Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is Washington’s environmental protection agency. Our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s land, air and water for current and future generations.

Ecology’s Water Quality Program is looking for an Outreach Specialist (Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialist 3) in our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA.

The Outreach Specialist will be part of a small, dynamic and adaptable Communications & Outreach Unit that works to provide clear, accurate, and timely communications to explain the work the Water Quality Program does, why it matters, and the science behind it.

We are looking for applicants who possess excellent people skills, the ability to quickly assess a situation and make a decision, the ability to communicate with a diverse audience, and are able to understand and explain complicated technical issues.

To learn more about our agency, please visit our website at www.ecy.wa.gov, or check out our recent stories on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

The mission of the Water Quality Program is to protect and restore Washington’s waters to sustain healthy watersheds and communities. Our work ensures that state waters support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public health.

Some of the key work activities of the Outreach Specialist include:

Community Outreach and Education

• Plan, prioritize, develop, implement, and advise community outreach or environmental and conservation education activities to support the Water Quality Program. Collaborates with the Water Quality Communications & Outreach Unit to support program staff and external partners in their public involvement efforts.
• Use web, social media, and traditional outreach methods to inform the public about Water Quality work. Guide efforts to promote Washington’s clean water, behavior change education materials, and public notices. Lead market research and public opinion polling to help ensure success of program education and outreach activities.
• Prepare and execute public involvement plans, resolve and establish community outreach strategies, and participate in collaborative education and outreach efforts.
• Help staff identify barriers in the community that may impede the public’s understanding and participation in our work.
• Use social marketing approaches to oversee the development of behavior-change educational and outreach materials.
• May act as the program’s education representative and advocate on projects as assigned by the Communications Manager. Coordinate Water Quality Partnership and other key program-wide stakeholder groups. Advise staff on their work with stakeholders and advisory groups.
• May attend or help prepare staff for outreach events, conferences, or fairs. Can serve as public hearings officer and public meeting facilitator to support staff outreach efforts; train program staff in these skills.
• Serve as the program’s public involvement calendar lead.

Information Accessibility Coordinator

• Lead program environmental justice, language access, and information accessibility efforts by coordinating guidance and procedures.
• Serve as program lead for environmental justice. Support staff in evaluating environmental justice areas in their work and carrying out outreach for specific underrepresented groups. Coach staff on how to prepare and respond to requests for language translation, interpretation, and other environmental justice needs.
• Lead the program effort to ensure people with disabilities have access to–and use of–information and data produced by the Water Quality staff.

Outreach Materials and Publication Coordination

• Produces and manages the production of presentations, speeches, and workshops. Develops outreach blogs, Inside Ecology stories, social media campaigns, outreach materials, video, and publications. Speaks in public on behalf of the Water Quality Program.
• Coordinates program publications tracking, development, and accessibility. Works with program staff to promote the use of agency templates and standards. Supports program publications stewards by providing guidance, training, and – when necessary – process improvements. Attends Publication Coordinator meetings and contributes to agency-level guidance around publications.

Bachelor’s degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, education, communications or closely related field AND three years of professional experience involving environmental analysis or control, environmental planning, environmental education, community outreach, or communications activities

OR

Equivalent education/experience

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) or similar public involvement process.
• Experience in Environmental Justice and ADA accessibility communications, or in reaching communities with barriers to obtaining information.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and the Adobe Creative Suite products.
• Experience with social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, YouTube, and blogs.
• Experience with video recording and editing.
• Proficient in Spanish or other non-English language common in Washington State.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment:

Must obtain and maintain a valid driver license.

• A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required/desired qualifications of this position.
• A resume outlining your professional experience.
• Two writing samples.