Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The HWTR Program enforces Washington’s toxics laws, including the Dangerous Waste regulations that many businesses need to comply with. We also offer technical assistance to businesses to reduce or eliminate their use of hazardous chemicals, work to identify safer chemical alternatives, support the development of green chemistry, and test consumer products for toxic chemicals.

The Department of Ecology’s Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program is currently looking for a Senior Program Planner, located in our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA.

This position manages statewide projects in support of the Program’s mission, and serves as the lead project manager for the State Solid & Hazardous Waste Plan (a 30 year plan), the program’s strategic plan (5 year plan) and business planning (1-2 year plans).

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.  Follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

Who we are looking for someone who:

• Can track different layers of program areas.
• Likes to set goals.
• Objectively helps people assess progress.
• Is interested in data.
• Can use organizational improvement and adaptation tools (such as Kata or PDCA– plan, do, check, act) to coach managers and team leads.
• Likes to work collaboratively with staff of all levels, engaging individuals and teams to get on board for a common purpose.

In this dynamic position, you will:

• Work with program management to drive and support a results and data-driven culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Build capability for HWTR staff and managers to be able to effectively identify problems, set targets for improvement, and implement changes.
• Create, update, and track program priorities.
• At the direction of your supervisor, update planning documents and oversee their development of, such as the HWTR Strategic Plan, strategic alignment map.
• Help create the program’s work succession/retention plan.
• Work collaboratively with the Legislative/Strategic Policy Analyst to recommend strategies and actions to program management
• Be a consultant for continuous improvement efforts within the program.
• Coach staff to develop continuous improvement and problem solving capabilities.
• Collaborate with the program’s data consultant, staff, and managers to develop the right ways to measure our work.
• Lead HWTR change initiatives, consulting with teams to develop and implement plans for improvement.

This position is open until filled, with the next screening on December 9, 2019. In order to be considered for the next screening, please submit an application on or before December 8, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Required Qualifications:

A Master’s degree or above with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.

AND

Five years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of environmental management principles including tactical and strategic program planning.
• Knowledge of principles of environmental science.
• Knowledge of innovations in waste management–regionally and nationally
• Negotiation skills.
• Project management skills.
• Mediation and facilitation skills.
• Ability to coach and train a variety of staff including engineers, environmental scientists, regulatory inspectors, IT specialists, and managers.
• Prior success in implementing and sustaining result improvements.
• Knowledge and successful application of lean tools.

Application Instructions:

In order to be considered, please attach the following documents as attachments to your application:

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.

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.

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 e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not 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 Eli Levitt at: Eli.Levitt@ECY.WA.GOV. Please do not contact Eli 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.