Growth Management Hearings Board Member (Exempt)

The Growth Management Hearings Board is seeking applications to fill an upcoming board member vacancy. This is a full-time remote position that will become vacant on June 30, 2026. This position must be filled by an attorney licensed to practice law in Washington state and residing in western Washington but not in: King, Pierce, Snohomish, or Kitsap counties.

Board members are appointed by the Governor and serve 6-year terms at the pleasure of the Governor.

This is a unique opportunity to serve on one of Washington’s most impactful boards. As Washington’s population continues to grow, the Growth Management Hearings Board makes decisions about how important elements such as housing, transportation, and the environment are managed by Washington’s cities and counties in their comprehensive plans and regulations.

The Growth Management Hearings Board Offers:

• A diverse portfolio of interesting legal issues;
• Opportunity to gain experience in an impartial, non-advocacy role;
• No billable hours;
• Cases with legal issues of first impression;
• Some flexibility in setting case schedules;
• Camaraderie in a supportive team atmosphere;
• Training and development opportunities;
• Comprehensive compensation packages, including benefits and paid leave;
• The fulfillment of public service; and
• A healthy work/life balance.

About the Board

The mission of the Growth Management Hearings Board is to resolve challenges to local government actions adopting or amending comprehensive land use plans and development regulations based on the Growth Management Act (GMA), the adoption or amendment of shorelines master plans, and certain portions of the State Environmental Policy Act. The board was established by statute to hear such appeals as an administrative adjudicative body, providing an efficient method of resolving disputes.

The board was created in 1990 as part of the GMA, Chapter 36.70A RCW. The GMA was enacted to guide growth and development in Washington state. Under the GMA, participating local governments must adopt comprehensive plans and development regulations that are guided by goals that include focusing urban growth in urban areas, reducing sprawl, providing efficient transportation, encouraging affordable housing, protecting property rights and the environment, ensuring adequate public facilities and services, preserving historic resources, and climate change and resiliency. Review of local compliance with the GMA is through appeal to the board.

The board is comprised of five members who reside in three regions around the state as required by the GMA. Board members must have experience or training in matters pertaining to land use law or land use planning, and experience in the practical application of those matters. At least three members must be attorneys licensed to practice in Washington state, with at least one attorney in each region. At least two members must be former city or county elected officials, with one residing in eastern Washington and one residing in western Washington. No more than three members can be of the same major political party. Board members serve six-year terms at the pleasure of the Governor. (RCW 36.70A.250)

Unless waived by the board Chair, each petition for review filed with the board must be heard by a three-member regional panel. The board regions are central Puget Sound, eastern Washington, and western Washington:

• Central Puget Sound Region: cities and counties located within King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties.
• Eastern Washington Region: planning cities and counties located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains.
• Western Washington Region: planning cities and counties located west of the crest of the Cascade mountains and not included in the Central Puget Sound region.

Unless waived by the board Chair, each panel must include one attorney, one former local elected official, and reflect the political composition of the board. (RCW 36.70A.260)

The Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office (ELUHO) is the administrative agency that supports the Pollution Control Hearings Board, the Shorelines Hearings Board, and the Growth Management Hearings Board. The board is supported by a small legal support team. ELUHO’s headquarters is located in Olympia. ELUHO values diversity and provides a workplace inclusive of different cultures, backgrounds, and ideas. We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees and their families. We support healthy lifestyles and a healthy work/life balance, and we aim to provide employees with professional development opportunities.

What you will do as a Growth Management Hearings Board member:

Board members are assigned cases by the Chair, including cases in which they are the presiding officer. Day-to-day work includes legal research, legal analysis, legal writing, presiding over pre-hearing conferences and hearings, determining pre-hearing procedural matters, conferring with board members, coordinating with staff, and producing complete and legally sound orders with consideration of the facts and law.

The board provides appellate review of local actions by reviewing the local record provided by the parties. The board panel issues decisions setting forth legal analyses of claims and if a case goes to hearing, the panel issues a final decision and order that informs all parties of the reasons for the decision. Board decisions must be decided by a quorum of the three-member panel. Final orders have the force of law and parties can appeal board decisions to the courts.

Board members must display a judicial temperament by remaining impartial, considering competing arguments, and rendering informed and unbiased decisions. They must maintain confidentiality and conduct themselves with a strong commitment to ethics and integrity. Board members may serve as mediators to help resolve cases before hearing.

Board members convene and participate in meetings under the Open Public Meetings Act. Board members also support ELUHO’s administration by informing agency decisions regarding policy, budget, and operations.

Board members work remotely from their homes in the regions prescribed by the GMA. Case deliberation discussions and board meetings are mostly attended virtually via video conference, with the occasional in-person meeting. Hearings and conferences are mostly conducted remotely but may be conducted in-person. Travel is occasionally required to ELUHO’s Olympia office and to in-person hearings around the state.

Who we are looking for:

The vacancy must be filled by a resident of western Washington (west of the Cascades) but not in King, Pierce, Snohomish, or Kitsap counties. The position must be filled by an attorney licensed to practice law in Washington state. Candidates must have experience or training in land use law or land use planning, including the practical application of land use law or land use planning.

Contact Information:

You may contact the ELUHO Director, Dominga Soliz, with any questions about the position at Dominga.Soliz@eluho.wa.gov or (360) 664-9173.

How to apply:

Apply online at the Governor’s web site.

Salary

• $150,000 - $175,000/year

Benefits

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026