Job Description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Flood Risk Reduction Coordinator (Environmental Planner 4) within the Office of Chehalis Basin.

Location: 

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, 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.

• You may telework most of your work time but are expected to be in the office at least once a month for in-person meetings.

• During construction season, you must be available to travel for fieldwork throughout the Chehalis Basin up to three days per week.

• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by November 22, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

 

Duties

 

We are seeking a Flood Risk Reduction Coordinator to help elevate homes in floodplains and provide expert policy direction on flood risk reduction strategies in the Chehalis Basin. If you’re interested in flood policy, this is a unique opportunity to connect federal, state, and local regulations with grant management, construction project oversight, and outreach to residents at risk of flooding.

In this role, you’ll be involved in all aspects of floodplain management, from reviewing local plans to overseeing home elevation projects. As part of a small office, you’ll have the opportunity to help shape the role, expand your expertise in flood policy and resilience, and contribute to meaningful work that helps protect homes, businesses, and communities from the impacts of flooding throughout the Chehalis Basin.

What you will do:

• Oversee a public works program to elevate or floodproof homes and businesses.
• Provide technical assistance to residents at risk of flooding, recommending ways they can reduce property damage in future floods.
• Review local floodplain ordinances and work cooperatively with local jurisdictions to identify and implement more protective standards.
• Provide expert advice on integrating floodplain management and flood damage reduction with aquatic species restoration.
• Coordinate with local, Tribal, state, and federal partners to advance flood risk reduction and floodplain management efforts across the Chehalis Basin.
• Provide expert advice on integrating floodplain management and flood damage reduction with aquatic species restoration.

 

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 related to the duties of the position, which must include the following:

• Floodplain and Flood Risk Management – Ability to apply floodplain management principles, flood damage reduction strategies, and flood-related regulations to reduce flood impacts and increase community resilience.

• Environmental Planning and Regulatory Compliance – Ability to integrate environmental planning, technical analysis, and regulatory requirements into program development and project implementation to achieve compliant and sustainable outcomes.

• Program and Project Management – Ability to plan, coordinate, implement, and evaluate complex flood risk reduction programs and projects to achieve program outcomes, schedules, and performance expectations.

• Contract and Financial Management – Ability to develop scopes of work, manage contracts, and oversee contractor performance to ensure accountability and effective use of public resources.

• Policy Analysis and Development – Ability to analyze regulations, evaluate policy options, and develop recommendations to improve flood risk reduction programs and support strategic decision-making.

• Strategic Planning and Problem Solving – Ability to evaluate complex flood risk reduction challenges, develop long-term strategies, and recommend solutions to achieve community resilience and program objectives.

• Communication and Partner Engagement – Ability to communicate technical, policy, and program information to diverse audiences to build understanding, trust, and informed decision-making.

• Relationship Management and Collaboration – Ability to develop and maintain productive partnerships with property owners, local governments, contractors, state and federal agencies, and community partners to achieve shared flood risk reduction goals.

Education involving a major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, 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.
• 2 years of experience AND a Ph.D.

Desired Qualifications:

• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM).

• Working knowledge of public works contracting.

• Three years of professional experience in floodplain management, code enforcement, construction management, or floodplain engineering.

• Working knowledge of the state’s Shoreline Management Act, Growth Management Act, Critical Area Ordinance requirements, Floodplain Management Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, FEMA’s Community Rating System, and the National Flood Insurance Program.

• Professional experience implementing a flood damage reduction/flood proofing investment program at the federal, state, Tribal or local level.

• Working knowledge of community-specific property protection strategies and experience developing community-specific property protection strategies.

If you are excited about this role and meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Desired qualifications reflect additional knowledge, skills, or experience that are nice to have but not required. Studies have shown that some applicants, especially women and people of color, are less likely to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging, and we welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and unique perspectives.

 

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 and select #2 for Recruitment or email 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 April Gassman at April.Gassman@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 Office of Chehalis Basin

The Office of Chehalis Basin works with the independent Chehalis Basin Board to create and implement the Chehalis Basin Strategy, a roadmap for reducing flood damages and restoring aquatic species throughout the land that drains to Grays Harbor. The Chehalis Basin stretches from Aberdeen and Hoquiam in the northwest through Centralia and Chehalis and up to Pe Ell in the south, encompassing land from the Olympics, the Cascades, and the Willapa Hills. The Basin contains timber lands, farms, rural communities and small cities, transportation links of state and Federal significance, and is uniquely the largest watershed in Washington State with no salmonid species listed under the Endangered Species Act.

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 Incentive, 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.

How to Apply

Please apply at this link: Ecology Job Opportunities | Careers at Ecology

Job Categories: Environmental. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: Less than 20,000.

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