Wetlands Section Manager (WMS2)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Wetlands Section Manager (WMS Band 2) 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 one day per week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: 

• Apply by April 29, 2026.
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

Duties

This Wetlands Section Manager position provides a unique opportunity to lead Ecology’s statewide Wetlands Section within the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program. In this role, you will direct a multidisciplinary team responsible for statewide wetland policy, technical assistance, mitigation and compliance oversight, wetland banking, riparian and wetland federal grant programs, and Puget Sound recovery efforts. You will guide the development of science-based statewide wetland policies, ensure consistent and defensible regulatory decisions, and represent Ecology on complex and high-visibility wetland issues at the state, regional, and national levels. 

You will also oversee major federal and state grant programs, lead section-level strategic planning, and shape wetland guidance and policy approaches used across Washington. As a member of the SEA Program Management Team, you will contribute to program-wide planning, statewide policy initiatives, and strategic decisions that influence the protection and restoration of wetlands and riparian systems throughout Washington State. 

What you will do:

  • Provide statewide leadership for Ecology’s Wetlands Section, setting strategic direction and ensuring high-quality, science-based policy, technical assistance, and regulatory support. 
 • Supervise and mentor 17 professional staff working in policy, mitigation, compliance, wetland banking, stewardship, acquisition, and Puget Sound recovery. 
 • Oversee development and implementation of statewide wetland policy, guidance, and technical materials, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and legal defensibility. 
• Lead Ecology’s representation on sensitive and high-visibility wetland and riparian issues, including national forums, tribal and federal partnerships, and statewide policy negotiations. 
 • Manage the section’s operating and capital budgets, oversee procurement and expenditures, and administer major federal grants and wetland acquisition programs. 
 • Direct wetland banking certifications, compliance actions, mitigation oversight, and enforcement decisions, including issuing administrative orders and penalties. 
 • Partner with regional offices, other Ecology programs, tribes, and external agencies to ensure consistent implementation of wetland laws and priorities statewide. 
 • Contribute to SEA Program-wide strategic planning, policy development, and resource decisions as a member of the Program Management Team.

Qualifications

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

Required Qualifications:

Nine years of combined experience and education:

Experience: professional-level experience in environmental policy, wetland management, or program administration, which includes a minimum of two (2) years supervising professional staff and/or leading complex environmental or regulatory programs.

Experience must include demonstrated competence in the following skill sets:

• Knowledge of state and federal wetlands laws and regulations, and enforceable policies and issues, such as the State Water Pollution Control Act and the federal Clean Water Act.

• Demonstrated ability to interpret, develop, and apply environmental policies and technical guidance related to wetlands, mitigation, and compliance.

• Ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams, set priorities, assign work, evaluate performance, and develop staff.

Education: involving major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, land use, environmental or natural resource planning, environmental engineering, business administration, or closely allied field.

Examples of how to qualify:

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

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of permitting requirements and issues affecting wetlands at federal, state, and local levels.

• Experience managing operating, capital, or federally funded environmental grant programs, including budget planning, tracking, and compliance.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local permitting and regulatory processes, including wetland banking, enforcement actions, and mitigation oversight.
• Ability to communicate complex scientific and regulatory concepts to internal staff, partner agencies, and external partners.
• Knowledge related to tribal consultation and engagement.
• Knowledge of environmental justice considerations.
• Experience guiding staff in implementation of regulations to ensure consistency in application.

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, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR)  are core values central to Ecology's work. 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.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on 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.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Joenne McGerr  at Joenne.McGerr@ecy.wa.gov. 
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov.

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.

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, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

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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