[Hiring] Water Resources Specialist @City of Lacey

Role Description

Reporting to the Water Resources Utility Capital Program Manager, under general direction, the Water Resources Specialist is responsible for managing public information, education and outreach efforts regarding the City’s water quality programs. This position is responsible for duties which include, but are not limited to:

• Providing project management on assigned activities or issues.
• Responding to citizen inquiries.
• Coordinating with other local jurisdictions regarding the City's Water Resources Management Program encompassing conservation issues, salmon enhancement programs, surface and stormwater runoff, groundwater protection, and drinking water and wastewater issues and concerns.

Please note:

• The Hiring Manager reserves the right to make changes to this posting at any time.
• First round interviews are tentatively scheduled for October 26, 2026.
• Second round interviews are tentatively scheduled for November 6, 2026.
• This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next six (6) months.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, natural resources, communications, public relations, planning, or closely related field AND one (1) year of experience performing work related to water resources or performing education and outreach work related to conservation programs.
• An Associate’s degree in environmental science, natural resources, communications, public relations, planning, or closely related field AND three (3) years of experience performing work related to water resources or performing education and outreach work related to conservation programs.
• May have a combination of experience, education, and training that would substitute for the above requirements.
• Master's Degree in Environmental Science (preferred).

Requirements

• Must pass a thorough background investigation and successfully complete pre-employment medical testing for the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Must maintain a level of physical and mental fitness necessary to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• Must be attentive to job safety considerations and follows all required safety policies, procedures and techniques.
• Must possess a valid Washington State driver’s license at time of hire OR must obtain within 30 days from date of hire and must have a driving record acceptable to the City and the City’s insurance carrier.
• Verification of identity and United States work authorization must be completed as required by the immigration Reform and Control Act.
• Must possess or have the ability to obtain a valid first aid card within six (6) months of the date of hire.

Benefits

• Knowledge of basic water resource principles, including the hydrologic cycle; stream, lake, and wetland ecology; non-point pollution sources and impacts, and associated local, state, and federal regulations related to water resources.
• Knowledge of basic science including biology; meteorology; physics; and geology.
• Knowledge of practical considerations and social and political realities associated with implementation of water resource protection measures.
• Knowledge of grant preparation and management.
• Knowledge of education theory and practice, including evaluative methods and curriculum development.
• Knowledge of public outreach programs that successfully result in bringing about improvements in water resource protection and water conservation measures.
• Knowledge of various aspects of volunteer management, including recruiting, coordinating, scheduling, and maintaining volunteers to perform a variety of tasks.
• Knowledge of water quality monitoring techniques, field collection techniques, equipment calibration and maintenance, and quality assurance procedures in the field.
• Knowledge of computers running Windows operating system, databases, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, and other software applications.

Company Description

Specific functions within Water Resources Specialist Job Class include, but are not limited to:

• Develops, implements and delivers education and public outreach to assist citizens and local businesses in understanding the City’s drinking water quality and City’s storm and surface water quality programs.
• Performs program education through workshops, presentations, articles, site visits, and other technical materials.
• Coordinates program efforts with surrounding jurisdictions.
• Notifies the public when health and safety issues arise by preparing press releases, interviews with local media, preparation of door hangers, and issuing letters to water customers.
• Analyzes issues, reviews and research technical and scientific data, analyzes probable causes of water quality or environmental problems and proposed solutions for their effectiveness in remediating identified problems.
• Reviews and comments on draft documents.
• Negotiates with other jurisdictions to develop work plans for regional programs.
• Works to ensure efficient coordination of effort and incorporation of City interests.
• Assists with water quality monitoring functions such as collection of water and soil samples and compiling statistics.
• Leads assigned water resource projects relating to conservation programs, drinking water reports and notifications, lake protection and restoration, stream protection and enhancement, and reduction of pollution sources.
• Prepares project scopes of work (e.g. scheduling timelines, assisting in the consultant selection process), provides City support and materials to consultants, obtains various state and federal permits for projects, and prepares various other project management tasks as required.
• Prepares quarterly, yearly, and final reports.
• Prepares grant applications for federal, state, and local grant programs related to the protection and management of water resources such as surface, marine, and groundwater.
• Develops databases, spreadsheets, and desktop publishing documents.
• Provides leadership and guidance to work study interns, volunteers and outside contractor placements (i.e. AmeriCorps crew) to accomplish goals of Water Resources division.
• Creates content and updates Lacey website material pertaining to the City's water, wastewater and reclaimed water pages, as well as the stormwater pages.
• Employs community based social marketing theory and practice to encourage the public to adopt behaviors which sustain the region's water resources and comply with the federal, state, and local law and ordinances.
• Uses various social media platforms to communicate with the public.
• Coordinates open houses and public involvement efforts for rate studies, comprehensive plans, policy and programmatic changes, grand openings, and other efforts.