Noxious Weeds Program Manager

Job Description:

Noxious Weeds Program Manager

Description

Summary

Are you an expert in the world of noxious weed management, and a lover of working collaboratively across multiple agencies toward the common purpose of sustaining resilient landscapes? Are you a dedicated leader that would relish the chance to steer a highly knowledgeable, spirited team? Look no further than the Noxious Weed Program Manager position in the Rural and Regional Services Section within King County's Water and Land Resources Division.

In addition to the current opening, this recruitment may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill future Noxious Weeds Program Manager (Environmental Programs Managing Supervisor) positions throughout the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) over the next six (6) months .

About the Role:
The Noxious Weed Program Manager (Environmental Programs Managing Supervisor) will provide leadership for a nationally recognized noxious weeds management program implemented by a highly motivated team regulating the control of Class A and B noxious weeds moving into King County: What we do - King County, Washington . Through close coordination within King County leadership, the oversight of the King County Noxious Weed Board, and the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board, this position helps sustain the County’s resilient landscape by working with county cities, public agencies (municipal, state, federal, and special districts), tribes, private entities and private land owners to ensure a robust response to invasive plant species through both compliance and leading edge public outreach. The Unit currently has 22 staff collecting data in real time throughout the county. The program is funded by a parcel fee generating roughly $6M per year.

This position reports to the Rural and Regional Services Section Manager, serves on the Section Leadership Team, and has had over a decade of influence at the state level and with other NW programs.
This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

About the Team:
WLRD works to protect the health and integrity of King County’s natural resources so they can be enjoyed today and for generations to come. The Water and Land Resources Division manages agriculture, forestry, rivers, flooding, habitat, noxious weeds, stormwater, environmental science, and hazardous waste in King County. Within the Division, the Rural and Regional Services Section is a primary implementer of the County’s initiative for Clean Water/Healthy Habitat, Land Conservation, and Local Food Initiatives with particular focus in salmon recovery, targeted land acquisition, environmental markets, farm access, forest health, and noxious weeds toward the goal of resilient landscapes for current and future generations. The leadership team includes highly motivated public servants committed to doing the best we can with the time given us in these jobs. We host public forums where diverse interests can come to accord, gain sustained political support for county ecological priorities, conceive and find ways to fund large restoration projects, scour the landscape for invasive weeds, aid immigrant and refugee farmers in gaining land to grow culturally specific food and combine what would be small low benefit permit requirements into magnificent mitigation projects - even to the point of buying and knocking down an old hotel to gain rare habitat potential on the Duwamish River.
The Noxious Weed Control Program is a unit within the Rural and Regional Services Section. This program includes 22 full-time staff and 5 seasonal employees during the summer, the majority of whom spend most of their work time in the field addressing noxious weed infestations in their regional focus areas. This dynamic program has teams that focus on regulated weeds, riparian weeds (knotweed focus), the Healthy Lands Project (HeLP), and education and outreach. While the focus of each team within the program is diverse, the Program is highly collaborative across work programs. The program has strong support from County leadership, sustained by outstanding staff who have chosen to spend significant careers at King County. Knowing the primary importance of those who actually do the work, we provide amazing opportunities for staff to develop toward careers that are highly challenging and deeply satisfying over the long run.

Commitment To Equity 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 a Noxious Weed Program Manager , 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 Resource 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.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Provide strategic direction to the NW program based on personal expertise, engagement with state programs, compliance with state/local laws, technical expertise, long range vision-including climate change resilience, sustaining expertise in the field, understanding of local and state political landscape and in alignment with section/division/department leadership
• Frame budgetary, statutory and operating conditions for the program sustainability. Determine project or program budget, schedule and scope. Determine financial and performance indicators and use evaluation findings to redirect the project or program. Monitor the financial status of the program or projects.
• Direct and/or supervise the work of multiple professional staff, set priorities and ensure follow-through and quality assurance and provide for staff development; provide accountability while creating room for adaptability in performance of objectives; create partnerships and coordination across programs within the county and with program partners.
• Ensure progress in providing services with increasing equity at the center, and in supporting the identification and dismantling of any inequitable practices within the program’s domain.
• Help advance state and local NW programs through strong program communications, presentations, attending conferences, sustaining staff certifications, and incorporating lessons learned from other programs.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• A minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience including working within a political and/or board structure, safety culture.
• Expertise in noxious weed management, including current practices and climate change adaptation. Understanding of noxious weed laws, state and county boards, classifications, politics, and the listing process.
• Experience and ability to collaborate, build partnerships, and maintain relationships with other government and non-government groups (i.e. tribal, county, federal, state, private, non-profit, etc.) as a representative of the Program.
• Knowledge of basic business practices in government with a strong emphasis on respect for the decision-making processes and the customer, the service being provided, and the tools available to the work.
• Awareness of the social and environmental injustices at play globally, locally, and within program areas. Demonstrated ability to apply equity frameworks to program design & delivery (e.g., set equity goals, use data to identify disparities, adapt policies/procedures). Knowledge of tribal governments and familiarity with tribal relationship building including awareness of consultation responsibilities, treaty rights, and culturally respectful engagement practices.

Required Licenses:

• Valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to obtain one prior to starting work if selected for this position.

Competencies You Bring:

• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Builds Effective Teams: Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Racially Just: Identify and replace racist systems and structures with anti-racist and pro-equity approaches.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Master's in landscape Ecology , or related field.
• Tribal Relations: Strong tribal relationships and respect for Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Knowledge and familiarity with regional tribes.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details: The Rural and Regional Services Section works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change . The primary onsite location is (King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104).
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. 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.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position will work a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. The typical work schedule is 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday- Friday. Work outside the typical work schedule including early mornings, evenings and weekends may be required from time to time.
• Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.
• Physical Requirement: This position requires regular field trips throughout the County to observe/help identify weeds in a variety of terrain including aquatic features.
• Workplace Exposures: Herbicides during period of use -need to follow protocols for articles of clothing, periodic exposure to stinging insects.

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, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Please ensure that your application materials clearly detail how your skills and experience meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this posting.

Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Online Application with response to supplemental questions.
• Resume (not required and will not be reviewed if submitted).
• Cover Letter (optional).

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Isaac Good at (206) 848-0576 or igood@kingcounty.gov .

Discover More About the Water Land & Resources Division: Visit our website .

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our " True North ", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

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.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 11/23/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$128,274.43 - $162,595.47 Annually