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.

Position Background

This is a new position in our program. You will be working with the dry cleaning community to encourage PERC cleaners to transition to a safter alternative and to implement new guidelines that prohibit misting or evaporating of PERC separator water. You will accomplish these tasks through technical assistance and regulatory compliance inspections, at dry cleaning facilities in partnership with Ecology’s Pollution Prevention Partnership Representatives and Product Replacement manager.

The main goals of this position are to:

• Identify and provide technical assistance to dry cleaners that are still using PERC.
• After technical assistance is provided, conduct compliance inspections to ensure requirements of the dangerous waste regulations are met.
• Provide interested dry cleaners still using PERC resources and expertise on alternative cleaning methods. Explain that the evaporation of PERC separator water is no longer allowed. Implement a complex communication plan that has been developed to explain the regulatory requirements to the community, and adjust the communication plan and implementation strategy as needed.
• Provide technical assistance training to local representatives.

What are the challenges?

• Working with predominantly small businesses that may be resistant to adjusting their work processes for a variety of reasons. This will require innovative approaches to achieving regulatory compliance.
• Working with business that have historically limited interaction with the HWTR program.
• Balancing technical assistance and regulatory compliance.
• The position may require 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.

This is a great opportunity to:

• Be involved in a major effort within the agency to address environmental justice considerations, and gain marketable skills in the area of environmental justice.
• Work with a diverse team of skilled professionals charged with obtain lasting compliance with the dangerous waste regulations in the largest Ecology region where half of the state’s regulated generators of dangerous waste reside.

The culture of the team:

• 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.

This is a project position that is funded until October 31, 2020

Please Note: The salary range shown above for this position is 5% higher than standard Environmental Specialist 5 positions due to assignment pay that is given based on this position’s location.

This position is open until filled, with the initial screening on December 3, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before December 2, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.

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 six years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 3

Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education.

OR

A Master’s degree in one of the above fields AND four years of professional- level experience as required above which includes two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 3

OR

A Ph.D. in one of the above fields AND three years of professional-level experience as required above which includes two years equal to 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.

Desired Qualifications

• Work experience with the dry cleaning industry, including site visits.
• Experience gaining the trust, support, and confidence of others, including external stakeholders.
• Experience effectively communicating difficult and complex technical concepts to a non-technical audience.
• Experience using leadership skills to effectively manage and implement change, soliciting feedback as a means of obtaining buy-in, and ultimately get support for the change.
• Experience using discretion and good judgment regarding appropriate and professional behavior and communications, including recognizing and responding to social cues and emotions of others.
• Experience building an interdisciplinary team and fostering collaboration.
• Experience planning and coordinating a complex project or implemented a new strategy.

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 do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.
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.