Website link here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/2473610/biosolids-technical-specialist-environmental-specialist-4-in-training
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
Protecting Washington State’s environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. If you want to join a team that is highly effective, collaborative, has leadership that embraces the value of people, and believes in the fun factor, Ecology is a good fit.
The Solid Waste Management (SWM) program is looking to fill a Biosolids Technical Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training) position. This position will be located in our Headquarters building in Lacey, WA.
The Biosolids Technical Specialist position works to implement biosolids program laws, regulations, general permits, and related activities. This position develops general permits; manages stakeholder groups, making decisions involving multiple stakeholders that have significant environmental protection consequences; analyzes biosolids annual report and laboratory data; and uses in-depth knowledge of the biosolids program to carry out assignments. These assignments are carried out using policies and program objectives, and the work is planned and organized based on program deadlines and priorities.
We are looking for someone who likes to manage a process, embrace a range of technical and administrative issues, and work with people. This position requires attention to detail while developing permits, and the ability to work cooperatively with Ecology staff and external stakeholders. If you like to manage a process with all of its varying aspects, then this could be the position for you.
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 The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.
Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts
Duties
Some of the key work activities of the Biosolids Technical Specialist position at the Environmental Specialist 4 level are:
Serve as senior environmental specialist project manager and coordinator on high priority, complex general permits.
- Develops general permits in coordination with the statewide biosolids coordinator to implement multiple new biosolids general permits instead of one general permit for all biosolids facilities.
- Coordinates the public processes, coordinating stakeholder meetings, document reviews, and comment opportunities.
- Prepares state register notices, listserv messages, focus sheets, and other messaging.
- Prepares response to comments, incorporates comments into draft documents, and finalizes general permits.
- Coordinates internal process for review of draft general permits.
- Works to develop permits that meet regulatory requirements that can be implemented by the regulated community to achieve compliance.
- Tracks rule change suggestions for the biosolids rule consistent with input from the general permit development processes.
Serves as a senior biosolids technical section specialist responding to inquiries and maintaining external communication for the new permits.
- Provides technical assistance to the regulated community on new high priority general permit requirements.
- Maintains biosolids web pages and SharePoint resources to support permit implementation.
- Responds to compliance questions with a goal of attaining a high level of compliance by the regulated community and a greater level of understanding by the public.
Assess and perform analyses of biosolids data.
- Using analytical skills, annual report data, and biosolids laboratory testing data, determines where data errors have occurred and makes recommendations on how to minimize errors and determine how to correct errors in the facilities data system.
- Ascertains and tracks where there are compliance issues.
- Communicates with regional biosolids staff to address compliance issues and to ensure that data is correct.
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The NEXT screening will be July 8, 2019. In order to be considered for the NEXT screening, please submit an application on or before July 7, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Please Note: This is a project position that is funded for two years.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
The goal class for this position is an Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for both the ES4 and the ES3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level then they will be hired as an ES3 and will be placed in a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.
At the Environmental Specialist 4 level Pay Range 55 ($4378 – $5,741 monthly) Goal Class
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 (5) years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one (1) year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two (2) years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above. At least two (2) years of the required experience must be in solid waste management, biosolids, or organics management, policy or program implementation.
OR
A Master’s degree in one of the above fields and three (3) years of professional – level experience as required above which includes one (1) year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two (2) years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above. At least one (1) year of the required experience must be in solid waste management, biosolids, or organics management, policy or program implementation.
OR
Two (2) years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 with the Department of Ecology.
At the Environmental Specialist 3 level: Pay Range 49 ($3,774 – $4,953 – monthly) (In-Training)
A Bachelor’s degree involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field and two (2) years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control or environmental planning. At least one (1) year of the required experience must be in solid waste management, biosolids, or organics management, policy or program implementation.
A Master’s degree in one of the above fields and one (1) year of the required experience.
OR
One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2 with the Department of Ecology.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience writing permits or regulations.
- Experience managing stakeholder groups and processes.
- Experience leading teams.
- Experience analyzing data.
- Experience with SharePoint pages, sub-sites, and document libraries.
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) developing plans for researching information used for technical projects, regulatory or policy development, 5) planning and facilitating 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) assisting 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, interpreting 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.
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
- A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required/desired qualifications of this position.
- A resume outlining your professional experience.
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 have specific questions about the position, please send an email to Chipper Hervieux at: chipper.hervieux@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Chipper 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 position is included in the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) union bargaining unit for the Department of Ecology.
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.