See more at governmentjobs.com
The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Hazardous Waste Compliance Inspector (Environmental Specialist 4) position. This position is located in our Northwest Regional Office in Bellevue, WA.
This position conducts compliance inspections on complex dangerous waste generators, transporters, and permitted facilities that treat, store, and dispose of dangerous waste.
We are looking for self-driven applicants who thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented work environment that truly enjoy educating and informing a diverse regulated community of regulatory requirements. Strong communication skills, a willingness to change tactic when communication appears at an impasse, and maintaining a genuine sense of curiosity about the world around them, specifically how stuff is made, are all hallmarks of a successful dangerous waste compliance inspector.
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.ecology.wa.gov.
Duties
The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program is made up of people dedicated to fostering sustainability, preventing pollution, and promoting safe waste management. We do many different things in a coordinated approach to protect the people and environment of Washington from pollution from dangerous waste and products.
Some of the key work activities of the Hazardous Waste Compliance Inspector position include:
- Planning and leading senior level dangerous waste compliance inspections on high-priority businesses and industries known to have the greatest complexity within the region.
- Developing partnerships with communities, businesses, and interest groups in order to reach voluntary compliance with dangerous waste regulations.
- Providing technical assistance to regulated businesses in order to help them get and stay in compliance with dangerous waste regulations.
- Representing the section in enforcement actions, hearings, and legal proceedings.
The position is expected to:
- Be the section’s specialist for formal enforcement processes.
- Meet expectations from a variety of internal and external stakeholders including: EPA, the public, regulated community, and other regulatory agencies.
- Provide timely feedback to members of the regulated community.
- Demonstrate an ability to keep multiple commitments moving forward at the same time.
- This position represents the section at legal proceedings.
What kinds of problems does this position get to solve?
- The opportunity to employ different tactics in obtaining sustained regulatory compliance with dangerous waste regulations. We are looking for people who are interested in helping us find new ways to solve this problem.
- This job requires constant learning and curiosity. Inspectors from a variety of backgrounds have found previous technical experience quite applicable to this role. Those who value encouraging environmental protection and resource preservation likely would find this work meaningful. This is an exciting career opportunity for those interested in improving interpersonal skills while educating the public about the dangerous waste regulations, and our environmental laws as a whole.
What are the challenges?
- Engaging in high stakes discussions with members of the public, other regulatory agencies, or regulated community.
- The position requires the use of respiratory equipment (on occasion) and requires standing for extended periods of time at least once a week while conducting dangerous waste compliance inspections.
- Must be able to pass a fit test annually and be in and pass an annual medical monitoring exam.
- Must be able to do field work in inclement weather conditions, on rough terrain, and unstable ground to gather information and evidence.
The culture of the team:
- We are a multigenerational group of skilled professionals, coming from diverse backgrounds. We are tasked with obtaining lasting compliance with the dangerous waste regulations in the largest Ecology region where half of the state’s regulated generators of dangerous waste reside. Our team possess the shared values of desiring meaningful work, making a contribution to the citizens of Washington State, and continuing on the path of personal and team development.
Please Note: The salary range shown above for this position is 5% higher than standard Environmental Specialist 4 positions due to assignment pay that is given based on this position’s location.
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be August 15, 2018. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before August 14, 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 of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3
NOTE: Experience must include
- One year of the required experience must involve implementing Washington’s “Dangerous Waste Regulations”, Chapter 173-303 WAC and conducting Dangerous Waste compliance inspections of regulated generators.
- Demonstrated experience actively partnering with co-workers as well as staff in other organizations to provide them with information, technique, instruction, feedback and encouragement to maximize their success on the job.
- Demonstrated experience applying negotiation and conflict resolution skills in both formal and informal circumstances.
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
- Demonstrated experience with Ecology’s informal and formal hazardous waste enforcement process beginning with inspection reports and immediate action letters and continuing through recommendations for enforcement, administrative orders, and penalties.
- Demonstrated experience communicating professionally through both informal and formal documents and discussions.
- Demonstrated experience reviewing and understanding complex technical documents, e.g., hazardous waste sampling plans; waste profiles; and industrial process diagrams.
Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment
Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license
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 complete the applicant profile when applying for this position.
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 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 Matt Quarterman at: mqua461@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Matt 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.