Water Quality Program Capital Budget Manager (WMS2)

Washington Department of Natural Resources; Lacey (WA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington Department of Ecology in Washington state is seeking a Water Quality Program Capital Budget Manager (WMS2) to lead the capital budget for critical water quality infrastructure projects. You will forecast financial needs, coordinate with managers, and ensure accurate reporting and compliance across funding actions.

The role supports a portfolio exceeding $1 billion in financing, offers telework eligibility and a flexible schedule, and requires in-office presence two days per week.

Qualifications

• Seven years of public sector budget management, fiscal or grant management, accounting, or related work.
• Education involving accounting, finance, economics, statistics, business, public administration, or closely allied field.

Responsibilities

• Design a long-range strategic capital budget plan and develop financial contingency plans.
• Guide development of program capital budget requests, fiscal notes, and provide budget information.
• Manage capital budgets for statewide activities; monitor revenue and expenditures; oversee spending plans.
• Advise program manager and CFO on accuracy and appropriateness of capital budget actions.
• Interpret policies and advise management and staff on implementation.

Skills

Strategic Resource Management

Persuasive Communication

Funding Analysis and Innovation

Team Leadership

Policy and Compliance Oversight

Grant and Contract Management

Education

Accounting/Finance/Economics/Public Administration

Job description

Description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Water Quality Program Capital Budget Manager (WMS2) within the Water Quality 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 week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by August 10, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.
• In-person interviews are planned for September 1, 2026

Duties

The Water Quality Program runs a portfolio of over $1 billion in financing for water quality infrastructure that supports quality habitat, recreation, and a strong economy. You will play a critical role in obtaining funding and ensuring these programs are sustainable. You will regularly advise program and agency managers in forecasting potential issues, examining challenges, identifying solutions, projecting consequences of actions, and implementing actions to support agency and program goals. Your skills will directly impact business outcomes for the program and the agency. You will be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely reporting on capital budget activities.

What you will do:

• Strategic Leadership. Design a long-range strategic capital budget plan; anticipate and identify financial problems; create solutions; make critical independent, strategic financial decisions; develop financial contingency plans.
• Inform statewide budget processes. Guide development of program capital budget requests and fiscal notes. Prepare, coordinate, and provide Water Quality capital budget information, materials and analysis.
• Manage capital budgets for the Water Quality Program's unique activities, functions and sections statewide: project trends in revenues and expenditures; monitor and report out on revenue and expenditures; oversee development of spending plans; recommend appropriate funding for pass-through grants and loans, staffing and other expenditures.
• Advise the Water Quality Program Manager and Chief Financial Officer of the accuracy and appropriateness of capital budget related actions and documents, such as grants, loans, contracts and personnel actions.
• Interpret capital budget policies and procedures for staff and managers; recommend policy and procedure changes; advise executive and program management and staff, representatives of other agencies, and various committees regarding implementation of policies, procedures and legislation.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Seven (7) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in public sector budget management, fiscal or grant management, accounting, or related work. This may include:
  • Strategic Resource Management – Ability to prioritize and allocate financial resources to ensure alignment with organizational strategic goals.
  • Persuasive Communication – Ability to convey complex financial or operational issues in a clear and compelling way to support understanding and informed decision-making.
  • Funding Analysis and Innovation – Ability to identify and evaluate new funding opportunities to mitigate risks and recommend effective, sustainable solutions.
  • Team Leadership – Ability to lead and develop budget or accounting staff to build a high-performing, collaborative team.
  • Policy and Compliance Oversight – Ability to ensure adherence to budget-related policies and procedures to maintain accuracy, accountability, and compliance.
  • Grant and Contract Management – Ability to manage grants or contracts to ensure compliance with requirements and achieve intended program outcomes.
• Education involving a major study in accounting, finance, economics, statistics, business, public administration, or closely allied field.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 7 years of experience.
• 6 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 5 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 4 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 3 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree or above.

Desired Qualifications:

• 5 years of experience in Washington State Agency fiscal management.
• Experience using Washington State grant and finance tools and systems.

At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging, and we welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and unique perspectives.

Supplemental Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Our Commitment to DEIR

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.

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.

About the Water Quality Program

The mission of the Water Quality Program is to ensure that all aquatic life and communities in the watershed experience cool, clean water to refresh and sustain us in a changing climate. You will contribute to Ecology’s and Water Quality's missions by developing and implementing the Capital Program budget. You will coordinate closely with the Financial Management Section Manager, along with Water Quality Program Management Team, to create implementation plans for capital budget pass through funding. You will approve expenditures in accordance with the agreed upon implementation plan. You will provide accurate information, timely analysis and informed recommendations for maximizing use of resources. You will provide professionally sound guidance, consultation and advice at an advanced level of expertise for which the impact of the positions consultative and advisory work is highly consequential to the agency's effectiveness.

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.

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 Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *

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.

#LI-Hybrid