Statewide Wetlands Permitting Implementation Lead (Environmental Planner 5)(Internal Only)

State of Washington; Lacey (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Washington's Department of Ecology is seeking a Statewide Wetlands Permitting Implementation Lead (Environmental Planner 5) to guide statewide wetlands permitting, compliance, and policy development within the SEA Program. You will provide senior leadership, strategic direction, and technical guidance for State Waters Alteration Permit and related wetlands frameworks across the state.

The role includes developing statewide policies, supervising staff, and coordinating with agencies and

Qualifications

• Eleven (11) years of experience and/or education related to wetlands permitting and compliance.
• Ability to interpret and apply state and federal wetlands laws and related acts.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating with tribes, federal agencies, and local governments.

Responsibilities

• Provide statewide leadership for wetlands permitting and compliance, directing interpretation of regulatory frameworks.
• Serve as principal planning consultant for wetlands permitting, advising senior management on policy needs.
• Lead cross-program and interagency coordination on major wetlands topics and regulatory discussions.
• Develop statewide guidance, procedures, tools, and training to improve permitting clarity and accessibility.
• Oversee complex permitting decisions and compliance actions involving multiple programs and legal considerations.
• Develop, analyze, and present legislative proposals; draft testimony and advise leadership on impacts.
• Coordinate implementation of major regulatory frameworks, including SEA Program plans and related acts.
• Direct multi-disciplinary teams to resolve policy issues and launch statewide implementation strategies.
• Provide statewide policy direction and senior-level consultation to staff across programs and regions.
• Supervise 2–4 professional staff; assign work, coach, and evaluate performance.

Skills

Wetlands regulations

Policy development

Interagency coordination

Legislation analysis

Program leadership

Supervisory

Education

Environmental planning degree

Job description

This recruitment is open only to current Department of Ecology employees, including those on temporary or project assignments, and Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps members.

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Statewide Wetlands Permitting Implementation Lead (Environmental Planner 5)(Internal Only) within the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.




• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.




• A minimum of two days per month is required in the office.




• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by November 6, 2026



• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

This Statewide Wetlands Permitting Implementation Lead position offers a unique opportunity to guide Ecology’s statewide implementation of wetlands permitting, compliance, and policy development within the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program. In this role, you will provide senior-level leadership and technical direction for the State Waters Alteration Permit and related wetlands protection frameworks, ensuring clear, consistent, and effective permitting practices across Washington. You will serve as Ecology’s principal wetlands permitting and compliance expert, shaping regulatory approaches, advancing statewide consistency, and representing the agency in high-profile policy, legal, and interagency forums.

You will also lead the development of new statewide policies, procedures, guidance, and training that strengthen the clarity and accessibility of wetlands permitting. You will coordinate complex, sensitive permitting and compliance efforts—often involving multiple programs, jurisdictions, and environmental laws—while advising agency leadership on legislative proposals, regulatory issues, and long-range planning needs. As a member of the Wetlands Section leadership team, you will contribute to program-level planning, budget discussions, and strategic initiatives that advance Ecology’s mission and support wetlands protection statewide. In addition, you will supervise a team of professional staff who manage day-to-day administrative orders, State Waters Alteration permits, and wetlands compliance processes, ensuring consistent application of policy, high-quality technical work, and coordinated service delivery across headquarters and regional offices.

What you will do:

• Provide statewide leadership for Ecology’s Wetlands Permitting and Compliance work, setting strategic direction and ensuring consistent interpretation and application of the State Waters Alteration Permit and related regulatory frameworks.


• Serve as Ecology’s principal planning consultant for wetlands permitting, advising senior management on emerging issues, policy development needs, complex compliance matters, and legislative proposals.


• Lead cross-program, interagency, and governmental coordination on major wetlands permitting and compliance topics, representing Ecology in high-visibility regulatory, policy, and legal discussions.


• Develop statewide guidance, procedures, tools, and training to improve clarity, transparency, and accessibility of wetlands permitting and compliance processes across the agency and among partner organizations.


• Oversee and guide complex or sensitive permitting decisions and compliance actions, including those that involve multiple programs, legal considerations, or major environmental issues.


• Lead the development, analysis, and presentation of legislative proposals, including drafting bill language, preparing testimony, and advising leadership on potential impacts to wetlands permitting and compliance.


• Coordinate and advise on the implementation of major regulatory frameworks influencing wetlands management, including the Washington Wetlands Program Plan, the Shoreline Management Act, the Wetland Mitigation Banking Act, and the Water Pollution Control Act.


• Assemble and direct multi-disciplinary teams to resolve major policy issues, develop new procedures, and launch statewide implementation strategies for wetlands permitting, compliance, and mitigation processes.


• Provide policy direction and senior-level consultation to staff and managers statewide, ensuring alignment across programs and regions on wetlands permitting and compliance practices.


• Supervise 2–4 professional staff responsible for administrative orders, permit processing, and wetlands compliance activities, including assigning work, coaching, mentoring, and evaluating performance.


• Ensure high-quality permit reviews, compliance documentation, and policy deliverables by guiding staff in applying regulatory requirements, scientific analyses, and program priorities consistently.


• Develop team-level work plans, operational procedures, and performance expectations that align with SEA Program priorities and support effective statewide implementation of wetlands permitting.


• Provide training and workshops for headquarters and regional staff, building statewide capacity in permit administration, compliance procedures, data systems, and emerging wetlands policy topics.


• Represent Ecology in interagency forums, technical workgroups, and coordination efforts with Tribes, federal agencies, local governments, and community groups engaged in wetlands management and protection.


• Contribute to program-level planning and strategic decision-making, including input on budget needs, resource allocation, and long-term priorities related to wetlands permitting and compliance.


• Communicate complex permitting and policy concepts clearly to staff, leadership, other agencies, and external parties, supporting informed decision-making and consistent statewide implementation.

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Eleven (11) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of this position, which includes the following:

1. Wetlands Regulatory Framework: Ability to interpret and apply state and federal laws related to wetlands permitting and compliance, including the State Waters Alteration Permit, the Shoreline Management Act, the Water Pollution Control Act, and the Wetland Mitigation Banking Act.

2. Environmental Policy Development: Experience developing, evaluating, and implementing policy, procedures, and regulatory guidance for complex environmental permitting programs.

3. Interagency Coordination: Skill in leading coordination efforts among multiple partners such as state and federal agencies, tribes, and local governments to ensure consistent statewide regulatory implementation.

4. Legislative and Legal Analysis: Ability to analyze proposed legislation, draft testimony, and provide expert consultation on legal and policy issues affecting wetlands permitting and compliance.

5. Program Leadership & Strategic Direction: Competence in setting statewide program priorities, guiding development of new permitting processes, and leading multidisciplinary teams addressing complex or sensitive environmental issues.

6. Supervisory & Staff Development: Experience managing staff workloads, evaluating performance, mentoring technical and planning staff, and ensuring consistent application of compliance and permitting procedures.

Education:

Involving a major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 11 years of experience.




• 10 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.




• 9 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).




• 8 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.




• 7 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.




• 5 years of experience AND a Master’s degree.

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of local, state and federal laws and regulations affecting wetlands, and water quality laws and issues.


• Ability to develop, mentor, work with, and direct staff in the completion of day-to-day work in a timely manner.


• Skills to strategically plan, schedule, and track monitoring project workloads to assure timely delivery of quality products to clients.

About the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program

The mission of the SEA Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR)

As the Department of Ecology, we strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave, 11 Paid Holidays per year, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentive, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth Click here for more information

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, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Note:This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency.

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