Stormwater Planner

Are you interested in work that directly protects our community and natural environment? Join City of Sammamish's Stormwater and Surface Water Program and help advance solutions that protect water quality, strengthen infrastructure, and support a healthy, resilient community.

In this role, you will provide professional planning, coordination, analysis, and program support for the City's stormwater and surface water programs. You will develop and implement plans, policies, strategies, and work programs; coordinate compliance with the NPDES Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit; and support stormwater capital improvement planning and project delivery.

Why join us? 

• Impactful Work: Improve water quality and stormwater infrastructure for a sustainable future.
• Professional Growth: Access to continuous learning opportunities and career advancement.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance, FSA, retirement plans, and generous paid time off (vacation and sick).
• Collaborative Environment: Work with a dedicated and supportive team passionate about public service.
• Work-Life Balance: Hybrid work schedules and a commitment to your well-being; 14 paid holidays plus a floating holiday.

The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

• Coordinates the development, update, and implementation of stormwater and surface water plans, policies, strategies, work programs, and related elements of the City's comprehensive planning framework.
• Conducts planning studies and technical analyses addressing water quality, flood reduction, drainage capacity, asset condition, habitat protection or restoration, retrofit opportunities, and long-term system needs.
• Researches grant and external funding opportunities; develops and coordinates applications, technical narratives, preliminary budgets, matching-fund documentation, agreements, reimbursement requests, progress reports, and grant closeout requirements.
• Identifies, evaluates and prioritizes stormwater capital and programmatic improvement needs using adopted plans, asset information, condition data, operational needs, community input, and permit requirements.
• Develops project concepts, scopes, planning-level cost estimates, schedules, funding strategies, and supporting materials for inclusion in the Capital Improvement Plan and related work programs.
• Independently manages assigned stormwater capital, planning, and programmatic improvement projects from initiation through completion and closeout; establishes and monitors project scope, schedule, budget, quality, risks, documentation, and deliverables.
• Leads consultant selection, contracting, and performance management; coordinates technical review of plans and specifications, permitting and environmental documentation, procurement, stakeholder engagement, implementation, and project closeout with appropriate City staff and external partners.
• Identifies and resolves project issues, manages changes, communicates project status and risks, and ensures projects meet established objectives, regulatory requirements, funding conditions, and City standards.
• Develops planning assumptions, prioritization methods, level-of-service recommendations, performance measures, implementation schedules, and program budgets.
• Researches, evaluates, and summarizes regulatory, legislative, technical, and policy developments; recommends updates to City plans, codes, standards, procedures, and programs.
• Coordinates studies, monitoring, and program assessments; analyzes results and recommends policy, procedural, operational, or capital responses needed to support compliance.
• Compiles and interprets program, asset, geographic, financial, and environmental data; prepares clear reports, maps, presentations, and recommendations for decision-makers and the public.
• Coordinates planning activities with City departments, regional partners, tribes, utilities, agencies, consultants, community members, and other interested parties; facilitates meetings and public engagement activities.
• Develops scopes of work and coordinates consultants or vendors supporting planning studies, policy development, technical analyses, and program implementation.
• Prepares and monitors assigned program budgets, consultant contracts, purchasing documents, schedules, and performance measures.
• Prepares and delivers briefings, staff reports, technical information, and recommendations to City leadership, elected or appointed bodies, partner agencies, and community groups.
• Responds to inquiries and provides accurate, professional technical assistance to internal and external customers.
• Represents the City in interagency, regional, and professional meetings related to municipal stormwater permitting, water quality, and surface water management.
• Coordinates implementation of the City's NPDES Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit across responsible departments and work groups; translates permit requirements into work plans, assignments, schedules, and deliverables.
• Maintains and updates the Stormwater Management Program Plan and related procedures, records, schedules, and compliance documentation.
• Coordinates annual reporting, permit renewal activities, program evaluations, and responses to regulatory inquiries, inspections, or audits; tracks commitments and corrective actions through completion.
• Establishes and maintains systems for collecting, validating, retaining, and reporting permit-related data and records from multiple City programs.
• Provides technical guidance and coordinates permit-related training and communications for City staff, contractors, partner organizations, and the public.
• May attend evening or weekend meetings, events, or outreach activities based on organizational needs.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned, including functions identified in the City's emergency response plan.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with those interacted with during work regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, military service, or diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

SUPERVISION EXERCISEDMINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in environmental science, water resources, urban or environmental planning, civil or environmental engineering, natural resources, public administration, or a closely related field; supplemented by two (2) years of professional experience in stormwater or surface water planning, NPDES permit coordination, environmental compliance, utility program coordination, or related work; or an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience.

Employees must be residents of Washington State.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES
May be required to possess and maintain a valid Washington State Driver License and the ability to operate a City-owned vehicle in accordance with City policies and safety standards.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience in a municipal government, public utility, or comparable public-sector organization. Direct experience coordinating an NPDES Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit or comparable environmental regulatory program. Experience with stormwater planning studies, capital improvement planning, grant coordination, consultant management, geographic information systems, or asset-management data.

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Principles and practices of municipal stormwater and surface water planning, policy development, program administration, and environmental stewardship.
• NPDES municipal stormwater permit compliance, regulatory reporting, documentation, record retention, and program evaluation.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, permits, codes, plans, and guidance related to stormwater, water quality, environmental review, and public infrastructure.
• Long-range and strategic planning methods, policy analysis, data analysis, research methods, performance measurement, and public-sector decision processes.
• Capital improvement planning, preliminary project scoping, planning-level cost estimating, consultant coordination, and project-delivery support.
• Grant research, application development, agreement administration, financial tracking, performance reporting, and closeout.
• Public engagement, intergovernmental coordination, meeting facilitation, conflict resolution, and clear communication of technical information.
• Public purchasing, contracting, budgeting, records management, and basic risk-management practices.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Interpret complex permit and regulatory requirements and convert them into practical work plans, assignments, schedules, controls, and documentation.
• Coordinate multiple programs and projects, establish priorities, monitor interdependent deadlines, and follow work through to completion.
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative information, identify issues and alternatives, exercise sound judgment, and develop defensible recommendations.
• Write clear plans, policies, procedures, technical reports, grant materials, scopes of work, agreements, correspondence, and presentation materials.
• Communicate technical and regulatory information effectively to varied audiences; facilitate meetings, build consensus, and support informed decisions.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with City staff, agencies, consultants, contractors, community members, and regional partners.
• Maintain complete, accurate, audit-ready records and use spreadsheets, databases, geographic information systems, document-management tools, and standard office software.
• Work independently within established policy direction while recognizing issues that require management, legal, engineering, or regulatory review.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Depending on functional area of assignment, tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (up to 20 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation and extended periods of time standing and/or walking.

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Tasks are regularly performed inside and/or outside with exposure to adverse environmental conditions (e.g., dirt, fumes, temperature, weather, and noise extremes).

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS
Some tasks require manual dexterity, in addition to visual and hearing acuity. Some tasks may involve identifying and distinguishing colors. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally and in writing.