Monitoring Network Coordinator (Exempt)
Tacoma, WA

Job Description

Description

~This position will be located in Tacoma~

As the Puget Sound Partnership's Monitoring Network Coordinator, you will be an integral part of the Science and Evaluation Team and work closely with the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program (PSEMP) to bring forward the best available information in a way that spans boundaries between science, recovery planning, natural resource management, and policy.

Although you will not be a practicing biologist, chemist, or anthropologist, you will get to work with these types of scientists as you help ensure their findings are used to inform people's understanding of and improve efforts to recover the Puget Sound ecosystem. Having a science-based system to monitor and assess how the ecosystem is doing and how efforts to advance recovery are going is a critical component of the Puget Sound Partnership (Partnership).

A little bit about the Partnership

The Puget Sound Partnership is the state agency leading the region's collective effort to restore and protect Puget Sound. We bring together hundreds of partners to mobilize partner action around a common agenda, advance Sound investments, and advance priority actions by supporting partners.

A little bit about PSEMP

PSEMP convenes a collaborative network of subject matter experts who organize, synthesize, and communicate scientific information from many monitoring organizations and different parts of the ecosystem to directly address foundational management and science questions critical to recovery of the ecosystem. PSEMP has objectives focused on collaboration, adaptive management, and communication.

As the Monitoring Network Coordinator, you'll work closely with the Partnership's Monitoring Lead to implement PSEMP's strategic plan, identify strategic linkages to Partnership planning processes and products, and build relationships with providers and users of monitoring information that support the PSEMP and Partnership missions.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about collective efforts to make scientific information useful for managers and policy makers. You will need to be a great communicator who is able to draw people into collaboration and understands how to get the right information, from the right messenger, to the right people. If you are passionate about Puget Sound recovery and enjoy working with diverse people, integrating multiple perspectives, and finding common ground to achieve objectives, you'll thrive in this position.

Duties

Some of what you will enjoy doing includes:

* Coordinating and facilitating efforts that span multiple PSEMP work groups, providing support to work groups that lack dedicated support, and encouraging growth of the network that increases representation and diversity of participants (incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion practices).
* Identifying audiences for information from the monitoring network, and building an understanding of the decisions and decision-makers that could be informed by PSEMP products.
* Leading planning, coordination and logistics of a PSEMP biennial symposium.
* Facilitating a coordinated PSEMP presence at the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference.
* Consulting with teams from the monitoring network in the collaborative evaluation, design, and development of monitoring products to improve alignment with the Partnership's and others' needs.
* Providing consultation and staffing support during the process of soliciting for and evaluating proposals for monitoring assessments, products, and projects.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should be a team player, defined as possessing initiative and a driving passion for the work, bringing humility to their job and interactions with others, and having excellent people skills.

Required Experience, Competencies, and Technical Skills

Education and Experience:

* 3 years of professional experience in ecosystem, environmental, or conservation science
* 2 years of experience managing interdisciplinary program(s) or complex project(s)
* 2 years of experience engaging, coordinating, and facilitating interactions and decision-making processes among groups of people with diverse perspectives and expertise
* A work history demonstrating progressive levels of responsibility

Competencies:

* Communicates Effectively: Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding or the unique needs of different audiences. Attentively listens to others and encourages open expression of diverse ideas and opinions.
* Action Oriented: Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
* Builds Networks and Collaborates: Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the agency and program. Works cooperatively with others across the agency and with external partners to achieve shared objectives. Able to represent own interest while also understanding and being fair to others. Partners with team members and others across the agency and with external partners to get work done.
* Instills Trust: Gains the confidence and trust of others through honest, integrity, and authenticity.
* Ensures Accountability: Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments. Follows through on commitments and takes personal responsibility for decisions, actions and failures. Establish clear responsibilities and processes for evaluating work and measuring results.
* Customer Focus: Builds strong partner relationships and delivers customer-centric solutions. Gains insight into partners' needs.

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies:

* A Master's degree or equivalent degree in a field involving environmental or ecosystem science, including social science disciplines.
* 5 years' experience leading or coordinating a multi-agency, collaborative monitoring program or project including data collection, data management, and reporting.
* Substantive knowledge of the issues in which the Puget Sound Partnership is involved.
* Substantive knowledge of the Salish Sea ecosystem, the stressors and pressures that influence it, and the programs and information sources that inform its recovery.
* Proficient in promoting and applying best practices for adaptive management.

CONDITIONS OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

With or without an accommodation, I am willing and able to:

* Work indoors, at a desk/workstation the majority of a work day, in an open office environment with possible conversation and other noise distractions.
* Work in a tobacco-free, drug-free, and alcohol-free environment.
* Work a 40 hour work week. A flexible work schedule may be considered upon request and supervisory approval, after an initial review period.
* Occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and/or to adjust normally scheduled hours, which may include evenings and weekends, to meet program needs and critical deadlines.
* Occasionally travel throughout the state and nationwide which may include overnight stays, as required, while performing the duties of this position.
* Work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
* Maintain confidentiality regarding information accessed or discussed while performing the duties of the position.
* Interact and work with partners and staff in a positive, friendly, and supportive manner that meets the needs and standards of the office and the agency.

A great place to work!

Our main office is in a LEED Platinum-certified building on the waterfront in Tacoma within a 10 minute walk of downtown (restaurants, shopping, museums, farmer's market, etc.). We promote flexibility in work schedules and offer a range of option, including, alternate work schedules, telecommuting from home or in Seattle several days per week with supervisor approval. Staff are also issued laptop computers and mobile phones and have access to state vehicles for travel. This position should expect to travel regularly to meetings throughout the region.

We are proud to offer a suite of "Employer of Choice" initiatives, including:

* A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
* A Commute Trip Reduction program
* Focus on healthy work/life balance
* Fully vested in modern workplace practices and design
* An Infant at Work Program

For more information, visit our website: www.psp.wa.gov. Supplemental Information

Application Process - Please read the instructions completely.

We are a small, passionate, mission-driven agency with an exceptional interdisciplinary staff. If you value the role of science in society and enjoy building community and protecting our environment, we encourage you to apply!

Interested?

Please follow the application instructions below!

* A letter of interest, describing how you meet and can demonstrate the qualifications for this position.
* A current resume.
* Three (3) or more professional references, to be included in your profile. Please include at least one supervisor, peer and (if you have supervised staff) a subordinate.
* A few moments of your time to answer only a few supplemental questions attached to this application.

NOTE: Please do NOT attach additional documents OR documents that are "protected" as they may not open.

And that's it!

The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the application materials submitted, and the supplemental questionnaire. By submitting materials you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.

Do not attach transcripts or other documents that are not requested in the application process, or that are password protected. These type of documents cause errors when downloading application materials and will not be forwarded to the hiring supervisor.

The Puget Sound Partnership is an equal opportunity employer. The Partnership strives to create a working environment that is inclusive and respectful. It is our policy to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of our workforce.

Persons with a disability who need assistance with their application or that need this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or jobs@des.wa.gov.