Salary : $110,000.00 - $120,000.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-RCO-005
Department: Recreation and Conservation Office
Opening Date: 08/10/2026
Closing Date: 8/17/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
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.

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.

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:

• A bachelor's degree or higher in public administration, parks and recreation management, landscape architecture, fish or wildlife management, watershed planning, geography, land use planning, biology, forestry, natural resources management, environmental studies, or a related field.

AND

• 4 years of experience working in public administration, parks and recreation management, landscape architecture, fish or wildlife management, watershed planning, engineering, geography, land use planning, forestry, natural resource management, environmental studies or related field

AND

• 2 years of experience supervising, and/or coaching and leading staff OR 2 years of experience as a Senior Outdoor Grants Manager or equivalent.

AND

• A valid driver's license, free from serious traffic violations.

* 4 years of experience and 2 years of supervisory responsibility may run concurrently.

** Relevant experience will substitute year-for-year for education. Relevant experience may include working with grants or grant programs, contract development, management of project compliance, etc.
Applicants should also possess the following competencies:

• Supervision and Leadership-Directs and supervises 5-8 positions. Recruits, hires, supervises, trains, evaluates and disciplines reporting staff. Creates an environment where staff can learn and grow but are held accountable for specified performance standards. Fosters a leadership culture throughout the agency by working with staff to become their better selves and work as efficiently as possible. Helps lead organizational changes by establishing clear, strategic and attainable performance goals for staff and holds them accountable for meeting set goals.
• Strategic Thinking-Think 3-5 years out into the future to ensure RCO business needs under their control will continue to be effective in meeting agency goals. Considers the big picture aspects of RCO grant programs as they relate to other state and federal partner grant programs. Assesses if the agency is fulfilling the proper niche to achieve statewide recreation, conservation, and salmon recovery goals.
• Program Management-Leads and provides oversight for implementation of statewide grant programs that span across their section and throughout the agency. Collaborates with peers, their supervisor, other agency managers, Tribal government personnel and community members, executive management and the agency funding boards to implement statewide programs. Uses delegated authority to make project level and programmatic decisions and sign agreements and amendments. Leads and/or participates in various internal or program improvement projects that have agencywide and/or statewide impact. The Assistant Section Manager is empowered to make project and programmatic decisions and consult with the section manager, deputy director or other members of executive management on potential controversial issues or issues that could set a precedent, when needed. Assists in the resolution of complex project issues that may involve executive management, the agency funding boards or the Attorney General's Office.
• Relationships and Teamwork-The Assistant Section Manager and its team are staff to the agency funding boards. This position will frequently make presentations about projects, policy or programmatic issues and will provide recommendations for board consideration. This position serves on the agency's Operations Team and works with other agency leaders and staff to develop, promote and implement the agency's mission. The Assistant Section Manager often participates as part of a team to explore program issues and make recommendations to the executive management and/or agency boards. This position interacts with agency staff, management at other state resource agencies, nonprofit organizations, Tribal government personnel and community members, local and federal governments and elected officials to ensure grant projects and RCO policies are implemented correctly. Continuously develop and cultivate partnerships and cooperative relationships with partners, clients and stakeholders.
• Ability to Take Action to Learn and Grow-Practices self-awareness by reflecting on personal strengths, growth areas, and biases.
• Ability to Take Action to Meet the Needs of Others-Flexible, adaptable, customer service focused, and willing and able to empathically respond to the unique needs of the people they work with and serve.
• Communication-Effectively expresses ideas and information through the spoken and/or written word using language that is appropriate to both the complexity of the topic and the knowledge and understanding of the audience. Communicate openly and honestly with staff and management. Strong verbal, writing and editing skills to prepare and present coherent and meaningful reports and recommendations.
• Customer Service-Build and maintain internal and external customer satisfaction with the products and services offered by the organization. Consistently go beyond basic service expectations to help customers implement complete solutions.
• Fiscal Stewardship and Risk Management-Ensures responsible, compliant management of significant state and federal funds. Collaborates to protect the agency from fiscal, legal, and reputational risk by identifying potential risks related to funding, compliance, or precedent-setting decisions. Consults executive leaders, as needed.
• Integrity-Earn the trust, respect, and confidence of co-workers and customers through consistent honesty, forthrightness, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Presentation-Prepare high-quality materials and explain or present /information in a clear, concise, logical manner that achieves understanding of the intended message. Choose language that will persuade or influence the listener if that is the purpose of the presentation.
• Self-Management-Identify what needs to be done and proactively take appropriate action. Recognize situations that warrant assertive action and move forward without hesitation. Get the job done. Be accountable for work and consistently achieve excellent, timely results with little need for oversight.
• Tact and Diplomacy-Respond to difficult, stressful and sensitive situations in a way that reduces and minimizes conflict. Patiently wait for others to share their views and work to understand other points of view before making judgement. Approach problems with a positive attitude thinking outside the norm for a solution.

Supplemental Information
How to apply:
In addition to completing the online application, you must attach the following documents to your profile or paste into the "text resume" field in order to be considered for this position:

• A letter of interest (no more than 2 pages in length) explaining how your past experiences make you an ideal candidate for this position and what exceptional skills you would bring to RCO;
• A current resume, detailing experience, education, and other relevant interests;
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview)

NOTE: By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed. A resume will not substitute for completing the "duties summary" section or supplemental questions of the application. Please do not "refer to resume" for detail, or your application may be disqualified.

Contact us:

For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Angie Anderson at
Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388 or access the .
If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Anita Macpherson at
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.