Restoration Project Coordinator (Environmental Planner 2)

The salary listed above includes the scheduled 2% general salary increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2026.

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Restoration Project Coordinator (Environmental Planner 2) within the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance Program.

Location:

• This position will be located in our Padilla Bay Office in Mount Vernon, WA. 
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Note: This is a project position that is funded until March 31, 2029. Continuation of the position beyond this date is determined on an annual basis and contingent upon funding and satisfactory performance of job duties. 

Schedule:

• This position is NOT eligible for telework.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by June 28, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.
  

Duties

This Restoration Project Coordinator position offers a unique opportunity to support the mission of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (PBNERR) by coordinating collaborative planning efforts that advance habitat restoration and coastal resilience. In this role, you will help shape and implement restoration and stewardship projects by working closely with staff, consultants, landowners, and diverse agency and community partners. You will serve as a central facilitator of project design and development for a large saltmarsh restoration, ensuring that planning processes are well-organized, technically informed, inclusive, and aligned with the Reserve’s ecological priorities. You will play a key role in strengthening partnerships with community stakeholders, and local, Tribal, state and federal agencies in order to restore habitat and improve the resilience of coastal communities and infrastructure. 

You will also collaborate with staff and partners to promote regional coastal resilience of habitats and communities by identifying gaps in knowledge and capacity, and facilitating efforts to fill them. You will advance the Reserve’s stewardship, education, research, and professional training goals by supporting staff in the development of restoration-related programs including classes, workshops, field visits, volunteer events, monitoring programs, internships, and other forms of community engagement. In addition, you will manage consultant contracts, coordinate grant writing, and collaborate with agency staff to track budgets, deliverables, and grant progress reporting. Through thoughtful organization, communication, and collaboration, you will contribute to the Reserve’s efforts to restore coastal habitats, build climate resilience, and support thriving communities and ecosystems in Washington.

What you will do:

• Coordinate saltmarsh restoration project planning, including organizing tasks, facilitating communication among staff and partners, scheduling meetings and site visits, and supporting the development and review of designs, technical documents, plans, reports, and other project materials.

• Collaborate with staff, landowners, and local, state, federal, Tribal, and nonprofit partners to identify, scope, and advance new habitat restoration project opportunities that support ecological and community resilience.

• Serve as a primary liaison with project partners, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community participants, maintaining constructive relationships and fostering open, inclusive, and respectful collaboration.

• Organize and facilitate project-related meetings, field trips, workshops, and community engagement activities; coordinate with staff to support student field trips and professional Coastal Training Program classes.

• Represent PBNERR’s ecological mission and restoration priorities in meetings, collaborative planning efforts, and cross-agency coordination, communicating planning information clearly to practitioners, decision makers, and the public.

• Prepare and coordinate the review of plans, reports, designs, and other technical or communication products that support restoration project development and enhance knowledge-sharing among partners and collaborators.

• Manage consultant contracts, including evaluating prospective consultants, negotiating scopes and budgets, tracking deliverables and work schedules, and coordinating with Ecology’s fiscal and contracting offices to ensure compliance.

• Lead and support competitive grant writing for planning and implementation projects, collaborating with local governments, partners, and PBNERR staff to prepare high-quality applications and advance funding opportunities.

• Maintain accurate and organized project records, electronic files, and correspondence in accordance with agency policies and records retention requirements.

• Contribute to broader stewardship team priorities, adapt to changing project needs, and perform additional duties as assigned in support of the Reserve’s mission.

Qualifications

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

Required Qualifications:

Seven (7) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:

Experience mentioned above must include demonstrated competencies in the following skill sets—

1. Restoration & Natural Resource Project Coordination:
    Ability to coordinate multi-partner restoration or stewardship projects from concept through planning phases, including organizing tasks, reviewing technical documents, and supporting development of designs, plans, reports, and other project materials.
2. Grant, Contract & Budget Management:
    Ability to prepare competitive grant applications; negotiate and manage consultant contracts; track budgets, deliverables, and schedules across multiple concurrent grants; and coordinate with fiscal staff to ensure compliance.
3. Partner Engagement & Stakeholder Collaboration:
    Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with diverse partners including local, state, federal, tribal, NGO, and community stakeholders; facilitate productive dialogue; and support conflict resolution in collaborative settings.
4. Meeting Facilitation & Communication:
    Skilled in planning, facilitating, and documenting in-person, hybrid, and virtual meetings; communicating technical or planning information clearly; and representing program priorities with professionalism across varied audiences.
5. Planning, Analysis & Problem Solving:
    Ability to interpret environmental data, policies, and technical inputs; synthesize information from multiple sources; identify issues and options; and apply sound judgment to advance restoration and stewardship objectives.
6. On-Site Field Coordination & Situational Awareness:
    Ability to work safely and effectively in field environments, coordinate site visits with partners, assess field conditions relevant to project planning, and adapt to changing on-the-ground circumstances to support project needs.

Education: Involving a major study in  environmental, natural resource, land use, urban, or regional planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related 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.
• 1 years of experience AND a Master’s degree.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience coordinating, managing, or designing coastal habitat restoration projects

• Knowledge and experience of coastal habitat restoration, management, and institutional frameworks specific to areas in and around the Salish Sea

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 Jude Apple at Jude.Apple@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 (Download PDF reader), 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.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

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