Salary : $110,439.00 - $140,951.28 Annually
Location : Main County Campus-3000 Rockefeller Ave, Everett, WA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-CNR8449R-SEP
Department: Dept of Conservation & Nat Resources
Division: Surface Water Mgmt
Opening Date: 09/01/2026
Closing Date: 9/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
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.

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.

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 Our 2025 Highlights report is available

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 the web page to learn more.

Job Duties
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.

Minimum Qualifications
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.
Additional Information
KNOWLEDGE AND 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