Watershed Unit Supervisor (WMS1)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Watershed Unit Supervisor (WMS Band 1) within the Water Quality Program.

Location:

• Eastern Region Office in Spokane, 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 April 16, 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

Are you interested in leading a fantastic team of professionals responsible for restoring streams and protecting aquatic habitats?  Can you picture yourself directing efforts to develop clean-up plans and implement water quality improvement actions?  Would you enjoy guiding 11 dedicated staff as they work to meet water quality standards in regional waterbodies? If so, this position could be a great fit for you!
   
In this role, you will manage a team responsible for identifying and controlling nonpoint source water pollution, with an emphasis on riparian restoration. Your team will implement existing water quality clean-up plans as well as develop new plans designed to achieve standards and protect aquatic habitat. The Watershed Unit collaborates with landowners and local partners to proactively restore streams using technical assistance and available grant funding. As the supervisor, you will also help the unit choose when to use state regulatory tools to achieve compliance when proactive efforts are unsuccessful.

What you will do:
As the Watershed Unit Supervisor, you will work with your team to protect and restore water quality in streams, rivers, and lakes within the 13 Eastern Region counties. You will guide staff in performing water cleanup plan development and implementation, forest practices activities, non-point pollution assessment, non-point technical assistance and enforcement; and non-point grants and loans within the region. You will also participate at the Water Quality Program level in the guidance and direction of policies related to this work. Specific supervisory tasks include:

• Plan, lead, organize, and control the work performed by the Watershed Unit. Ensure appropriate and optimal use of the unit's resources, facilitate project teams, monitor status of unit tasks and commitments, and ensure timeliness of employee assignments.
• Manage recruiting and hiring of unit staff in accordance with the state's goals for a diverse workforce, collective bargaining agreement by and between the State of Washington and the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) in addition to civil service rules.
• Assure the timely completion reports, agreements, plans, publications, recommendations, cleanup projects, and other required products.
• Provide review of documents to ensure that staff documents and recommendations are consistent with state and federal laws, regulations policies, and guidelines.
• Prepare unit goals and objectives; Coordinate annual planning activities and report on unit accomplishments.
• Support effective communications throughout the agency. Maintain channels of communication with other sections in the Water Quality Program and other programs in the agency. Facilitate conversations that foster clear, accurate, and timely information sharing.
• Evaluate unit staffing needs, arrange training and professional development opportunities, evaluate staff performance, and initiate or recommend corrective actions.
• Manage unit budget and monitor expenditures, approve leave, timesheets, training requests, travel expenses vouchers, and purchasing requests.

Qualifications

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

Required Qualifications:

Nine (9) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in environmental, physical, or natural science, engineering, natural resource planning, environmental law, or closely related field.
• Education involving a major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, engineering, natural resource planning, environmental law, or closely related 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 or above.

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.

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.

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 Chad Atkins at Chad.Atkins@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 Water Quality Program
This position is located at Eastern Regional Office in Spokane.   The Eastern Region is bordered by Canada, Idaho, and Oregon.  It is a diverse landscape dominated by the Selkirk Mountains and the Columbia River to the north.  South of Spokane is the Palouse region, some of the most productive farmlands in the country.  Further south still are the Snake River, the Blue Mountains, and Walla Walla wine country.   The Eastern Region is a great place to live and work!

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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