Job Title: Project Associate (Natural Resource/Environmental Policy Focus)
Designation: Full-time at 40 hours per week
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Status: Non-Exempt Hourly
Office Location: Seattle or Bellingham, Washington
Start Date: January 2027 or until filled.
Salary: $60,000.00 - $71,000.00 annually dependent on experience.
Benefits: Triangle offers a benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental coverage, Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), life insurance with option to purchase additional coverage, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), commuter subsidies for transit, parking and/or bicycle transit, professional development budget, a 401k retirement plan, paid vacation and holidays (including the last week of the year off) and flexibility for work from home. Other benefits include a welcoming community with a collaborative culture, an emphasis on growth and learning, and the ability to create change to support a sustainable planet with schools, governments, stakeholders, and communities in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the western U.S.
Level: Early career
Related Experience or Interest: Interest in supporting multi-party/jurisdiction decision-making processes at the nexus of environmental/natural resource science and policy. Knowledge of and experience communicating about one or more environmental policy and/or natural resource management topics in the Pacific Northwest (e.g., fisheries, hydropower & energy systems, ecosystem restoration, forest management, water resources, climate resilience, etc.). Knowledge of local, state, federal and Tribal government structures and/or benchmark environmental policy frameworks (e.g., endangered species act, state environmental policy act, etc.).
Who We Are
Triangle Associates is a woman-owned consulting firm specializing in facilitation, community engagement, and education. Since 1979, we have worked with public agencies, Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, schools, and other partners to support collaborative decision-making and environmental learning. With approximately 45 staff members, Triangle has its main office in Seattle and satellite offices in Bellingham and Wenatchee, serving communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Our mission is to foster equitable and informed environmental decision-making. We believe that meaningful participation, shared learning, and collaboration are essential to creating more sustainable and equitable communities.
Our team brings together people with backgrounds in facilitation, education, community engagement, conflict resolution, natural resources management, and environmental and public policy work. We value curiosity, collaboration, continuous learning, and thoughtful relationships with the people and communities we serve.
We are committed to being an anti-racist organization, providing opportunities and platforms for our staff, clients, and community partners to be seen, heard, and amplified – especially Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), and other marginalized people.
Who We Are Looking For
We are looking for a Project Associate to join our Facilitation and Public Involvement team to support projects in Western Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Project Associate will support facilitation and community engagement projects primarily for public sector clients, including but not limited to state and federal resource agencies, electric/hydropower utilities, and Tribal government natural resource offices. Project Associates will work with project managers/lead facilitators as an independent third party in support of multi-organizational decision-making and engagement processes. Examples include third party facilitation of hydropower relicensing stakeholder engagement, statewide natural resource boards, strategic planning for environmental resource agencies, and community engagement for ecosystem restoration projects. Experience working with Tribal governments, hydropower utilities, and/or on fisheries management issues is a plus.
We have listed our desired qualifications but recognize that life, cultural, and professional experiences can provide relevant skills and knowledge. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and experience to apply.
Core Responsibilities
• Support Meeting and Process Facilitation. Support project managers (PMs) with stakeholder facilitation, including virtual, hybrid, and in-person meetings, workshops, and events. Maintain systems/tools for decision-making processes to ensure stakeholders/participants have consistent access to meeting information and materials throughout a process. Draft meeting communications, agendas and summaries for review by PMs. Act as a thought partner with the PM about how to design meetings and processes that support collaboration, decision-making, and engagement between and within agencies. Schedule and coordinate meeting logistics including invitations, translation, interpretation, accommodations, materials, venues, and IT needs. Lead the set-up, distribution, and live management of remote meeting logistics, conference calls, and webinars, using various applications (e.g., Zoom, Mural, Teams etc.) and devices (e.g., computers, webcams, projectors, etc.). Plan travel for projects including reserving hotels, booking flights, trains, or car rentals, tracking receipts and expenses, etc. Take notes during meetings to produce timely, high-quality meeting summaries.
• Community Engagement. Support public communications regarding natural resource projects and their impacts. Create materials like project flyers, webpages, mailers, and fact sheets to keep the public informed. Track public feedback and synthesize public communications for clients. Help host open houses, stakeholder interviews, surveys, and webinars. Track action items and send follow-up communications to keep projects moving forward.
• Support Project Management. Proactively forecast, track, and communicate with PMs on upcoming tasks, deadlines, and issues. Maintain accurate contact lists, SharePoint file structures, planning documents, and other project management tools for each project. Communicate with multiple PMs to maintain a clear understanding of priority tasks and timeframes for deliverables across multiple projects. Provide copy editing and quality assurance/quality control on all deliverables.
• Write and Communicate. Understand, synthesize, and communicate large amounts of natural resource/environmental policy information in writing, verbally, and visually, including writing succinct meeting summaries identifying key points and next steps. Create high-quality graphic products and materials, including fact sheets, frequently asked questions, newsletters, slide decks, etc., and contribute writing for project reports and plans.
• Support Business Development. Develop proposal elements under the direction of a PM or Bids and Proposals Associate. Assist with roster management, marketing reports, and tracking of proposals. Conduct background research for proposals and interviews and represent Triangle at pre-proposal meetings and marketing events.
• Engage in Internal Company Work. Facilitate staff meetings. After 6 months at Triangle, have the opportunity (not required) to serve on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee or the Communications Committee.
Candidate Qualifications
• 1 to 3 years of relevant experience working in public policy, natural resource management, and/or community engagement and stakeholder engagement processes.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental/public policy, natural resource management, dispute resolution, collaborative governance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience in the environmental field.
• Proficiency with or ability to quickly learn Microsoft Office 365 and use of virtual/hybrid meeting technology (e.g., Zoom and A/V equipment) is a must.
• Excellent written (e.g., meeting reports) and interpersonal communication skills.
• Knowledge of and/or experience with environmental policy and/or natural resource topics in the Pacific Northwest.
• Interest in supporting environmental science/policy decision-making, frequently between organizations and governments, as an independent/neutral third party.
• Knowledge of and/or experience with Tribal government and/or water/hydropower management is a plus.
Location and Remote Work
This Project Associate position will be based in or within commuting distance of Seattle or Bellingham WA. The position is intended to work on projects throughout the Pacific Northwest and may require travel to client/meeting locations across the region. Triangle’s staff uses a hybrid (combined) work-from-home and in-person model.
Physical Demands
To successfully perform the essential duties of this position, an individual must be able to sit or stand at a desk for four or more hours a day, and use office equipment, including phones and computer keyboards, for four or more hours per day. The position will involve attending and supporting meetings and community events at various accommodations, and engaging clients over the phone and in-person by voice. While some absences may be protected by federal, state and/or local laws, regular attendance is an essential function of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to assist people with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Ready to Apply?
Please send a cover letter and resume to Triangle’s Human Resources Manager at employment@triangleassociates.com. Include the position title and location in the subject line. Please highlight how your previous experience and capabilities directly support this Project Associate position. Cover letters should additionally include a brief bulleted response to the following points:
• Interest in supporting multi-party decision-making at the nexus of science and policy.
• How did you learn about the position?
Hiring Timeline and Process
Virtual and in-person interviews will be held in December 2026. A summary of interview questions will be sent to interviewees in advance. All applicants will be notified when the position is filled.
Triangle Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and encourages and welcomes applications from qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by law.
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