See NATURAL RESOURCE SPECIALIST 1.

This is the journey level of the series. Positions at this level perform professional natural resource management and/or protection duties.

Serves as a project lead on timber sales and silvicultural activities; recommends changes to project layout and design; resolve conflicts with initial field data review, unit layout, boundaries, water type modifications, legacy requirements, prescriptions, harvest systems, contract compliance, road maintenance, road construction, extra volume, and final inspections; resolves disputes involving internal and external interested parties/groups regarding management activities;

Recommends timber sales, reforestation and silvicultural activities for inclusion in district plans; schedules planned and assigned activities, writes site-specific silviculture prescriptions;
Gathers and provides information and meets with other agencies, interest groups, industry and individuals concerning agency programs and activities;

Performs and supervises enforcement of program specific laws, rules and regulations;
Evaluates state-owned lands to establish best and most profitable use and to initiate development actions;

Analyzes and determines leasing and marketing structures and environmental and legislative requirements;

Negotiates and administers agricultural and special use leases; drafts contracts for the lease of state-owned land; develops resource management plans; monitors lease and resource management plan compliance; audits accounts to ensure accurate payments;

Plans for recreation use on state-owned lands; identifies, writes, acquires, and manages grants; manages maintenance and operation of public use infrastructure; responds to public use issues;

Meets with landowners to assess site for forest health and fire risk; processes cost share applications; develops and monitors implementation of fuel reduction plans;

Serves as a staff assistant performing a variety of professional projects and tasks within assigned specialized forestry programs or as a staff assistant performing a variety of professional projects or tasks within an assigned land management program;

Acts as an Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist to preserve the value and ecological integrity of state-owned aquatic lands by supporting noxious weed control efforts through Early Detection and Rapid Response;

Increase public awareness about sustainable natural resource management and the value of aquatic lands to Washington’s communities and economy;

Manages the removal and disposal of derelict vessels and voluntary turn-in vessels; conducts on-site derelict vessel reconnaissance; assesses new and emerging vessel removal requests, develops removal plans, and recommends removal priority. Provides professional restoration leadership for state owned aquatic lands; assists with improving the quality and quantity of productive habitat on state-owned aquatic lands through restoration/rehabilitation/enhancement of aquatic habitat;

Develops and manages contracts related to Wild Stock Geoduck Material Sales, public auction and develops contracts and works with partners to ensure daily harvesting is on schedule;

On-the-job trainer for new hires in the field; signs off on task books as an observer; instructs new hires in contract compliance, data collection and vessel operations;

Supervises dive operations as a DPIC at the dive location; verifying all necessary safety equipment is at the dive site; assigns diver/standby duties; completes pre-dive checklist, including pre-dive brief, checking diver’s readiness (mental/physical state), checking diver’s gear/equipment, emergency procedures, site-specific hazards, and nearest emergency egress location; collects data as it pertains to the dive operation, including completing an electronic dive profile for each dive/location and documenting any findings; completes post-dive checklist, including monitoring diver’s post-dive condition, performing rapid neurological examinations when needed;

Completes investigation package for contract violations found during dive operations, including written statements from divers, documenting vessel locations in relationship to dive operations, distances from other vessels/sideline boundaries/depth contours, etc.; submits field report with collected evidence to program supervisors/manager;

Acts as vessel steward as assigned. Verifies proper upkeep, inventory and user-level maintenance is being performed on assigned vessel;

Positions may supervise lower level staff;

Performs other duties as required.

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.

A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in forestry, agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, geology, biological science, environmental science, real estate, land use or environmental planning, public policy, recreation, or related natural science and one year of professional experience in a related natural resource specialty area.

For positions relating to the dive component, must complete accredited professional or commercial dive school or equivalent military dive training.

Experience may substitute year for year for education.

Equivalent education/experience.

New class, effective January 1, 2006; Natural Resource Specialist 2 (replaces 17040 Land Manager 2, 95230 Forester 2).
New class code (formerly 523J), 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, typical work, and desirable qualifications, adopted June 23, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.