Community Involvement & Education Manager - WMS Band 2 - Permanent - *07138-24
FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & EDUCATION MANAGER
WMS BAND 2
Communications & Public Engagement (CAPE)
Olympia, Washington - Thurston County
The salary listed above includes the 3% pay increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2024.
Community involvement, partnerships, and education are crucial to the future of fish, wildlife, and habitats in Washington.
This dynamic leadership role supports WDFW’s mission by expanding and enhancing our education services and helping people connect with nature wherever they are.
Everyone belongs outdoors and everyone is welcome at WDFW. If you are passionate about conservation and community engagement, then join our team and connect people with nature!
With your knowledge and innovation,
You will play a pivotal role in guiding and supporting the implementation of WDFW’s 25-Year Strategic Plan’s “Engaging communities through recreation and stewardship” strategy.
Motivate and provide leadership and vision for staff with shared and distinct goals to engage communities in fish and wildlife conservation.
Lead a variety of work units including volunteer coordination, community partnerships & outreach, formal K-12 education, watchable wildlife, and the Habitat at Home program.
Lead and support Department-wide initiatives,
Such as advisory groups and committees, demographic survey implementation, community engagement plan development/implementation, and outreach tactic improvements.
You excel in fostering collaboration,
Build and maintain partnerships with outdoor groups, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, and other local, state, tribal, and federal agencies.
Duties:
Here is what you will be doing as our Community Involvement & Education Manager,
- Manage work units focused on community engagement, outreach, and education.
- Set priorities for community involvement, conservation education, and volunteer tactics based on the issue and audience in coordination with program staff and the Public Engagement Division Manager.
- Provide support and guidance for staff leading advisory groups and committees using industry best practices from the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2).
- Ensure that the Department is coordinated and integrated across programs and ensures consistency in accessibility and a positive representation of WDFW’s services.
- Support long-term planning for the conservation education team, including developing a plan on how to best utilize the Youth Outdoors Initiative donation fund to grow and expand Department services, and help support other WDFW staff in participating in conservation education.
- Lead our strategy for the Habitat at Home program and wildlife habitat at schoolyards—providing benefits to not only wildlife residing in urban/suburban interfaces, but also incredibly important and impactful education opportunities for Washington residents and youth.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
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Work Setting, including hazards:
- Most duties are performed in an office setting using a personal computer and telephone.
- May require some bending and minimal lifting of outreach and education materials, up to 20 pounds occasionally.
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Schedule:
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Occasional evening and weekend work.
- Periodically (2-3 times per month) attend meetings or events outside of the normal office hours.
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Travel Requirements:
- Infrequent overnight travel may be required.
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Customer Relations:
- Extensive outreach and public speaking. Occasionally interact with upset or frustrated individuals.
- May deal with stakeholder groups with conflicting interests.
Qualifications:
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business Administration, Public Affairs/Administration, Political Science, Communications, Conservation Education, Social Work or a related field.
AND
- Four (4) years of highly responsible, professional experience working with civic leaders, education organizations, non-profit organizations, government entities, media, and/or businesses in community engagement or education.
Competencies:
- Demonstrated, progressive leadership in building collaborative community engagement or education initiatives and working with marginalized and diverse communities.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills that enable incumbent to form trusting relationships, handle delicate situations with tact and diplomacy, and express enthusiasm and creativity while providing a positive public service attitude.
- High degree of emotional intelligence and is empathetic and humble in their approach to work and when collaborating with teams.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Strong presentation and facilitation skills.
Please Note: Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
Certifications/Licenses:
- Valid Driver’s License.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:
- Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Affairs/Administration, Political Science, Communications, Conservation Education, Social Work, or a related field.
- Three (3) years of experience managing personnel at the section/work unit level.
- Proficiency in data presentation using visualization and story-telling techniques to provide compelling arguments.
- Experience in leading comprehensive program assessments and providing recommendations for improvement.
- Familiarity of natural resource issues in Washington state.
- Experience working with K-12 students, educators, schools, or organizations.
- Bilingual capabilities welcome.
Supplemental Information:
Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.
Experience and education selected, listed, and detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable in the application.
In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:
- A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
- A current resume.
- Three professional references.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:
Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field. We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).
WDFW employees may be eligible for the following: Benefits
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave types.
Eleven (11) Paid Holidays per year and one (1) personal holiday if the employee is scheduled to be, or has been, continuously employed by the State of Washington for at least four (4) months.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), and an Employee Assistance Program.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:
To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:
- Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to kaila.daudt@dfw.wa.gov.
- Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE:
To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:
- Notify us of your military spouse status by email at kaila.daudt@dfw.wa.gov.
- Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife 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, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.
If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.