Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
Protecting Washington State’s environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We have 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, Ecology is a good fit.

The Water Quality Program is looking to hire a TMDL Lead (Environmental Specialist 4). The position is part of our Southwest Regional Office and will be located in our Vancouver Field Office (VFO) in Vancouver, WA.

The TMDL Lead position is responsible for developing, coordinating, directing, writing, and implementing water quality improvement plans (also known as Total Maximum Daily Loads, or TMDLs), providing guidance on water quality regulations, and promoting TMDL activities with state, federal, and local governments, tribes, stakeholder groups, and the public. This position makes TMDL decisions involving multiple stakeholders that have significant public health, environmental protection, economic, and political consequences.

We are looking for applicants who are skilled planners and writers, have an understanding of how to solve water quality problems, and work well with our partner organizations.

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

The mission of the Department of Ecology is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment, for current and future generations. The mission of the Water Quality Program is to protect and restore Washington’s waters to support healthy watersheds and communities. Our work ensures state waters can support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public health.

As the TMDL Lead for the southern watersheds of the Southwest Region, this position is responsible for:

• Making decisions on TMDLs involving multiple stakeholders, especially federal, state, and local governments such as Lewis and Clark Counties, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Health. These decisions have significant public health, environmental protection, economic, and political consequences, including setting required controls on point and nonpoint sources of pollution.
• Developing and implementing TMDLs by conducting and reviewing environmental assessments and protection actions that regularly require evaluation and coordination of interrelated environmental impacts.
• Serving as the project manager and coordinator on multiple complex TMDLs that are currently in the implementation phase, in progress, or being scoped.
• Representing Ecology before federal, state, and local government officials on administrative policy and technical assistance on TMDLs.
• Providing scientific, technical, and policy guidance on TMDLs and related complex water quality issues to the local community.
• Working with key interest groups and organizations to effectively conduct technical studies, develop water quality implementation control strategies, and write TMDLs to protect and restore impaired waters.
• Coordinating and communicating with tribes, local governments and other stakeholder groups during the development and implementation of a TMDL.
• Monitoring and reporting on progress of implementation measures toward meeting water quality standards as specified in the TMDLs.
• Representing Ecology at legal and public hearings and conferences regarding TMDLs.

This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial review date of applications for this position will be October 26, 2017. To be considered for the initial review date, please apply online by October 25, 2017. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

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, control, or 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 may 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 of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3.
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.

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.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working with TMDLs.
• Technical writing experience.
• Experience facilitating meetings.
• Experience coordinating agencies and working with external advisory groups.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment:

Must possess a valid driver’s license.

In order to be considered, applicants MUST include the following documents as an attachment to their 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 Andrew Kolosseus at: andrew.kolosseus@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Andrew 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. All employees covered by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the WFSE will, as a condition of employment, either become members of the WFSE and pay membership dues or, as non-members, pay a representation fee as described in the CBA, no later than the 30th day following the effective date of this CBA or the beginning of their employment.

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.