Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is recruiting for a Municipal Stormwater Grant Project Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) in the Water Quality Program. This position provides guidance to grant and loan recipients in order to help with planning, construction, and implementation of environmental protection projects and is located in our Central Regional Office in Union Gap, WA.

We are looking for applicants who want to combine communication and technical skills to work with our grant and loan partners to protect and restore waterbodies. By working with local governments to implement the agency’s grant/loan programs, evaluate applications, and manage financial assistance contracts, this position plays an instrumental role in preventing stormwater pollution and protecting ground and surface waters. Work in this role frequently intersects with state water quality regulations and permits, engineering specifications, and application of the latest science on pollution prevention, providing dynamic, team-oriented work environment.

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

To learn more about our agency, check us out on our website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

A Bachelor’s degree involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field AND five years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control or environmental planning which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above, or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

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

OR

A Master’s degree in one of the above fields AND three years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control or environmental planning which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above, or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

OR

A Ph.D. in one of the above fields AND two years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control or environmental planning which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above, or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

OR

Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3.

The experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 can include a combination of the following: 1) investigating and / or resolving complaints involving science or technology content, 2) performing inspections, 3) drafting technical evaluations and reports, 4) develops plans for researching information used for technical projects, regulatory or policy development, 5) plan and facilitate public meetings and hearings, 6) project work requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 7) providing technical assistance for complex scientific content and/ or support for implementing scientific content programs, 8) conducting tests, analyzing and evaluating data, 9) using environmental databases to support technical projects, 10) developing scientific studies and resource management plans, 11) providing environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.

The experience as an Environmental Specialist 2 can include assisting in any of the following areas: 1) performing field surveys or studies, 2) responding to complaints involving scientific or technical content, 3) preparing public meetings and hearings, 4) assistance with routine inspections or investigations requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 5) responding to routine inquires or requests for technical assistance involving scientific content, 6) special projects that are scientific in nature, 7) conducting routine sampling and testing analysis, interprets data, writing reports 8) performing basic sampling data review, 9) maintaining an environmental data base to support technical projects, 10) providing routine environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience communicating technical or scientific information with diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to review and understand complex technical documents
• Demonstrated ability to understand complex water quality related statutes, regulations, and permits
• Demonstrated ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• GIS experience or certification
• Water quality sampling experience or training
• Project Management experience

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Please note the following benefit that isn’t listed in the Benefits tab:

Student Loans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program:
Employees are eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, which forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

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