Port of Skagit adds two staff roles as project backlog grows

The Port of Skagit has posted two new professional job openings to handle a rising volume of construction projects.

The openings, listed on the port's website, are for a Project Manager and an Environmental Planning Specialist. The Port stated that these roles are necessary to support development efforts that began in 2020 and are continuing through the current year.

The Project Manager will oversee current and future construction at port properties. The port cited specific factors driving this need, including the building of hangar structures, the expansion of apron surfaces, and new tenant construction at Skagit Regional Airport and Bayview Business Park. The position is designed to provide support for these projects from their initial stages through completion.

The Environmental Planning Specialist will manage permitting, planning, and environmental stewardship for the same portfolio of projects. This role is intended to help the port manage the administrative and regulatory aspects of the anticipated growth in activity.

Development activity at the port has been steady since 2020. In that year, two t-hangar buildings were completed for Dyberg Aviation, and new facilities were built for Systima Technologies, an aerospace engineering firm based in Kirkland. Currently underway are the expansion of the Mavrik Marine facility at La Conner Marina, an FAA-funded expansion of apron space at the southeast end of the airfield, and the construction of two large private hangars to accommodate business jet traffic.

Additional projects are scheduled to begin in 2021. These include a new facility for the Island Grown Farmers’ Cooperative, which is currently located in Bow. The port also plans for additional private development on the north end of the airfield and building renovations for new tenants entering the business park.

The Port of Skagit defines its mission as creating good jobs for the Skagit Valley. The organization states its essential purpose is to contribute to the economic vitality of Skagit County by developing facilities and infrastructure that support local commerce, trade, and tourism.