The Department of Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land and water for current and future generations. The Water Quality Program (WQ) supports the agency’s mission by working with communities, industries and environmental stakeholders to protect the quality of the State’s waters, ecosystems, and the health of our communities.

The Water Quality Program’s Spokane Regional Office is looking for a soils and agronomic expert to support the Wastewater Land Treatment Permit Team. This position provides an opportunity for you to collaborate with our eastern region industrial and municipal wastewater dischargers to get the most out of every drop of water pulled from the environment. You will provide regulatory oversight and permit management to facilities that treat wastewater using crop and soil systems. Come join a team focused on being a partner in protecting, preserving and enhancing the environment.

This position helps to protect both humans and the environment from pollution, restoring and preserving important ecosystems that sustain life, and finding ways to meet human needs without harming environmental resources and functions. Our everyday interaction with citizens, stakeholders, and the public is fundamental to achieving these results. We treat our customers as partners and collaborators, provide respectful and prompt service, explore creative solutions for the best results, and act with integrity. We maintain effective infrastructures and foster a workforce that is committed, productive and successful. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, teamwork, professionalism and accountability.

The citizens of Washington trust that the Department of Ecology supports and assists them in promoting the sustainable environmental and economic well-being of the state. That trust, coupled with our effectiveness, helps Ecology to continue to receive the support it needs to advance our environmental mission. Maybe you’ve seen some of our recent stories on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

To learn more about our agency, please visit our website at www.ecy.wa.gov.

Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

Some of the key work activities include:

• Independently develops limitations and conditions in wastewater discharge permits and reuse water projects in the Eastern Regional Office.
• Provides review and oversight of irrigation and crop management plans.
• Participates in the Unit’s land treatment team as the program expert and senior permit manager.
• Independently conducts studies and recommends actions for complex and sensitive land treatment issues including development of a total dissolved solids guidance document based on an Ecology literature review.
• Provides training and mentoring of new permit staff members in permit management with special emphasis on land treatment knowledge and expertise.

This position is open until filled, with initial screening on March 16, 2015. In order to be considered for this screening, please submit an application on or before March 15, 2015. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment anytime after the initial screening date.

A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, or other allied field, and six years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control, which includes two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above.

Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education.

OR

A Master’s degree in one of the above fields and four years of professional – level experience as required above which includes two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above.

OR

A Ph.D. in one of the above fields and three years of professional-level experience as required above which includes two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above.

OR

One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 4.

NOTE: Three years of the required years of experience must include experience as a soil scientist or agronomist with a background in agricultural cropping rotations, crop nutrient and water management, and groundwater impacts of irrigation practices.

NOTE: Must possess a valid WA State driver’s license.

Desired Qualifications

Certified Professional Soil Scientist or Certified Professional Agronomist.

For immediate consideration, please apply online at: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/washington/default.cfm?action=viewJob&jobID=1084915.