Director of Water & Environmental Center

Director of Water & Environmental Center

Salary

$90,519.00 - $102,414.00 Annually

Location

Walla Walla, WA

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

2026-1430 WEC

Department

VPI/INSTRUCTION OFFICE

Division

WORKFORCE TRANSFER & TRADES

Opening Date

07/23/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Join our team to help inspire all students to discover their potential and achieve their goals by providing relevant, equitable, and innovative learning opportunities and services.

Description

Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) is seeking applicants for a full-time Director of the William A. Grant Water and Environmental Center at the Walla Walla campus.

At Walla Walla Community College, we inspire all students to discover their potential and achieve their goals by providing relevant, equitable, and innovative learning opportunities and services. As an organization, we value learning opportunities, a sense of community, diversity, health and humor, excellence, integrity, teamwork, innovation, personal and professional growth, and sustainability.

This position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to applicants whose complete application has been received by August 16, 2026 @ 11:59pm PST. See Required Application Materials section for more information

General Description:

The mission of the Water & Environmental Center (WEC) is to serve as a resource where people can learn, share knowledge, and work together to create healthy natural environments, engaging community dialog, and thriving local economies. The Director provides leadership and support for the WEC initiatives, projects, partnerships and programs. The Director works collaboratively with administration, faculty and staff to cultivate and support effective WWCC, WEC co-locator and external partnerships. Current co-locators include: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Snake River Salmon Recovery Board, Sustainable Living Center, and Washington State Department of Ecology.

Essential Functions:

• Provide leadership, vision, planning, grant writing and reporting, and budget oversight for the Water & Environmental Center.
• Oversee the development, promotion, presentation and evaluation of community, professional, and youth education programs and events to address current and emerging water, land and environmental issues.
• Maximize use of the WEC interior facilities and exterior spaces in support of academic instruction, community education and collaboration.
• Foster ongoing communication with and in support of WEC co-locators.
• Strengthen existing and identify new external program partnerships.

Competencies

• Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within the college, with WEC co-locators, and in the community.
• Capacity to maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field and use this knowledge in planning programs and activities at the WEC.
• Ability to convey ideas, concepts, facts, and strategies orally, visually, and in writing at a level appropriate for the intended audiences both in person and virtually.
• Ability to work with students, staff, co-locators and external partners from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to prepare and manage budgets.
• Capacity to write grants, reports, and other documentation in support of the WEC.
• Ability to manage facility and landscape operations and improvements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Teams programs; knowledge of or ability to learn webpage editing, videography, photography and social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook; ability to operate, maintain and facilitate the use of WEC display/exhibit materials and conference room and classroom equipment and technology.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

• Supervise the WEC Staff, WEC Interns, and support staff.

Budget Authority:

• Develop and manage the WEC budget and grant budgets as secured.
• Successfully complete funding reports on or before due dates, including Department of Commerce funding reports due December and June annually.

Required Qualifications:

Any combination of education, experience, and/or training that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills to perform the job may be considered by the college.

• Bachelor's degree in water resources, environmental studies, natural resources, natural sciences, agriculture, or related field
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in preparing, conducting and evaluating community and/or youth informal education programs, community events and programs, and/or classroom curriculum.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in related field
• Experience cultivating internal and external partnerships or collaborations
• Experience creating and presenting curriculum, interpretation materials and working with social media, videography or photography
• Experience in managing conference and classroom facilities and facility landscapes and exterior spaces
• Spanish language proficiency

You don't check every qualification listed? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that traditionally marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification - even if they might be a great fit for the role! If you're excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider applying.

Conditions/Terms of Employment

This is a full-time, overtime exempt professional position. Persons hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of lawful authorization to work in the United States within three (3) days of employment. WWCC participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Official college transcripts required at time of hire. Candidates may be subject to a criminal history background check as a condition of employment. Information from the background check may not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. The college is a tobacco free institution.

Work will be performed both inside and outside, including WWCC and WEC facilities, display gardens and outdoor classroom, plus K-12 classrooms, fairgrounds and other community event venues. Work will be performed during normal business hours plus occasional weekday evenings and weekends. Duties require the use/manipulation of hands-on activity and demonstration tools such as water quality testing equipment, stream simulation table, fish tanks, and gardening tools. Limited regional travel is required (valid driver's license is required), generally to K-12 schools and community venues within the region. During the summer, work schedule is Monday through Thursday 10-hours each day.

Compensation:

Annual salary range for initial placement based on the non-represented exempt salary schedule is NR10, Step A-F: $90,519-$102,414, with scheduled salary increment increases every 12 months until you reach the top of the scale. The college has an excellent benefit program including paid sick leave; paid vacation leave; medical, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance; retirement and two optional deferred compensation programs. All full-time employees will automatically have 3% of taxable income deferred into the State of Washington Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). All administrative exempt staff set aside 1% of their gross salary in a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) (VEBA). All exempt employees are required to participate in this program. Walla Walla Community College requires all employees to participate in direct deposit for payment of salary.

Required Application Materials

This position is open until filled with priority consideration given to those applicants who submit a complete application by August1 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST. To qualify for priority consideration, applicants must submit a complete application packet, which includes the following:

• Online NEOGOV application.

• Cover letter

• Please provide a cover letter detailing your interest in this position. Please describe any professional experience, experience in developing and implementing education programming, and/or educational background that makes you an ideal candidate.

• Resume

• Names and contact information for three professional references

• Answers to four (4) supplemental questions

• Unofficial transcripts for application purposes; official transcripts are required prior to an official start date.

Please ensure you have attached all required application materials as you will not be able to attach any documents after you have submitted your application. If you have difficulty logging into your account, attaching documents, submitting your application, etc., please call NEOGOV Applicant Support at 1-855-524-5627 or email them directly at support@governmentjobs.com.

WWCC reserves the right to not fill this position, reject all applicants, or reopen the position. Applications received during this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies at the Colleges discretion.

Walla Walla Community College is committed to provide equal opportunity and nondiscrimination for all educational and employment applicants as well as for its students and employed staff, without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, including gender expression/identity, marital status, age (over 40), the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, the use of trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, or status as a Vietnam and/or disabled veteran, National Guard member or reservist in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Federal Rehabilitation of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and any other applicable Federal and Washington State laws against discrimination. The Human Resources Office is accessible to persons with disabilities. If you need accommodations in the application/employment process, please contact the Human Resources Office at (509) 527-4224 - TDD (509) 527-4412, email personnel@wwcc.edu, address: 500 Tausick Way, Walla Walla WA, 99362.

MEDICAL/DENTAL INSURANCE

Medical, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance benefits are provided and administered under the Public Employees Benefits Board. Medical plans and benefits information along with a side-by-side comparison tool of medical plans can be found on the PEBB health plan page.

• Dental Coverage - Walla Walla Community college provides dental coverage at no monthly premium cost to the employee.
• Vision Coverage - Employees do not pay a separate premium for vision coverage; it is covered under the medical plan. Optical service frequency and hardware (glasses, contact lenses, etc.) vary depending on type of plan selected.

Eligibility

Permanent, seasonal and part-time employees as determined by WAC 182-12-114. Benefits also cover spouse or State-Registered Domestic Partner (SRDP), and qualifying dependents.

Effective date of coverage

First day of the month following your date of employment. If the date of employment is the first working day of the month, coverage begins on that date.

Medical Plan Monthly Costs

Employees pay their portion of medical care costs through payroll deduction. The employee premium is based on the choice of plan and elected coverage for spouse or SRDP, and dependent children.

MEDICAL FLEX SPENDING ACCOUNT (FSA) & DEPENDENT CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (DCAP)

https://www.hca.wa.gov/employee-retiree-benefits/public-employees/medical-flexible-spending-arrangement-fsa

The FSA and DCAP plans are optional plans offered by the College and the State of Washington. They are calendar year, pre-tax, spending programs you can use to set aside money for eligible expenses. Both plans are offered as payroll deductions and are administered by Navia Benefit Solutions.

The FSA allows you to use pre-tax money to pay for certain out-of-pocket medical expenses. An FSA can be used to cover qualifying expenses such as: chiropractic care, over-the-counter medicine, first-aid supplies etc. For a full list of qualifying expenses visit: https://docs.naviabenefits.com/files/PEBB-Eligible-Expenses-2023.pdf (Download PDF reader).

RETIREMENT OPTIONS

Eligible employees participate in a Washington state-sponsored retirement plan through one of two administrators: the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) or the Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association (TIAA). DRS administers the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) and the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) plans. TIAA administers the State Board Retirement Plan (SBRP).

• Retirement plan options are determined by employee type and prior history in DRS-administered plans (PERS or TRS). Participation in a retirement plan is required.

For Administrative/Exempt PERS 3 or SBRP

VACATION, SICK, & PERSONAL LEAVE

Vacation leave accrues at the rate of 14.67 hours per month (22 days per year) and sick leave accrues at the rate of one (1) day per month.

REDUCED TUITION WAIVER PROGRAM

Employees can take most credit and non-credit classes at a reduced cost when space is available and certain conditions are met.

Credit classes

Permanent classified, faculty, adjunct faculty and administrative employees of WWCC may take almost any credit class on a space-available basis if requirements and prerequisites have been met. The basic cost is $5.00, plus any fees associated with that class. Hourly and probationary employees are not eligible for this reduced tuition.

• Please Note: All information above is subject to change based on, but not limited to, employment status, legislative mandates, or College policy changes. *If an employee is transferring from another Washington State public agency or institution of higher education, benefits and leave may be transferable.

01

Describe your experience operating a facility and working with a variety of agencies. What challenges did you encounter and how did you address them? (500 words or less)

02

Describe your experience writing and managing grants. (500 words or less)

03

Describe your experience preparing and managing budgets. (500 words or less)

04

Being bilingual is not required for this position, however, if you speak Spanish, please tell us on a scale of 0 - 3 your level of fluency with "0" being no understanding of the Spanish language; "1" able to handle basic phrases and introductions; "2" able to handle common situations and experiences; and "3" able to understand complex texts and speak fluently.

Required Question

Employer Walla Walla Community College

Address 500 Tausick Way

Walla Walla, Washington, 99362

Phone 509-522-2500

Website http://www.wwcc.edu/