This position acts as the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Responsible Official as legally defined under the State environmental Policy Act on behalf of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission in the Eastern Region and coordinates multiple projects with varying scopes of work in conjuncture with the Operation Division Environmental Planner to ensure SEPA review has been adequately conducted throughout the region.

Under the general supervision of the Construction Project Coordinator 4, this position is designated as the environmental regulatory compliance point of contact (POC) for all Capital Program projects within Eastern Region and is responsible for assuring regulatory compliance has been met for Capital program projects and actions.  Specifically, this position provides professional environmental services and functions associated with the Eastern Region team Capital Program and ensures agency compliance, in addition to SEPA, under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Growth Management Act (GMA), the Shoreline Management Act (SMA), the Hydraulic Code, Endangered Species Acts (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Forest Practice Act (FPA), and all other applicable environmental local, state, and federal laws.  This position is responsible for maintaining and providing current, up-to-date knowledge of environmental laws, land use regulations, policies, project work windows, environmental mitigation measures, proposed legislation, best management practices and current technologies and/or other relevant environmental data related to Eastern Region.

Additionally, this position works closely and collaboratively with the Eastern Region Operations Environmental Planner to develop and coordinate a review strategy for all non-Capital Program region specific project and non-project actions to ensure a flexible but timely, cohesive, and comprehensive environmental regulatory compliance/review has been conducted.  This position provides expertise and consultation to staff of various programs; or provides planning or policy development assistance to staff from other state agencies, levels of government, or concerned organizations.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for managing the regulatory compliance needs for all Capital proposals within Eastern Region.  Oversees all official environmental declarations and facilitates complex capital project environmental reviews/compliance which include all facets of environmental regulatory compliance associated with scoping, planning, permitting, contracting, construction, and evaluation of capital projects assigned to the region.  Creates site plans, permit applications, or elements of plans and applications compliant with agency standards.
• Acts as the SEPA Responsible Official for all of Eastern Region Operation SEPA threshold determinations and Categorical Exemptions.  Works closely and collaboratively with the Eastern Region Operations Environmental Planner, to develop and coordinate a regional SEPA review strategy for all region project and non-project actions to ensure a flexible but timely, cohesive, and comprehensive compliance/review for both Capital and Operations SEPA reviews, as well as, SEPA reviews for FEMA projects, grant projects, park projects, deferred maintenance proposals, partnership proposals, Special Activity Permit proposals, Real Property Agreement proposals, Concession lease proposals, and other projects/agreements as needed.
• Works with the Operations Division Environmental Planner to manage the regulatory compliance planning strategy for effective and timely environmental regulatory compliance/permit acquisition for all actions within Eastern Region in addition to Capital projects as needed; including: operations activities, FEMA projects, grant projects, park projects, deferred maintenance proposals, partnership proposals, Special Activity Permit proposals, Real Property Agreement Proposals, Concession Lease proposals, and other projects/agreements as needed.
• Serves as the Environmental Program’s Capital Program representative on the Eastern Region team.  Coordinates state wide training of Environmental Regulatory compliance for all Park Staff region wide.

• Bachelor’s degree involving major study in environmental planning, environmental, physical, or natural sciences, or a closely related field.

Environmental Planner 2:

• Bachelor’s degree involving major study in environmental planning, environmental, physical, or natural sciences, or a closely related field.
• One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 1 or other equivalent professional experience with environmental regulations and permitting.

Environmental Planner 3:

• Bachelor’s degree involving major study in environmental planning, environmental, physical, or natural sciences, or a closely related field.
• One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 2 or Two (2) years of other equivalent professional experience with environmental regulations and permitting.

**Professional level experience is work that requires consistent exercise of independent judgment and requires advanced knowledge.  It may also include practical experience performed during graduate school.  This does not include experience as an assistant or technician.**

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of:
  • Planning principles, techniques, current trends, environmental laws, policies and programs concerning all phases of State resource development;
  • Governmental administrative structure at local and state levels;
  • Environmental, social, and other problems affecting development of local and state resources;
  • Methods and objectives of urban regional and natural resources planning.
• Familiarity with GIS systems (GPS/GLONASS devices).

• Letter of Interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this announcement.
• Current resume.
• Three professional references.

All requested materials must be submitted. Incomplete or late application materials will not be accepted. Failure to follow application process may disqualify you from further consideration.
Please read the supplemental questions carefully and answer completely. Incomplete responses, including “please see resume” may disqualify you from further consideration.
The information provided in your application must support your selected answers in the application questions. Answers will be verified and documentation may be required. Responses not supported in your application will disqualify you for consideration of employment from this recruitment.

Diversity Policy Statement
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is committed to creating an equitable, hospitable, appreciative, safe, and inclusive park environment – one that embraces the full spectrum of all community members’ contributions. The Commission makes this commitment because:

• Diversity strengthens the workforce in competence and ability;
• Celebrating diversity appreciates and values individual differences;
• Diversity serves an increasingly heterogeneous society;
• Diversity helps ensure the relevance of a state park system, its mission, properties, and programs to the people of this state today and in the future; and
• Diversity is crucial to our ability to serve all citizens.

The Commission encourages and supports staff efforts to reach out to people of all races, national origins, abilities, religions, sexual orientations, veteran status, ages, and genders who use the parks and who live in communities nearby parks. This outreach is to focus on engaging in partnerships that expand programs and services in a way that is meaningful and of value to all people. The Commission is dedicated to offering quality experiences to all visitors through a workforce and volunteer corps that reflects the diversity of Washington State.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this job announcement  in an alternative format may contact the human resources office at (360) 902-8565. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

For information about the position, please contact Brian Yearout at Brian.Yearout@parks.wa.gov or (360) 725-9763.