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

This position serves as a senior level environmental planner responsible for the development and oversight implementation of the per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) Chemical Action Plan (CAP).

The PFAS CAP will identify the potential health and environmental effects of PFAS chemicals and recommend strategies to reduce or eliminate those impacts. PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in many consumer products, including food packaging, carpets and fabrics to make them resistant to water, oil, grease, stains and heat. Some forms of PFAS have been linked to health problems in people and are toxic in animals.

Ecology and Washington State Department of Health (Health) work together to develop the PFAS Chemical Action Plan. The goal of a Chemical Action Plan is to comprehensively assess the environmental and health effects of PFAS chemical or class of chemicals.

A majority of the work involves active engagement and work with industry, tribes, local governments, and environmental groups in developing the plans. This work can be controversial when developing recommendations that can have significant impact on the use of PFAS chemicals in the market.

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 and check us out on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

There is growing public health concern regarding the use of everyday consumer products that contain chemicals of concern. In fact, the largest source of chemical pollution is not coming from point sources like smokestacks or sewer pipes, but from the combined slow and steady release of chemicals from consumer products.

The Senior Environmental Planner convenes a PFAS cross-program, multi-disciplinary team that collaborates to research and develop CAP recommendations. This position consults with the program’s Senior Toxics Reduction Planner and management team to meet the requirements under 173-333 WAC.

The job responsibilities include research of relevant literature, coordination with other programs and agencies, writing CAP chapters and conducting public involvement events with interested parties. This work includes addressing environmental justice concerns to protect the most vulnerable people and species. This position facilitates the resolution of complex issues arising from CAP planning activities which are complex or sensitive, and which involve multiple programs and interested parties to reduce toxic threats to Washington. This is a highly visible position that must interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

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.

To support this work, the Senior PFAS CAP Planner has the following duties.

PFAS Chemical Action Plan (CAP): this position leads actions to produce the PFAS CAP. This position will:

• Conduct research, planning, outreach and coordination with agency staff and Health prior to completing the draft PFAS CAP in 2020.
• Convene the Ecology/Health PFAS multi-disciplinary team, set timelines, edit and publish the final CAP under 173-333 WAC requirements. The tasks include providing project management and policy planning coordination, and working with external parties on stakeholder engagement in consultation with management. This work is highly controversial due to impacts of priority chemicals and Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins (PBTs) to people and the environment.
• Convene the PFAS CAP Advisory Committee to seek input on CAP chapters, draft documents and other information. This position is the senior planner that will convene interested parties including chemical manufacturers, nongovernmental organizations, local governments, tribes, and state or federal agencies.
• Research and write individual CAP chapters, seek peer review and management input. Work with subject matter experts to write and complete CAP chapters.
• Maintain the PFAS CAP EzView website and listserv.
• Consult with the Senior Reduction Planner, Toxicologist 3, and managers to develop budget decision packages to ensure continued implementation and funding in future biennia.
• Develop policies and procedures for CAP development and implementation.

CAP Implementation & Results:  As the CAP developer, this position will:

• Work with Ecology and Health headquarters and regional staff to develop workplans that prioritize, fund and implement CAP recommendations funded by the legislature in 2019, including the PFAS swap-out program.
• Liaison with Health, state agencies, local governments and interested parties to implement recommendations.
• Develop performance metrics and communicate results to management and the public. Track and evaluate the results of the CAP.

• Meet with agency programs, including Health, on an ongoing basis.
• Meet with the Program Manager or Executive Management on a regular schedule to develop and report progress on long-range plans to reduce toxic pollution sources in WA State.

Legislation and policy planning: As the PFAS CAP planner, this position will coordinate with the Senior Toxics Reduction Planner to:

• Coordinate with interstate, interagency and intra-agency initiatives on CAP recommendations, strategies and efforts to address priority chemicals and products.
• Provide input on proposed legislation, fiscal notes and budget decision packages related to CAP recommendation and implementation strategies.

This position is open until filled, with the initial screening on December 4, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before December 3, 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 environmental, natural resource planning, natural science, environmental science, environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field AND three years of professional experience in either toxics use reduction planning, water quality, toxics cleanup program planning, environmental health planning, or rulemaking.

OR

One year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3 at the Department of Ecology.

NOTE: Must have at least one year of experience leading or facilitating multi-disciplinary teams or project management to address policy issues or implementation of environmental regulations or laws.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with Safer Products for Washington (SB 5135), Chemical Action Plans RCW 177-333.
• Experience with environmental or health impacts of phthalates.
• Experience with toxics use legislation and/or program development.
• Demonstrated ability to convene and coordinate statewide rulemaking projects or major policy issues.

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 Ken Zarker at: Ken.Zarker@ECY.WA.GOV. Please do not contact Ken 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.