Cascade District Recreation Manager, Natural Resource Specialist 3 (Nrs3)

Salary : $56,676.00 - $76,188.00 Annually
Location : Snohomish County - Other, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2024-1-6937-00050
Department: Dept. of Natural Resources
Opening Date: 01/02/2024
Closing Date: 1/22/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step
Description
Cascade District Recreation Manager, Natural Resource Specialist 3 (NRS3)
Recruitment #2024-1-6937
Full-time, Permanent, Represented position
Location: Northwest Region- Granite Falls, WA
Location flexibility may be available and considered
Partial Telework flexibility may be available and consideredSalary: $4,723.00 - $6,349.00 Monthly
Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 1/9/24. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.
Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Cascade District Recreation Manager position provides professional level recreational expertise and leadership on DNR uplands managed for our trust beneficiaries in beautiful Northwest Region. Sustaining long-term ecosystem protection and productivity is achieved through professional level long-range and short-range planning and by managing and enhancing public use while maintaining realistic expectations about site carrying capacities, available resources and budgets. This position helps Northwest Region achieve its mission through strong leadership, thoughtful decision making, and excellent planning. The incumbent coordinates the recreation program, including landscape level recreation planning, volunteer coordination and event permitting and management and the coordination and oversight of Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew projects within an assigned geographic area. In addition, the incumbent anticipates the need for grant funding and seeks those funding opportunities as they arise. This includes preparation of grant applications, presentations before grant funding committees and ensuring successful implementation, including meeting all necessary budgetary and financial tracking requirements. This position operates under a multitude of DNR policies and Washington State laws including the Habitat Conservation Plan (1997), Policy for Sustainable Forests (2006), relevant WAC's, and the Multiple Use Concept (RCW 79.10.120).
Duties
Responsibilities:
Recreation Planning

• Research, analyze, define and interpret public use patterns and issues, including needs and impacts from dispersed recreation. Consult with region and division staff as well as user groups and community members and make informed recommendations for the recreation program.
• Provide analysis, goal oriented planning and recommendations for changes to statewide recreation and public use program RCWs and WACs, policies and procedures.
• Lead the district staff in holistic landscape planning efforts as they relate to public use and recreation on state trust lands within assigned areas. Special emphasis is needed on public use planning within a working forest context. This requires a tremendous amount of knowledge about the environmental, social and cultural impacts generated from public use and coordination with DNR forestry staff, division archaeologist, region biologists, tribal representatives, and organized user groups, neighbors and the general public.
• Create a plan and make recommendations to the District Manager for decommissioning of unsanctioned recreational infrastructure, including outreach to organized user groups and the public.
• Responsible for all aspects of planning associated with the trail systems and trail heads at developed recreation sites. This includes communicating/coordinating with unit foresters as timber sales are planned and active timber operations occur across these working forest landscapes, serving as a point of contact between timber operations and the recreating public.
• Assess complex issues and problem areas associated with public use, identify solutions and seek funding to resolve concerns, as needed. Communicate to higher level managers and complete documentation for damage and coordinate with appropriate staff (including LEOs) to resolve issues. Schedule and implement or delegate to staff repairs and maintenance as needed.

Grant Development and Project Management

• Identify, analyze, and justify potential grant projects for recreational infrastructure development and maintenance within assigned geographic areas and make prioritized recommendations of projects to pursue to the District Manager and Northwest Assistant Region Manager. This includes: identifying projects and determining project eligibility, build cost estimates, and development and delivery of professional formal recreation grant applications to external governmental organizations and stakeholders to secure funding and other forms of support (e.g. volunteer match commitments and letters of support).
• Develop and manage grant proposals for an on-going education and enforcement recreation trail warden for multiple recreation landscapes across districts. The nature of this grant also includes: identifying the need for this project position by tracking a set of accomplishment metrics, determining project eligibility, build cost estimates and development and delivery of professional formal recreation grant applications to external governmental organizations and stakeholders to secure funding and other forms of support (e.g. volunteer match commitments and letters of support), Supervise one FTE Education and Enforcement Trail Warden.
• Identify the need for and development of capital projects (both for future grants and other funding sources) within District Recreation facilities. This includes working with outside engineering consultants under a A&E service contract such as for bridge designs, developing purchase agreements with external product suppliers (e.g. for bridge package purchases), doing cultural resource reviews for review by Division Archaeologists, contacting local tribes for feedback on project proposals under Governor's order 05-05, creating professional level documentation including SEPA environmental analyses, maps, project specifications, and graphics.
• Develop professional services, public works, and supply and materials contracts for region management approval and in coordination with and the benefit of other DNR regions (e.g. large-scale purchase contracts), and manage such contracts.
• Coordinate with other region Recreation Managers, natural areas managers, other region programs (e.g. silviculture, aquatics, and road maintenance programs) district managers and the assistant region manager with strategically planning the WCC components of grants and other region needs.
• Perform as a project manager for successful project implementation for both grant-related and other projects. This includes planning for permits, negotiating contract requirements and costs, overseeing implementation, performing contract compliance as needed, and tracking volunteer match for grants. This also includes developing and reporting quarterly project progress reports to grant-source organizations and for internal DNR quarterly reporting needs, such as DNR deliverables for HCP compliance.
• Accurately track grant and other budgets (e.g. the district's allocated "spending tool" budgets) and oversee cost effective implementation of grant funds.
• Ensure projects comply with grant and other agreement requirements and timelines (e.g. small public works contracts, and A&E contracts).

Supervision

• Supervise, evaluate and mentor the district's recreation staff. Staff may include recreation stewards, technicians and education wardens. Coordinate, prioritize, and assign work projects within biennial budget parameters throughout the district.
• Oversee WCC or other contracted resources as necessary to complete projects.
• Maintain a safe working environment for employees and self.
• Enforce agency safety guidelines as well as L&I and OSHA rules related to employee activities in the workplace.
• Ensure that staff receive necessary training and maintain necessary certifications.

Facilities Maintenance and Operations

• Responsible for overseeing and supervising maintenance of developed recreation facilities and infrastructure within assigned geographic area utilizing all available resources.
• Within budget authority, develop and monitor contracts for services and products, including but not limited to: sanitation services, noxious weed control and construction materials at developed recreation sites.
• Evaluate, recommend, plan and address current needs and improvements and create plans to address future needs.
• Ensure public access to facilities and trails and maintain and/or improve their condition in a sustainable and safe manner.
• Communicate and work with other Recreation Managers, district managers and the state lands assistant region manager sharing information, resources and equipment, in support of public use and overall program development.
• Complete documentation for damage and communicate to appropriate staff (including LEOs) as appropriate. Schedule and implement repairs and maintenance as needed.
• Ensure proper sanitation for expected use.
• Make recommendations to the District Manager for development, improvements, maintenance or decommissioning of recreational infrastructure.

Outreach and Volunteers

• Build and maintain public/private partnerships with regional recreational and outdoor interest groups. Work collaboratively with local recreation groups on common issues and programs. Provide information and education to groups about the department and its programs and issues.
• Coordinate the distribution of recreation information to the public through placement of signage, outreach to user groups, and broadcasting information using division communication staff.
• Assist region recreation staff and division staff in the creation, development and publication of informational brochures.
• Work with unit foresters as timber sales are planned and active timber operations occur across these working forest landscapes, serving as a point of contact between timber operations and the recreating public.
• Work with the district manager in developing and implementing volunteer program strategies including on-site management, planning, recruitment, screening, training, agreements, registration, documentation, recognition, tracking and budget.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources, outdoor recreation, planning or related field; and two years of professional related experience
  OR an equivalent combination of education and/or experience
  All required experience can be gained concurrently
• Two years' experience working collaboratively with multiple DNR programs and other agencies.
• Two years' experience working collaboratively with volunteers, user groups, and the general public on Natural Resources related recreation.
• Two years' experience working with forest-based land-use policy and recreation-use policy and practices such as: SEPA, Forest Practice Rules, HCP, PSF, etc.
• Experience in public outreach and education.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering and supporting an environment that honors diversity, equity and inclusion and environmental justice practices.
• Perform assigned duties in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations and public records retention and requests are followed.
• Working knowledge of GPS system and basic GIS principles.
• Working knowledge of preparation of reports, memos, forms records and field notes.
• Ability to work alone and independently in remote locations.
• Specific Position Competencies:
  • Dedication to a Safe Workplace
  • Communications Effectiveness
  • Team Leadership
  • Customer Focus

DNR Core Competencies:

• Personal Accountability
• Value Others
• Compassionate Communication
• Inspire Others
• Commitment to Excellence

Special Requirements and Conditions of Employment:

• Office 70%, Field 30%. Fieldwork involves driving forest roads of a variety of conditions; working alone in remote areas, working in all inclement weather conditions across a variety of steep and rugged terrain.
• Travel may be required periodically as a function of this position.
• A valid unrestricted driver's license and two years of driving experience. This position requires driving as an essential function. Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record from all states in which they have held a license during the past three years.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, or higher, involving major study in outdoor recreation management or other Natural Resources management and two years of professional program development and management experience.
• At least two years' experience supervising and evaluating employee or work crew performance.
• Ability to design, produce, and provide presentations to public, other agency staff.
• Working knowledge of forest management activities and State trust land responsibilities.
• Ability to write planning documents, prepare cost estimates, supervise and coordinate design work, negotiate with public officials and diverse agency staff.
• Must be able to cover reasonable distances per day in the field covering moderate to difficult terrain. Must be able to ride an off road vehicle on established difficult to easy multiple use trails.
• Fluency in current word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.

Don't let doubts stop you from applying for this position -If you have any questions about the required qualifications or how your past experience relates to them, please contact us at A note to potential candidates: Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) are less like...