Water Management Lead Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Join Snohomish County Surface Water Management (SWM) as Our Next Environmental Monitoring Supervisor!

Snohomish County Surface Water Management is seeking an experienced, people-centered Supervisor III to lead a talented team of 16 technical professionals dedicated to protecting and restoring our region’s streams, lakes, floodplains, and watersheds.

In this leadership role, you will guide multidisciplinary environmental programs that include water quality, habitat, and hydrology monitoring; salmon recovery efforts; lake restoration; stormwater management; and pollution investigations. You’ll help shape data-driven strategies that support healthy ecosystems and resilient communities—all while fostering a positive, collaborative team environment.

What You’ll Lead and Manage

• Champion a supportive, collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Guide staff in designing, executing, and evaluating environmental monitoring programs.
• Develop clear annual work plans, including priorities, staffing, deliverables, and resources.
• Build, manage, and adapt program budgets to meet evolving needs.
• Align staff strengths with program goals, balancing responsibilities and workloads.
• Recruit, onboard, and grow staff through strong mentorship and clear performance expectations.
• Strengthen partnerships with internal divisions, external agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Contribute to division-wide strategy as part of SWM’s Management Team.
• Promote safety, inclusion, and continuous improvement across all work areas.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a thoughtful, collaborative leader who’s excited about supporting people and advancing meaningful environmental work. If you have relevant experience, enjoy helping teams succeed, and are eager to grow, we’d love to hear from you.

DCNR partners with Snohomish County communities to steward resources and manage infrastructure for the purpose of protection, enhancement, use, and enjoyment of our land, air, and water now and into the future.

Our ideal candidate will have qualities in alignment with the County’s values: providing and demonstrating high quality service, leadership, stewardship, accountability, respect, and integrity.

Job offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

About Surface Water Management

SWM is a stormwater utility that provides services to unincorporated Snohomish County. These services are funded by service charges paid by property owners in the unincorporated county. SWM is the largest division in Snohomish County’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with an annual budget of $54.6 million.

SWM works in partnership with other local and regional agencies to improve Snohomish County now and for future generations. SWM provides a variety of programs and services for reducing road and property flooding and preserving and improving the health of Snohomish County's water resources and natural systems. We focus on four core areas of service:

• Drainage and road flooding
• Clean water in rivers, streams and lakes;
• Salmon and marine habitat; and
• River flooding

You can find us responding to water-quality problems and complaints, monitoring river levels during flood season, maintaining drainage systems, managing habitat improvement projects and more. For further information on Snohomish County Surface Water Management's programs, please go to www.surfacewater.info. Our 2025 Highlights report is available here.

Surface Water Management Overview

About the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)

The Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) includes the Division of Surface Water Management, the Division of Parks & Recreation, the Office of Energy and Sustainability and the Office of Agriculture and aims to achieve high-priority environmental sustainability goals. Some of the greatest assets we have in Snohomish County are our unparalleled beauty and abundant natural resources. From the Puget Sound and five watersheds, to forestland, lakes, farms, ranches and parks, our quality of life, economic prosperity and future sustainability are dependent on protecting and improving our environmental resources. Visit Department of Conservation and Natural Resources web page to learn more.

About Snohomish County

Snohomish County, north of Seattle, is located in northwest Washington between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. The county has rich scenery, numerous activities, and a thriving economy. SnohomishCounty is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. When joining the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, you will work in an environment where innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement are highly encouraged and supported. We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents. We are invested in your success and growth and offer competitive wages, job flexibility and stability, employer paid ORCA cards, and a friendly, diverse team atmosphere where employees are appreciated and make a real difference providing services for our citizens. We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a lifelong career.

Snohomish County - The Future We Choose

Benefits

Snohomish County will be invested in your success and growth. We demonstrate this by offering a generous compensation package to our employees. Your salary is only part of your Total Compensation Package. Our benefits include:

• Retirement: County employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
• Medical benefits: The County offers a choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plan with low deductibles. The county’s contribution to this benefit is significant.
• Sick leave: You will accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month.
• Vacation Leave: You will start out accruing 8 hours of vacation leave per month totaling 2.4 weeks of vacation in your first year. Your leave accruals increase based on your years of employment with the County.
• Holiday Pay: The County observeseleven (11)paid legal holidays per year and provides employees with two floating holidays annually.
• Other benefits include wellness, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, long term disability, and more.
• Deferred Compensation: If you choose to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), the County will match your contributions up to 1 percent of your base monthly salary.
• Pay Increases: Each year you will be eligible for a step increase until you reach the top step.
• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): County employees typically receive yearly cost of living adjustments.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Career development training.

Teleworking Options

The work associated with this position can be performed with a hybrid of remote work with at least one day of in-office work per week. For employees who prefer to work in the office full time, that option is also available. Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. A Snohomish County Telework agreement is required for employees assigned to telework. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their Snohomish County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

STATEMENT OF BASIC DUTIES OF CLASS

1. Plans and directs all office and field activities related to a specific section or work group function.
2. Acts as a technical resource for staff resolving problems; oversees the preparation of plans, designs, reports and documents necessary to carry out functions and operations of the work group while remaining consistent with county and department standards, principles, methods and priorities; signs off on appropriate documents as required.
3. Assigns, supervises and evaluates the work of subordinate employees as required; advises, assists and trains subordinates as necessary; participates in the selection of new employees, and makes recommendations regarding the hiring, discipline, and termination of subordinate employees.
4. Develops and implements policies, procedures and budgets related to specific section or work group functions and ensures that area of operations complies with applicable federal and state laws, regulations and guidelines, and with county ordinances, policies and procedures.
5. Coordinates operations and promotes partnership with other county departments and programs, outside agencies, citizen groups and the general public as necessary; provides technical assistance to other public agencies or sections as required.
6. Supervises or participates in the conduct and review of studies, needs assessments and other activities used to plan or evaluate services provided by the section or work group;drafts recommended modifications to applicable ordinances, regulations, policies, procedures and standards.
7. Prepares reports and recommendations to the County Council, various community groups and outside agencies as necessary; may conduct or participate in public hearings to explain program plans and solicit public input.
8. Responds to inquiries from the public regarding specific problems or issues in area of assignment.
9. Prepares grant applications and other documents to obtain alternative or supplemental funding sources for programs; negotiates and administers participation contracts with groups, agencies and individuals; maintains liaison with representatives of funding agencies as necessary.
10. Recommends modifications to county codes and associated regulations, procedures and engineering standards.
11. Prepares short term and long range work program and service plans which identify and prioritize proposed projects and programs.
12. Assists the division manager in developing and implementing systems, programs, and long range plans to provide for effective DPW operations.
13. Advises a director or manager on the need for public information and involvement efforts; directs design and implementation of such efforts.
14. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristic of Class:

May regularly interact with outside agencies.

Position involves either the highest level of technical proficiency in one field or is responsible for two or more professional fields.

Position may play a lead role in managing controversial issues.

Position regularly represents the division in decision oriented meetings.

Position develops or controls work group budget.

A Bachelor of Science or Arts degree in a professional field related to the group function and five (5) years of professional level experience with at least two (2) years of supervisory/lead experience within the area of specialization; OR, any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skill and ability to perform the work. Must pass job related tests.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Professional Engineer License for engineering position or appropriate professional certification or recognition in non-engineering fields.

A valid Washington State Driver's License is required.

KNOWLEDGEAND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• principles, practices and techniques in area of assignment
• federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations related to area of assignment
• the principles and practices of planning, organization and supervision;
• the principles, practices and procedures associated with budget preparation and administration
• the methods and techniques used in conducting engineering or scientific studies and needs assessments
• if applicable to the position, the principles and practices of grant writing, contract negotiation and administration
• the literature, trends and developments in the area of specialty

Ability to:

• develop inter-local agreements and funding strategies to provide effective service levels to the community
• manage consultant contracts for the planning, design and/or construction of major public works projects
• plan, coordinate and administer a functional area of DPW
• supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate employees
• develop work plans, schedules and budgets
• allocate and make effective use of available resources
• assess the relative advantages and disadvantages of alternative courses of action
• gather, analyze, synthesize and evaluate a variety of data including statistical data
• read, interpret and apply federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations governing area of assignment
• analyze and evaluate operations and take effective action to correct deficiencies and resolve problems
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, department heads, associates, subordinates, representatives of other agencies and with the general public
• lead programs with public groups
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• prepare a variety of correspondence, reports, and other written materials and documents

SUPERVISION

The employee reports to and receives direction from a manager or director. The employee supervises at least five full time staff and may supervise temporary employees. The work requires considerable independent judgment and discretion in developing and achieving work unit goals and objectives. The work is reviewed through meetings and periodic status reports, and by evaluation of results obtained.

Distinguishing Characteristic of Class:

Supervises a group of employees in technical or professional classifications.

Reports to a Manager or Director.

Supervises five or more positions.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work is perfor