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 Environmental Assessment Program (EAP) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill EIGHT Watershed Health Monitoring (WHM) and Intensively Monitored Watershed (IMW) Technician (Environmental Technician) positions. The positions will start between April 1 and June 16th and will receive training in our Headquarters office in Lacey, WA.

The positions will be located in Lacey but will work primarily in the Upper Columbia River Region or Southwest Washington from April 1st/June 16th – October 30th. Travel and lodging will be reimbursed by the Department of Ecology.

The positions give you the opportunity to use what you’ve learned in school and apply it to environmental sampling techniques. Some of the key work activities include: Biological monitoring, water quality sampling, chemical sampling, and using different types of monitoring equipment. The information that you collect helps to assess the health of the watershed. The data is used to help develop a plan to improve watershed health.

We are looking for applicants who are motivated, adaptable, team-oriented, dedicated and who have a desire to gain experience in environmental sampling.

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. Maybe you’ve seen some of our recent stories on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

To learn more about our agency, please visit our website at www.ecy.wa.gov.

Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

Please Note: The EIGHT positions are temporary and will end by October 30, 2017.
The positions assist the Environmental Assessment Program staff with field data collection in two program areas: 1) the Watershed Health Monitoring (WHM) Program and 2) the Intensively Monitored Watershed (IMW) Program.

Under the direction of a field lead, typical duties include:

• Responsible for field equipment maintenance and organization, including calibration of Hach multi-probe.
• Reads QAPP/QAMP, SOPs, and other required protocols within the first two weeks in order to successfully assist in conducting all the field data collection events below.
• Assists with water quality sample collection.
• Helps with habitat surveys.
• Assists with benthic macroinvertebrate sampling.
• Helps identify fish assemblage, and assists with boat operation duties.
• Helps with quality assurance review of environmental data.
• Participates in unit, section, and program meetings as appropriate.
• Attends and stays current on required trainings, especially safety trainings.

• Provide initial review of the raw data recorded in the field for completeness and overall quality.
• Suggest refining data collection methods.
• Assist with field work preparation every week before the scheduled sampling.

Please note the positions will start between April 1 and June 16, 2017. Training will occur in Lacey, WA. From April 1st/July 1st – October 30th, the positions will be located in Lacey but work primarily in the Upper Columbia River Region (WHM) and Southwest Washington (IMW). Travel and lodging will be reimbursed by the Department of Ecology. The schedule will be 10 hour shifts, work 8 days in a row and have 6 days off (WHM); and 10 hour shifts, work 4 days per week (IMW).

Graduation from high school or GED equivalent.

AND

Two (2) years of technical or clerical (level 3) experience such as performing the duties as an Office Assistant 3 in an environmental agency or an office.

College-level course work in environmental, physical or natural sciences, or closely related field may be substituted, year for year, for the required experience.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience operating boats and related equipment.
• Experience collecting water quality samples and operating aquatic sampling equipment.
• The following is a list of some of the office machines, equipment, tools, motor vehicles that are used on the job: Computer, telephone, copy machine, network printer, facsimile machine, valid United States driver’s license, continuous data monitors, field meters, operate boats, database software, spreadsheet software, word processing software, statistics software, van/vehicle; Habitat measures (leveling rod, measuring tape, canopy densiometer, clinometer, compass; hand level, flow meter); Chemistry measures (Hydrolab minisonde); and GPS.

Other Information: