Planning Manager

Planning Manager (EMS Band 2) – Hybrid

Location: Olympia, Washington
Additional Work Locations: Tacoma, Washington; Seattle, Washington
Work Arrangement: Hybrid – remote and in-person collaboration
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent, Exempt
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Salary Range: $109,140–$131,688 annually
Starting Salary Range: $109,140–$120,414, depending on qualifications

Description

Planning Manager (EMS BAND 2)

Full-Time | Exempt | Monday - Friday | 8:00AM - 5:00PM

The full position salary range is $109,140 - $131,688; however, the annual starting/hiring salary range for the candidate selected for hire will be between $109,140 - $120,414 depending upon qualifications.

The nature of this role relies heavily on remote and in-person collaboration. This position is required to report weekly on-site for in-office work and possibly meetings with partners at project locations around the Puget Sound Region. This position will not be eligible for out-of-state telework. Some travel is expected. If you currently live outside of Washington state, newly hired employees must relocate to Washington state within 30 days of starting employment, and report to the Olympia office headquarters in person on the first day of employment.

Who We Are

The Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) is a non-regulatory state agency under Governor Fergusons Office leading the region's collective effort to restore and protect the Puget Sound. Our mission is to accelerate ecosystem recovery with our partners to achieve more vibrant habitats, water quality, food webs, and healthy human populations in Puget Sound. We are proud to offer a suite of "Employer of Choice" initiatives and benefits in addition to state government's full compensation and benefits. Our internal employee benefits include:

• An agency-paid ORCA card for public transit use in the Puget Sound region
• A tax-free hiring incentive that includes a one-time $200 Amazon allowance for ordering at-home office equipment or preferred supplies to support the telework experience
• An annual professional development allowance for gaining skills that advance the employee's career in their current field of work

To learn more about all the benefits PSP has to offer, explore our website.

About this Opportunity

Are you a collaborative leader who is passionate about protecting and restoring Puget Sound, and energized by bringing people together to turn shared goals into meaningful action? If so, you may be the next Planning Manager of the Puget Sound Partnership. As our Planning Manager, you will lead the team responsible for developing and updating the Action Agenda-the region's roadmap for Puget Sound recovery. You will work across Tribes, state and federal agencies, local governments, communities, and other partners on Puget Sound recovery to build shared direction, strengthen accountability, align resources, and remove barriers to progress. This is an opportunity to lead work that reaches across the entire Puget Sound region and helps shape the strategies, investments, and partnerships that will determine how we collectively advance recovery for generations to come.

The Action Agenda is more than a plan-it is a framework for bringing diverse knowledge, experience, and commitments together around a shared vision for a healthy and resilient Puget Sound. We're looking for a leader who can navigate complexity, build trust across perspectives, and create the clarity and momentum needed to move from planning to implementation. If you are someone who brings strategic thinking, humility, collaboration, and a drive to make meaningful progress on one of the region's most important environmental challenges, we'd like to hear from you.

The default assigned work location of all Partnership positions - both on-site and telework - is within the State of Washington. Employees have a choice for their onsite work between our Olympia, Tacoma, or Seattle locations. However, you may be required to work at a specific location occasionally based on business needs. Employees must be able and prepared to report to any of the three locations as requested by agency Leadership. If you currently live outside of Washington state, newly hired employees must relocate to Washington state within 30 days of starting employment, and report to the Olympia office headquarters in person on the first day of employment.

For more information about PSP, resources, and benefits, visit our website: www.psp.wa.gov. To learn more details of this role, email jobs@des.wa.gov and request the full job description.

Duties

Some of What You'll Enjoy Doing Includes:

• Lead the agency's efforts to update and implement the Action Agenda and affiliated Puget Sound recovery plans.
• Work with and grow a vast network of internal and external partners to strategize on how to use limited resources and capacity to best implement the Action Agenda.
• Create mechanisms and processes to enact evidence-based decisions via adaptive management so that the Action Agenda and its implementation remain responsive, timely, and relevant.
• Manage the work of the Planning Team, making critical decisions and managing risks, opportunities, and conflicts in alignment with agency policies and priorities.
• Balance competing demands across multiple initiatives by making timely, fact-based decisions informed by workload, data, and stakeholder input.
• Promote, implement, and foster an environment that proactively supports change, innovation, and continuous quality improvement activities.
• Exercise independent judgment to hire, train, mentor, recognize, and develop staff while supporting high performance.
• Manage staff schedules and telecommuting arrangements to balance flexibility with desired operational outcomes.
• Collaborates effectively with internal and external partners to achieve high-quality, cost-effective daily and long-term operations.
• Oversees team revenue, expense budgets, contracts, and grants while ensuring strict compliance with state, federal, and agency fiscal policies.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, a candidate must possess one (1) of the following options, along with primary residency in Washington state within 30 days of employment, and the ability to conduct in-person work in the Puget Sound area for a set of hours determined by the agency:

OPTION 1

• Demonstrated ability, supported by evidence of outcomes and impact, in developing and implementing complex environmental resource plans or policies, including experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning and program development. This includes leading the development and implementation of environmental plans and policies and managing complex, high-stakes projects or outcomes from start to finish, while leading or supervising a group. Proof of experience may be gained through military service, entrepreneurship, community/volunteer work, internships, apprenticeships, industry roles, or lived experience.

OPTION 2

• Professional experience in a WGS Environmental Planner 5 or WMS/EMS Environmental Planner position and demonstrated application in serving as a planning consultant to a program manager, assistant director, or a person of higher-ranking authority. This experience must include application of coordinating the development of, and/or implementing highly complex environmental resource plans, programs, policies, and regulations.

OPTION 3

• A bachelor's degree in environmental management, natural resources, public policy, planning, public administration, or related field and demonstrated application of developing and/or implementation of environmental resource plans and/or policies at a multi-watershed and large geographic scale. This experience must include leading or supervising a group from start to finish of complex and high-stakes projects or outcomes.

In addition to the above required qualifications, a candidate must possess the following technical competencies:

• Effective communication: Proficient in Microsoft Office tools and skilled at tailoring clear, polished written, verbal, and visual communications to diverse audiences.
• Environmental and ecological policy knowledge: Understand policy issues central to the Puget Sound Partnership's mission to support Puget Sound recovery.
• Effective project management skills: Skilled at clearly communicating project objectives through presentations and written charters, and guiding complex, interdependent work from planning through completion. Proficient in prioritizing and tracking tasks, measuring progress, and keeping deliverables aligned with scope, schedule, and budget.

Preferred Qualifications

• Nine (9) or more years of experience, education, and/or lived experience which demonstrate experience developing and completing complex environmental resource plans or policies in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning and program development in collaboration with diverse groups. This should include:
• Experience in a complex, public sector work environment, including science-policy decision making
• Program administration including budget, and grant/contract management, performance management and accountability
• Skill and experience with analysis and problem-solving of major issues; creative, strategic and innovative thinking; outcome focus
• Experience working with the Washington State Legislature or other local governments in Washington to enact policy changes
• History of collaborating with a wide range of public and private partners, Tribes, stakeholders, professional networks and boards on environmental issues
• Experience gaining insight into partners needs and building and delivering solutions to meet those needs.
• Evidence of applying innovative, strategic, and critical thinking skills to propose solutions to complex problems, remaining focused on outcomes.
• Understanding of and experience applying the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation tool, particularly as defined and employed by the Puget Sound Partnership.

If you think you don't have every qualification listed, please apply anyway! Studies have shown that traditionally marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification - even if they might be a great fit for the role! If you're excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider applying. If you have lived experience that is equivalent to the preferred experience mentioned above, please apply! Share your experience in your cover letter and how your overall experience qualifies you as a competitive candidate for this type of work. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the "Work Experience" portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply

To be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:

• An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
• An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
• Three (3) individual references who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the "References" section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment.

If you qualify for Veteran Preference (veteran, surviving spouse, registered domestic parter of an eligible veteran, or a spouse of an active duty service member with a service-connected disability), please do the following:

• Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
• Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

No other documents are necessary to apply for this position.

We ask that you do not include the below in any of your application documents:

• Do not include your salary history. Salary offers are based on the quality of your skill set and not whether you have the right salary history.
• Please remove any private or personal information such as your social security number, date of birth, marital status, family status, and no photos of yourself, etc.
• Do not attach documents that are password protected.

NOTE: By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify the information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed. A resume will not substitute for completing the "duties summary" section of the application. Please do not say "refer to resume for detail" in your question responses, or your application may be disqualified.

OTHER INFORMATION

This is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

The Puget Sound Partnership celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws. Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, or need this job announcement in any other format, contact jobs@des.wa.gov.

More than Just a Paycheck!

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. Thats why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:

The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave

Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)

Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave

Leave Sharing

Parental Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Leave Without Pay