Planner, Senior Environmental

Salary : $83,830.68 - $101,832.48 Annually
Location : Everett, WA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2023-PWK8426R-DEC
Department: Public Works
Division: Public Works TES Environmental
Opening Date: 12/28/2023
Closing Date: 1/15/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Description
Snohomish County Public Works, Transportation and Environment Services Division, is seeking a highly qualified and motivated individual to fill a key Planner, Senior Environmental position in the Environmental Services (ENVS) section.
In this role, you will act as a coordinating member in a work group that assesses and complies with environmental permit requirements for Public Works' capital projects. You will also provide leadership and technical expertise with a focus on critical areas regulations, mitigation site design and construction oversight, mitigation site monitoring and report-writing, in-water construction and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Other aspects of the job include project and program management related to mitigation sites. If you'd like to use your knowledge and experience to make a difference in one of the fastest growing counties in Washington, come join the Public Works team as a Planner Senior Environment in ENVS!
Qualified candidates:
ENVS seeks employees who are self-managing high performers, who take initiative and are accountable for their actions. Ideal candidates have a passion for public service, are comfortable working both independently and in teams, proficient in the latest technology such as BlueBeam and ArcGIS, well-organized, teachable, communicative and customer-service oriented. This position requires frequent field work. The knowledge and ability to write Biological Assessments is a plus.
The Selection Process:
Please attach a resume and cover letter to your application. The cover letter must describe your interest in the position and discuss in detail your related knowledge, skills, and experiences or accomplishments in the following:

• Working with federal, state, and local environmental regulations and permit applications, such as Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 permitting, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Hydraulic Project Approvals, and other permits and approvals especially related to critical areas (wetlands, streams, floodplains, etc.), in-water construction and the ESA;
• Compensatory wetland mitigation site design, construction oversight, monitoring and regulatory reporting;
• Stream and riparian habitat surveys (OHWM, bankfull width, pebble counts, profiles/cross-sections, etc.)
• Using computer software (e.g., ArcGIS, Microsoft Office Suite, BlueBeam for plan reviews) and online research tools for report writing, critical area assessments and permit applications.

This job posting is to fill one Planner, Senior Environmental position and to create an eligibility register to fill future Planner, Senior Environmental positions within the next 6 months.
The Environmental Services (ENVS) work group is responsible for SEPA/NEPA review, environmental permitting for Public Works projects, wetland mitigation design, construction oversight, monitoring, and agency reporting.
Visit the to learn more about our division and other responsibilities to include traffic operations and maintenance, planning and prioritizing County road projects, and keeping the public informed of its projects.
Join Snohomish County Public Works and enjoy these perks:

• Contribute to shaping one of Washington's fastest growing counties
• Join an award-winning organization well known for excellence and commitment to high-quality public service
• Advancement opportunities
• Employee development and training opportunities
• Excellent medical, dental, and other benefits
• Earn a Pension! Start vesting for a Washington Department of Retirement System (DRS) PERS pension
• Security, stability, and a lifelong career!

About Snohomish County Public Works Department
Snohomish County Public Works is responsible for more than 1,650 miles of county roads, 201 bridges, and 202 traffic control signals, as well as processing nearly 600,000 tons of garbage per year. Its mission is to focus on safety and mobility while practicing fiscal responsibility and preserving the environment. Public Works has won numerous state and national honors for its work and is the largest department within Snohomish County government with approximately 500 employees plus seasonal staff. Its main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett, WA 98201.
Visit for more information about Snohomish County Public Works.
When joining Public Works, you will work in an environment where innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement are highly encouraged and supported. We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a lifelong career at Snohomish County.
Benefits
Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family and will be invested in your success and growth. We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents. We offer competitive wages; job flexibility and stability; pension opportunities; and employer paid ORCA cards. Snohomish County will be invested in your success and growth and offers the following benefits to our employees. Your salary is only part of your Total Compensation Package:

• : County employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
• benefits: The County offers a choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plans with low deductibles. The county's contribution to this benefit is significant.
• Flexible work schedules for some positions.
• Career development training.
• Sick leave: You will accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month.
• Vacation Leave: You will start out accruing 8 hours of vacation leave per month totaling 2.4 weeks of vacation in your first year. Your leave accruals increase based on your years of employment with the County.
• Holiday Pay: The County observes 11 paid legal holidays per year and provides employees with 2 floating holidays annually.
• Benefits: The County offers a wide range of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long term disability, deferred compensation and more.
• : If you choose to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), the County will match your contributions up to 1 percent of your base monthly salary.
• Pay Increases: Each year you will be eligible for a step increase until you reach the top step.
• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): County employees typically receive yearly cost of living adjustments.

Teleworking Options
The work associated with this position can be performed with a hybrid of remote work and in-office work as needed and assigned. For employees who prefer to work in the office full time, that option is also available.
Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. A Snohomish County Telework Agreement is required for employees assigned to telework.
Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their Snohomish County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
About Snohomish County
Snohomish County, , is located in northwest Washington between Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. The county has rich scenery, numerous activities, and a thriving economy. is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.
Snohomish County - The Future We Choose - video
For information about this job opportunity and posting, please email: SPW-Recruitment
Job Duties
BASIC FUNCTION
To act as a project manager and coordinating member on assigned planning team. Provide leadership, with environmental and critical area administration technical expertise, in current or long range planning fields.
STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

1. Serves as project manager or lead planner role for assigned current and long range planning function or functions; provides customer service functions and technical assistance to groups and individuals both inside and outside the department; assumes project manager role of land development review for proposals with the most significant environmental constraints and most complex critical area issues.
2. Analyzes issues and develops land use, environmental, cultural resources, economic development, housing, community development, and local government capital facility policy proposals; formulates plans, plan amendments, plan implementation strategies and regulations; presents policy recommendations and plan proposals to policy makers and the general public.
3. Serves as project manager and conduct development application review process which determines permit application completeness and conformance with comprehensive plans and applicable policies, regulations and codes; inspects and evaluates properties to determine environmental and critical area characteristics as well as compatibility with adjacent land uses; routes applications to other interested agencies and groups for comment; schedules and conducts technical review meetings with applicants and other affected parties; negotiates project redesign as appropriate; prepares and schedules cases for public hearings; reviews final site plans and approves minor plan modifications.
4. Schedules and performs lead staff role in public meetings, hearings, and council sessions for development application review, acts as executive branch representative; prepares oral land written presentations, including findings and reports; responds to questions and solicits input as appropriate.
5. Acts as a technical resource for Biologist Technicians, Biologists, and Senior Biologists; provides knowledge and training in the use of natural resource inventory methods and evaluation, biological data collection, and field inspection procedures.
6. Provides expert testimony on environmental and critical area issues at quasi-judicial land use hearings as well as judicial proceedings.
7. Responds to and resolves environmental and critical area conflicts and questions from the general public, government and private officials, the media and interest groups regarding zoning, subdivisions, code interpretations, permit processing and departmental policies.
8. Prepares reports and conducts environmental review under SEPA and SCEPO for the department and review other agencies environmental assessments; formulates, prepares and circulates environmental impact statements; evaluates and prepares environmental threshold determinations for non-exempt proposals; reviews and comments on environmental assessments and threshold determinations prepared by other departments or agencies; provides written and oral interpretations of applicable environmental ordinances and policies as necessary.
9. Conducts economic, demographic, housing, and land use-related studies, projects, analyses, and forecasts; develops and maintains empirical databases to support land use and other planning activities; designs and implements development monitoring systems.
10. Responds to inquiries for comprehensive plan, code and development information; interprets existing plans, policies and codes for the public.
11. Reviews plans, regulations, and other proposals prepared by other agencies and jurisdictions.
12. Designs and implements public involvement and information processes; supports county boards and committees; leads and/or participates in inter-agency planning teams, processes and/or development application review.
13. On a project basis, coordinates with other planners, engineers, biologists, and surveyors in performing plan preparation or complex development review and technical study tasks.

STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES

1. Attends professional seminars, training and meetings as required.
2. Conducts habitat related special projects as assigned.
3. Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
A Masters degree in planning, environmental studies, geography or related field; AND, two (2) years of environmental planning experience; OR, a Bachelors degree in planning, environmental studies, geography or related field; AND, four (4) years of planning experience; OR, any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provide the required knowledge, skill and ability to perform the work. Must pass job related tests.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid Washington State driver's license may be required.
Additional Information
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:

• principles and practices of planning and design
• research and data collection techniques
• mapping and charting techniques
• current literature trends, regulations and developments in the environmental planning field
• citizen involvement principles and techniques
• planning related procedures and standards
• combined federal and wetland delineation methods
• wetland and freshwater ecology, wildlife biology and fisheries biology

Ability to:

• gather, evaluate and document technical planning data
• read, interpret and apply legal documents and descriptions
• independently organize tasks, delegate responsibility and coordinate a planning team effort under deadlines
• assume lead planner responsibility and provide necessary direction to associate planners and/or technical staff
• synthesize the research result and use these results as a basis for recommendations
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• create graphics necessary to assigned projects
• establish and maintain effective work relationships with all levels of county management and staff, representatives of other a...