This position is a unique opportunity for a knowledgeable and motivated environmental professional to make tangible and substantial positive impacts to significant environmental outcomes through noxious weed control in aquatic areas in King County. These outcomes contribute to overall County environmental initiatives including the Healthy Lands Project, the Land Conservation Initiative (LCI)and the Clean Water Healthy Habitat Initiative. This position joins a dynamic team that seeks to reduce the impacts of Noxious Weeds throughout King County through collaborative and innovative approaches to noxious weed control on a landscape scale.

About the Role:

This position's focus is to achieve voluntary control of aquatic noxious weeds through education and technical assistance to landowners. Where this fails, regulatory compliance procedures may be used. The person hired for this position will work under the direction of the Noxious Weed Control Program manager to work with land managers to achieve aquatic noxious weed control in areas including lakes, and wetlands in King County. The majority of the aquatic weed species focused on are emergent weeds (such as purple loosestrife and garden loosestrife). Occasionally the position works and advises on control of submerged and floating leaf weeds (such as Eurasian watermilfoil and fragrant water lily).

This position performs work remotely and onsite.  

About the Team:

The noxious weed control program works throughout King County to prevent and reduce the economic, environmental, and social impacts of noxious weeds in King County, Washington. Our mission is to provide benefits to the environment, recreation, public health, and economic resources of King County by preventing and minimizing harmful impacts of noxious weeds. We do this through education and technical assistance to landowners and public agencies to help everyone find the best control options for noxious weeds on each site and to reduce the overall impact of noxious weeds throughout the county.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive.  We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As an Aquatic Noxious Weed Control Specialist, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resources Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities.  Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

What You Will Be Doing: 

• Develop, coordinate, and implement the aquatic noxious weed program for the County by serving as the team lead for aquatic weed management projects.
• Conduct field surveys to identify, document, and map noxious weed infestations. Maintain data in program databases.
• Manage Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and tabular datasets using ESRI products such as ArcMap, ArcGIS Web App maps, and ArcGIS Pro.
• Implement rapid response weed control for high priority infestations
• Provide educational and technical services and respond to landowner and resident requests for information about and assistance with the management of aquatic noxious weeds.
• Ensure the program's operations remain in compliance with local, State, and Federal regulatory requirements.  
• Conduct community outreach, public presentations, training, and educational events.

Qualifications You Bring: 

• Expert knowledge of aquatic noxious weed taxonomy, identification, biology, and impacts. 
• At least two (2) years field experience and expertise in managing emergent aquatic noxious weed infestations and their impacts to natural resources. Familiarity with integrated pest management and weed control methods including chemical, biocontrol, and manual methods.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with the public on difficult, sensitive, and technical issues, both verbally and in writing. 
• Demonstrated ability to do field work and weed control activities in challenging terrain including urban areas, wetlands, rivers, streams, and lakes.
• Familiarity and competency collecting and managing spatial and tabular data for vegetation management projects, especially as it relates to ESRI software.
• Ability to track, prioritize, and manage a wide range of disparate noxious weed infestations and situations throughout the calendar year.

Physical Requirements: 

• Ability to operate a variety of watercraft including canoes, small dinghies, and/or inflatable kayaks to safely navigate along rivers and lakes.
• Ability to do field work and weed control activities in challenging terrain including wetlands, rivers, streams, and lakes. 
• Ability to carry heavy loads on back (up to 45 pounds) over very uneven terrain. 
• Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather including rain, heat, etc.

Workplace Exposures: 

• Field work and weed control activities in challenging terrain including wetlands, rivers, streams, and lakes. 
• Use of herbicides.
• Driving in a variety of vehicles.

Competencies You Bring:  

• Customer Focus - Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions. 
• Decision Quality - Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward. 
• Action Oriented - Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm. 
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. 
• Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. 

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Demonstrated success developing, managing, and expanding natural resource management projects to improve environmental outcomes on a landscape scale. 
• Experience navigating and securing aquatic weed control permits. 

Working Conditions:

Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically 2-3 times per week on average, 2-3 days in the field per week or in the office. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104).  

Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
 
Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week.  This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.  While typical work hours are during the standard workday, this job requires evening and weekends to support grant committee processes, particularly in the springtime.
Necessary Special Requirements:

• Valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to obtain one prior to starting work if selected for this position. 
• The final candidate will be required to successfully pass a pre-employment physical.

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.
   
Application materials will be screened for clarity and, completeness (including the online application), cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.

• Complete Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume (Your resume should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Cover Letter (Your cover letter should detail your background and what you can bring to this position and will be used in the screening process)

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
   
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.