State of Washington Classified Job Specification
NATURAL RESOURCE SPECIALIST 4
Class Series Concept
See NATURAL RESOURCE SPECIALIST 1.
Definition
Positions supervise a unit of natural resource professional staff.
Positions act as the designated natural resource program technical expert for an agency division or region in a specified field of work.
Positions act as the technical manager for the geoduck compliance dive team.
OR
Positions act as the designated natural resource program technical expert for an agency division or region in a specified field of work.
OR
Positions act as the technical manager for the geoduck compliance dive team.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Supervisory positions at this level are distinguished from lower-level supervisory positions in that one or more subordinates is a senior-level professional.
Positions at this level are distinguished from the lower-level positions by performing the regulatory and technical components of the series to include monitoring safety requirements and maintaining technician certification records.
Technical expert positions at this level are distinguished from the Natural Resource Specialist 5 by their designation in an agency division or region in a specified field of work as opposed to designation as the highest-level agency-wide expert.
Technical expert positions at this level are distinguished from the Natural Resource Specialist 3 by providing consultation, program guidance and expertise to other program staff as opposed to providing program information to management, interested parties/groups, or members of the public.
Positions at this level are distinguished from the lower-level positions by performing the regulatory and technical components of the series to include monitoring safety requirements and maintaining technician certification records.
Technical expert positions at this level are distinguished from the Natural Resource Specialist 5 by their designation in an agency division or region in a specified field of work as opposed to designation as the highest-level agency-wide expert.
Technical expert positions at this level are distinguished from the Natural Resource Specialist 3 by providing consultation, program guidance and expertise to other program staff as opposed to providing program information to management, interested parties/groups, or members of the public.
Typical Work
Serves as the region designated technical expert for right-of-way acquisition, land sales, land exchanges, land purchases, trust land transfer, trespasses and upland leasing which may include leases for rock, minerals, oil and gas, communication sites, commercial and special use;
Serves as the division leasing specialist responsible for program guidance, coordination and administration of special use, agricultural and grazing leases for four western Washington regions;
Serves as the region’s designated technical expert in the forest practices program, providing expertise on forest practice rule interpretation and procedures;
Serves as the Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager, implementing a statewide effort to prioritize and manage invasive species control; serves as expert on invasive species legislative and policy issues; develops and sets priorities; produces reports, summaries and information regarding invasive species control.
Serves as fleet and facility manager. Manages the vessels and vehicle fleet for the invasive Species Programs and at a programmatic level including the development of maintenance agreements and oversight of maintenance work done under contract by external parties.
Develops port management agreements and authorizes port activities on state owned aquatic lands;
Provides technical expertise in dive equipment recommendations and adheres to strict safety standards; works with regulation authorities to ensure the dive team is in compliance with all regulations;
Makes purchases and tracks receipts of inventory items needed for the compliance vessels and dive lockers );
Oversees the use and maintenance of the team vehicles, to include monthly mileage reporting in Asset Works tracking database and routine lubricants, oils and filters. Works in conjunction with the compound to address any maintenance issues which may arise;
Verifies all required safety equipment on the vessels and at the dive locker have current inspections and are in proper working condition; replaces, inspects and recertifies safety equipment as needed, including CPR/first aid kits, defibrillators and oxygen bottles, fire extinguishers, signaling flares, emergency position indicating radio beacon, eye-wash stations, safety data sheets, etc.;
Oversees the Compliance Operations Specialists that work in the technician room, verifying proper maintenance and record keeping is being maintained; trains technicians in dive gear maintenance policies and procedures; ensures all necessary certifications are completed by the assistant technicians;
Assists dive operation supervisors and manager as needed; attends leadership meetings to provide technical insight on program planning and logistics; participates as a member of the dive safety committee and provides technical insight;
Supports geoduck operations in the field as needed, fulfilling roles on the vessel and/or in dive operations (if qualified);
May lead lower-level staff;
Serves as the Wild Stock Geoduck Program Manager and the statewide expert for the wildstock geoduck fishery. Oversees all aspects of sales, contracting, coordination with buyers, harvesters, Tribal partners, other state agencies, and compliance divers;
Performs other duties as required.
Serves as the division leasing specialist responsible for program guidance, coordination and administration of special use, agricultural and grazing leases for four western Washington regions;
Serves as the region’s designated technical expert in the forest practices program, providing expertise on forest practice rule interpretation and procedures;
Serves as the Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager, implementing a statewide effort to prioritize and manage invasive species control; serves as expert on invasive species legislative and policy issues; develops and sets priorities; produces reports, summaries and information regarding invasive species control.
Serves as fleet and facility manager. Manages the vessels and vehicle fleet for the invasive Species Programs and at a programmatic level including the development of maintenance agreements and oversight of maintenance work done under contract by external parties.
Develops port management agreements and authorizes port activities on state owned aquatic lands;
Provides technical expertise in dive equipment recommendations and adheres to strict safety standards; works with regulation authorities to ensure the dive team is in compliance with all regulations;
Makes purchases and tracks receipts of inventory items needed for the compliance vessels and dive lockers );
Oversees the use and maintenance of the team vehicles, to include monthly mileage reporting in Asset Works tracking database and routine lubricants, oils and filters. Works in conjunction with the compound to address any maintenance issues which may arise;
Verifies all required safety equipment on the vessels and at the dive locker have current inspections and are in proper working condition; replaces, inspects and recertifies safety equipment as needed, including CPR/first aid kits, defibrillators and oxygen bottles, fire extinguishers, signaling flares, emergency position indicating radio beacon, eye-wash stations, safety data sheets, etc.;
Oversees the Compliance Operations Specialists that work in the technician room, verifying proper maintenance and record keeping is being maintained; trains technicians in dive gear maintenance policies and procedures; ensures all necessary certifications are completed by the assistant technicians;
Assists dive operation supervisors and manager as needed; attends leadership meetings to provide technical insight on program planning and logistics; participates as a member of the dive safety committee and provides technical insight;
Supports geoduck operations in the field as needed, fulfilling roles on the vessel and/or in dive operations (if qualified);
May lead lower-level staff;
Serves as the Wild Stock Geoduck Program Manager and the statewide expert for the wildstock geoduck fishery. Oversees all aspects of sales, contracting, coordination with buyers, harvesters, Tribal partners, other state agencies, and compliance divers;
Performs other duties as required.
Legal Requirement(s)
There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.
Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.
Desirable Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree involving major study in forestry, agriculture, aquaculture, geology, biological science, environmental science, real estate, land use or environmental planning, public policy, recreation, or related natural science and three years of professional experience in a natural resource program area or one year of experience as a Natural Resource Specialist 3.
For some positions one year of diving experience.
Some positions must have dive instructor level certification.
Some positions may require a class A Commercial Driver’s License.
For some positions, two years of experience as a Natural Resource Specialist 2 or higher and one year of supervisory experience.
Equivalent education/experience.
AND
For some positions one year of diving experience.
AND
Some positions must have dive instructor level certification.
Some positions may require a class A Commercial Driver’s License.
For some positions, two years of experience as a Natural Resource Specialist 2 or higher and one year of supervisory experience.
Equivalent education/experience.
Class Specification History
New classes, effective January 1, 2006; Natural Resource Specialist 4 (replaces 95840 Natural Resource District Manager, 95850 Natural Resource Project/Section Administrator).
Revised class code (formerly 523L), effective July 1, 2007.
Revised definition, typical work and desirable qualifications; added distinguishing characteristics; adopted June 13, 2019, effective July 1, 2019.
Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.
Revised definition, distinguishing characteristics, typical work and desirable qualifications; adopted June 23, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.
Revised class code (formerly 523L), effective July 1, 2007.
Revised definition, typical work and desirable qualifications; added distinguishing characteristics; adopted June 13, 2019, effective July 1, 2019.
Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.
Revised definition, distinguishing characteristics, typical work and desirable qualifications; adopted June 23, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.
