delegated federal programs, including the Shoreline Management Act, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Coastal Zone Management Act, Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Program, and wetland and floodplain management authorities.
• Manage the program’s operating and capital budgets, personnel, and resources to ensure responsible, transparent, and effective stewardship of public funds.
• Hire, lead, and develop managers, supervisors, and senior policy staff while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high‑performing workplace that supports diversity, staff engagement, and professional growth.
• Ensure high‑quality, defensible regulatory and scientific outcomes across planning, permitting, wetlands and flood hazard review, clean energy coordination, coastal hazard mitigation, and community‑based conservation.
• Oversee major statewide initiatives such as Floodplain by Design, Wetland Mitigation Banking, Shoreline Management Act, critical area ordinances under the Growth Management Act, and the stewardship, research, education, and community science missions of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Northwest Straits Commission, and the Washington Conservation Corps.
• Serve as Washington’s designated Coastal Manager, representing the state before federal agencies and negotiating on matters related to the Coastal Zone Management Act.
• Coordinate Ecology’s disaster response activities related to severe storms, catastrophic floods, wildfires, and other natural hazards through deployment of Washington Conservation Corps resources.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with Tribal governments, federal, state, and local government partners, conservation organizations, environmental justice advocates, regulated entities, and community‑based organizations.
• Integrate SEA’s work across Ecology programs—especially Water Quality, Water Resources, Toxics Cleanup, Climate Pollution Reduction, and Environmental Assessment—to promote watershed‑based, cross‑program alignment and effective statewide outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in environmental, physical or natural science, environmental studies, engineering, public administration, planning, public policy, political science, law, or a related discipline, demonstrated through professional degrees and/or lived experience.
• Professional level management experience, including:
  • Strategic Leadership, Budget and Planning
  • Ethical and Inclusive Leadership
  • Communication and Relationship Building
  • Program and Policy Management
  • Intergovernmental and Partner Coordination
  • Resource and Workforce Stewardship
  • Regulatory and Compliance Oversight
  • Environmental Regulatory Expertise (SEPA, SMA, CZMA, Section 401)
  • Watershed and Systems Integration
  • Rulemaking and Guidance Development

Desired Qualifications

• Education in public administration, business administration, environmental management, natural sciences, environmental sciences, physical sciences, engineering, planning, or related fields.
• Involvement in scientific/technical services in the environmental, natural resource management, or health protection fields.
• Advanced skills in communication, negotiation, and consensus building with high‑level officials.
• Experience leading a staff of over 100 employees.
• Experience managing diverse funding sources.
• Member of a senior or executive leadership team.
• Advanced knowledge of the Puget Sound Partnership.
• Advanced knowledge of the Clean Water Act.
• Working knowledge of the State Environmental Policy Act.
• Experience with policy decisions from the Washington Health Disparities Map.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial and ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people of disability, persons over 40, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Application Attestation

By submitting an application, you affirm that the information contained in your application and all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.