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The Department of Ecology has an exciting opportunity for an environmental professional looking to be a part of our Water Quality Program in Lacey, WA. If you want to join a team working to protect, restore, and enhance Washington’s waters, this may be the job for you.
The Puget Sound Nonpoint Pollution Implementation and Outreach Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) is a senior environmental specialist responsible for developing and implementing nonpoint pollution reduction strategies associated with large scale water quality improvement initiatives in the Puget Sound, such as the Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction Project. This position will also assist the Watershed Management Section in providing public outreach activities by building community relationships and serving as the section’s web editor.
As an agency, 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 The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and check us out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.
Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts
Duties
Puget Sound water quality is changing due to excessive levels of nutrients from human sources that are adversely affecting the nation’s second largest marine estuary. With the ever increasing pressures that are being placed on Puget Sound from numerous pollution sources and the projected increase in populations around the Sound, it is imperative that we focus our efforts on keeping water quality healthy for the variety of marine life that inhabit Puget Sound and the people that live, work, and play in and around it.
One of the first major focuses of this position will be to assist with nonpoint pollution controls and outreach efforts on the Puget Sound Nutrient Source Reduction Project. This project focuses on how we can better control nutrients from point and nonpoint sources to improve water quality in Puget Sound. Visit the Puget Sound Nutrient Source Reduction Project to learn more about this effort: https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Puget-Sound/Helping-Puget-Sound/Reducing-Puget-Sound-nutrients
As a senior environmental specialist for the development and implementation of strategies to reduce nonpoint pollution in the Puget Sound, this position:
- Provides scientific and technical assistance to agency staff and the public on the reduction of nonpoint source pollution and the implementation of water quality improvement strategies.
- Identifies financial assistance and regulatory programs to help support riparian restoration and nutrient reduction.
- Builds relationships with external partners, including conservation districts, health districts, counties, cities, tribes, and local restoration and salmon recovery groups, to help implement nonpoint strategies.
- Supports implementation of program initiatives through site visits with regional staff and meeting with the regulated community to better understand issues and relationships.
This position will also provide outreach and technical support for priority activities of the Watershed Management Section, such as:
- Develops outreach materials and strategies to better communicate science and technical information to the public.
- Serves as the web editor to ensure that information on the website is up-to-date and easily accessible.
- Provides technical assistance and consultation to Water Quality Program staff on state and federal water quality regulations.
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be August 23, 2018. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before August 22, 2018. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
A Bachelor’s degree involving 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 as required above 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 as required above 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 doing Environmental Specialist 3 work, such as a combination of the work described in the Environmental Specialist 3 description below.
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 analyses, 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.
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.
Desired Qualifications:
- Familiarity with state and federal water quality laws and rules.
- Experience participating in watershed planning approaches for control of water pollution sources and water cleanup plans (TMDLs) that include recommendations or implementation of cleanup measures.
- Experience preparing and giving public presentations of technical information, assistance, guidance, training, outreach to federal, state, tribal, and local government, business, industry and the public.
- Knowledge of nonpoint source pollution control strategies.
Why work for Ecology?
Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State’s environment.
A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping the health and financial security of you and your family a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to work/life balance.
Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth
Student debt and how working for Ecology can help
Employees may be 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.
*See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information
Supplemental Information
Application Instructions:
Please include the following documents as an attachment to your application:
- A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required qualifications of this position.
- A resume outlining your professional experience.
Please complete the applicant profile when applying for this position. Or, you may paste the text of your resume within the profile’s resume text field.
Please read the supplemental questions carefully and answer completely. Incomplete responses, including “please see resume” may disqualify you from further consideration.
Department of Ecology employees, please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources at (360) 407-6186.
If you are reading this announcement in print format, please visit www.careers.wa.gov to access the online recruitment system. Click on “Look for Jobs” and select Dept. of Ecology under the “Department” search list. Click “Apply Search.”
Other Information:
If you need assistance applying for this job, please call Human Resources at (360) 407-6186 or e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not call this number or send an email to this address to follow-up the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile’s main page.
If you have specific questions about the position, please email Ben Rau at: Ben.Rau@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Ben to inquire about the status of your application.
The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.
This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.
The Washington State Department of Ecology 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 of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.