Permanent Orca Conservation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: See Position Description
Location : Pierce County - Puyallup, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number: 2025-PCD MSSPM
Department: Pierce Conservation District
Opening Date: 08/29/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
Nature & Purpose of the Position
The Marine Shorelines Senior Program Manager is a technical position of the Pierce Conservation District (PCD) requiring field work, landowner engagement, technical assistance site visits, nearshore restoration project development and management, and leadership skills. This position will implement PCD's Shore Friendly Pierce program. This is a full-time position that reports to the Habitat Improvement Program Director.
The ideal candidate will have a proven knowledge of Puget Sound marine and nearshore ecosystems, extensive project management experience, and a highly motivated work ethic and ability to work cooperatively and positively with members of the public. They will be committed to producing professional, high-quality work in a fast-paced environment and can handle multiple tasks and priorities at any given time. This position is an opportunity to work with private landowners, public and non-profit partners, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders to reach regional and local goals set for Puget Sound shoreline armor removal, nearshore habitat restoration, and salmon and orca recovery.
This position also serves as part of a highly-collaborative team, the "South Sound Shore Friendly Collaborative," which includes Mason and Thurston Conservation Districts. Together the three Conservation Districts maintain a strong partnership that involves mentoring, resource sharing, and project development support to achieve the shared goal of protecting and restoring marine shoreline habitat in South Puget Sound.
About the Pierce Conservation District
Pierce Conservation District is government that works. We work strategically and passionately to conserve and restore the natural resources of Pierce County. Our work improves both rural and urban communities to benefit the health and well-being of our citizens. We work in six core program areas: Farm Assistance, Water Quality Improvement, Habitat Restoration, Urban Agriculture, Climate Resiliency, and Environmental Education. The District works for clean water, healthy soil, salmon recovery and local food access for all. When you join the Pierce Conservation District staff, you join a team of talented and committed people who are mission driven and care deeply about improving our environment and our community.
Duties
Primary Job Responsibilities
The Shorelines Program Manager will work closely with colleagues at Mason and Thurston Conservation Districts to implement the Pierce County component of the South Sound Shore Friendly Program. The Shorelines Program Manager reports to the Habitat Improvement Program Director and will support other Habitat Improvement Program members as needed. Specific duties of this position include:

• Manage the "Shore Friendly Pierce" program. Develop and track programmatic budgets and deliverables, collaborate with Mason and Thurston CDs to achieve grant deliverables, coordinate billing and reporting of Shore Friendly Pierce deliverables to Thurston CD (project sponsor) to ensure timely reimbursement and project success.
• Coordinate with existing Shore Friendly programs and local shoreline restoration networks, including participation in monthly regional Shore Friendly program meetings and Shore Friendly South Sound team meetings.
• Create and implement targeted outreach and education opportunities for marine shoreline landowners and other relevant audiences (may include workshops, tours, etc.).
• Conduct site visits and generate technical assistance recommendations and reports as appropriate.
• Provide (or arrange for) technical assistance to advance Shore Friendly practices.
• Develop list of willing landowners and effective projects to improve shoreline habitats.
• Manage shoreline restoration projects through all phases, including initial site assessment, landowner relationship building, identifying and securing construction funding, and management of project design, permitting, construction, and postconstruction effectiveness monitoring.
• Represent and advocate for the Pierce Conservation District at groups such as the West Sound Partners for Ecosystem Recovery and other regional partnerships to advance the work of marine shoreline conservation and salmon recovery efforts.
• Maintain "Shore Friendly Pierce" website.
• Follow relevant procedures for procuring consultant and contractor services to support the Shore Friendly Pierce program and development of shoreline armor removal projects, as well as execute and manage contracts.
• Apply for grants, manage grant awards.
• Accurately track project budgets.

Qualifications
The ideal candidate for this position will have a strong knowledge base of marine shoreline processes and Shore Friendly practices. We are looking for someone who is self-starting and able to work independently. They will be emotionally intelligent and enjoy working with others. They will have successful coalition-building and collaboration experience, and an ability to work with landowners and partners with integrity and nuance. They must be a detail oriented and a strategic thinker.
The person in this position should also have:

• A Bachelor's degree and/or previous work experience in marine science, restoration and/or shoreline ecology, salmon recovery strategies, geology, environmental science, or other relevant topics.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work productively with landowners and partners.
• Extensive restoration project development and management experience.
• Extensive experience applying for and managing grants.
• Experience with permitting processes and regulatory requirements for salmon restoration and/or marine shoreline restoration projects.
• Excellent time management and task prioritization abilities.
• Commitment to and passion for locally-led conservation and Puget Sound recovery.
• Ability to clearly communicate in writing.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office/Office 365 suite of software programs; experience with GIS.

Desired Skills

• Post-Bachelor's degree and/or previous work experience in marine science, restoration and/or shoreline ecology, geology, environmental science, or other relevant topics.
• Advanced level of GIS competency.
• Understanding of public works project requirements.
• Relevant engineering or geotechnical experience, including but not limited to hiring and working with consultant teams to design restoration projects; overseeing restoration project bidding and awards; overseeing construction management etc.
• Familiarity with social marketing concepts, and experience developing education and outreach materials, passion for inspiring behavior change in private landowners that supports nearshore stewardship.
• Familiarity with current sea level rise science and implications to shoreline environments.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
The Shorelines Program Manager will work in office, remote work, and outdoor environments, with frequent travel to site visits, meetings, and project locations. Conducting field work may expose the person in this position to typical hazards associated with various types of shoreline and outdoor environments. This is a full-time, non-exempt position consisting of 40 hours/week. Position will occasionally require some work on weekends or after regularly scheduled work hours.
Supplemental Information
Compensation & Benefits
This is a full-time, non-exempt, permanent position with an Annual Salary Range of $73,772- $79,792 (Senior Program Manager, Step 1-3), dependent on qualifications
Benefits
Benefits include 100% of premiums paid for medical/dental/vision insurance for you and your dependents, ORCA transit card, as well as accrued paid sick leave, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year (including two personal holidays), and a training budget.
In lieu of Social Security, PCD participates in a FICA replacement plan through the State Department of Retirement Systems Deferred Compensation Program.
Additional Information
This position is represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 2. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement can be found
Pierce Conservation District is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply for open positions
To Apply:
Apply at:
First Review of Applications: September 19, 2025
Projected Interviews to Begin: September 23, 2025
Projected Start Date: October 15, 2025
Contact Information:
Heather Green
Habitat Improvement Program Director
C: 253.231.0252
HeatherG@piercecd.org
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. That's 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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