Recreation Grants Assistant Section Manager (WMS2)
State of WashingtonAbout the role
Posting number: 2026-RCO-005
Department: Recreation and Conservation Office
Job classification: WMS BAND 2
Posting type: Open & Promotional
Categories: Administration, Community Services, Environmental Services, Planning and Development, Management, Parks and Recreation, Land Use, Natural Resources, Diversity Management/EEO, Project Management, Communications, Green-Collar/Environmental, Program Management
Summary
Schedule and Location: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm flexible schedule available
RCO is head-quartered in Olympia, WA on the state's capital campus. RCO will consider candidates that can successfully do this job from another location (in-state only) with occasional travel to Olympia for meetings and other functions.
Who we are:
The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is a small state agency located in Olympia, Washington that plans for and provides funding to: create and maintain opportunities for recreation; protect the best of the state's wild lands, farms, and forests; and recover salmon.
RCO strives to maintain a workplace that is respectful, inclusive and family-friendly where all team members feel safe to bring their true selves to work. We believe in a culture where everyone continually improves and has the opportunity to lead.
The core competencies for all RCO team members are communication, customer service, integrity, self-management, and teamwork.
At RCO we envision:
A state that has abundant outdoor recreation spaces, healthy habitats, and working farms and forests that support people, fish, and wildlife.
What you will be doing:
The assistant section manager will lead and supervise two small teams of outdoor grants managers. These teams are responsible for managing a sizable portfolio of grant applications and funded projects. One team primarily manages outdoor recreation projects for boating, shooting sports, and backcountry trail activities. The other team manages restoration projects and protection of habitats, farms, and forests through complex fee and less-than-fee title land acquisitions.
In this critical leadership role, you will work closely with RCO policy staff and other agency leaders to review, develop, update, and interpret administrative rules, policies, processes, and procedures that guide administration and implementation of federal and state grant programs. Your expertise will help ensure timely allocation of grants and completion of funded projects, while maintaining compliance with each program’s long-term obligations and state and federal laws that preserve the agency's eligibility for critical funding.
This is an exceptional opportunity to lead your teams through processes that invest in Washington’s natural and outdoor recreational resources.
You will work independently producing the following outcomes:
- Well-trained team members that feel they belong and are cared for, happy and productive.
- Accurately distribute grant funding (approximately $250 million)
- Successfully oversee the implementation of grant projects and grant programs.
- Accurate and consistent application of RCWs, WACs, federal rules and agency policies for grant programs.
- Accurate reporting to the section manager, executive management, and partner agencies on grant program metrics and project outcomes.
- Resolution of complex project issues.
Examples of duties
Some of what you’ll enjoy doing:
- Leading, supervising, evaluating, coaching, and hiring 5 to 8 grant management staff.
- Distributing and monitoring staff workload.
- Establishing clear, strategic, and attainable performance goals for staff and holding them accountable for meeting set goals.
- This position fosters a leadership culture throughout the section by working with their staff to become their better selves and work efficiently.
- Allocating and using of up to $250 million dollars of state and federal grant funds.
- Serving as the agency lead on a suite of board and/or office grant programs and acts as the agency expert on these programs for executive management and others.
- Acting as the agency lead on partner grant programs.
- Making a determination on, and signing contracts, amendments, and obligations through delegated authority from the agency director.
Qualifications
REQUIRED:
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