The Department of Ecology’s priority during the Covid-19 health crisis is to keep our staff, candidates, and the public safe.  We are still hiring and encourage you to apply to open positions.  The majority of our staff are currently working from home; we have transitioned to a virtual recruitment process, to include web-based interviews.

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.

Are you a problem solver that enjoys a challenge? Do you want to make a difference by making a positive impact on the environment? If so, then join a great team that shares your interests!

The Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (Spills) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill two Lead Spill Responder (Environmental Specialist 4) positions. These positions are located in our Southwest Regional Office (SWRO) in Lacey, WA.

The Lead Spill Responder positions respond to high priority and complex threats to the environment and human health emergencies. These positons act as agency experts for responding to and cleaning-up oil and hazardous material spills and clandestine drug labs. These positions also respond to larger spills in a leadership role providing technical direction for complex and controversial spills, regulatory issues, and enforcement actions.

We are looking for applicants who possess excellent leadership skills and have a natural drive for public service, someone who excels working in a team environment and thrives in a dynamic ever changing work environment with shifting priorities. we are looking for applicants who enjoys a mix of field and office work, who are motivated in making a difference protecting human and environmental health.

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.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

Duties

The mission of the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (Spills) program is to protect Washington’s environment, public health, and safety through a comprehensive spill prevention, preparedness and response program. The Response Section supports this mission through maintaining 24/7 response capability, aggressively responding to oil and hazardous substance spills, providing training and developing local response partnerships, and cleaning up clandestine drug labs.

The Lead Spill Responder positions report directly to the SWRO Response Unit Supervisor and assists with managing workload, prioritizing and assigning work, tracking work completion, training and certification compliance, and managing other administrative issues. This position is also key in assisting with policy development, training, enforcement coordination and team growth through lessons learned.

These positions develop and maintain a high level of readiness to respond to pollution events and applies program policies, procedures and current standards of safety, technology, incident management and coordination to spill responses. These positions also promote the team structure used in the Spill Response Section and ensure that personal behavior contributes to effective team work.

These positions are required to serve as a duty officer for after-hours, on-call pager duty on a regular rotation. Upon completion of the required training and successful medical surveillance baseline examination, the candidate will be assigned to the Emergency Spill Response Team and will be eligible for a 10% assignment pay.

Some of the key work activities of the Lead Spill Responder (Environmental Specialist 4) are:

• Responding to spills of oil and hazardous substances, abandoned waste, fish kills, pressurized cylinders, illegal drug manufacturing facilities, and other environmental and human health emergencies.
• Serving as State On-Scene Coordinator or incident commander for spill responses with other federal, state and local agencies, and Tribes.
• Performing hands-on cleanup actions, including opening containers of unknowns, collecting samples, testing and separating materials by hazard class, preparing and packaging waste for transport, and delivering waste to the designated storage or disposal facility.
• Overseeing the response actions taken by spillers, directing environmental response contractors, and coordinating private, local, state and federal response partners.
• Working in respiratory protection, chemical protective clothing, under high heat and stressful conditions, and in IDLH conditions.
• Serving as the lead for complex issues pertaining to spill responses and drug labs.
• Providing training and mentoring to other employees and agencies.
• Assisting the SWRO Response Unit Supervisor manage workload in the region.
• Coordinating equipment and vehicle maintenance and calibration, and ensuring team members are trained and competent to operate equipment safely and effectively.
• Assisting the SWRO Regional Supervisor direct resources during periods of multiple ongoing response actions with competing resource priorities.
• Keeping the SWRO Response Unit Supervisor informed and updated on issues which may impact team service delivery and performance.
• Taking enforcement actions, including penalties and cost recovery actions.
• Maintaining excellent, enforcement quality incident documentation.

Interesting aspects of these positions are:

• These positions lead complex multi-agency spill responses, works collaboratively with other agencies, responsible parties, and citizen groups.
• The compelling motivation for this work is public service, work as part of a dynamic multidisciplinary team, and the ability to use science to solve environmental and public health challenges.

Important to note the following aspects of these positions:

• Must participate in Ecology’s medical surveillance program and maintain the ability to wear respiratory protection (supplied air) and non-permeable chemical protective clothing in high heat and high stress conditions.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Washington State driver’s license.
• Must be able to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
• Must hold and maintain eligibility and certification (valid passport or enhanced driver’s license) to permit travel to Canada.
• Must be prepared to travel for a minimum 3-day field deployment with 1-hour of notification.
• Must maintain training and certification necessary to work in a hazardous materials danger zone/hot zone.

The culture of the team:  Spill responders are a supportive, fun, dedicated and hard-working team that will always have your back!

These positions will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of November 16, 2020.  In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before November 15, 2020. 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.

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.

For all education levels:
Hazardous Materials Technician Certification per WAC 296-824 and 296-843 is required.  Must have prior hazardous materials emergency response experience.

ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 certification is required.  Free on-line ICS training and certification is available at:

ICS 100: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-100.c
ICS 200: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-200.c
ICS 700: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-700.b
ICS 800: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-800.c

The 1 year of 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.

The 2 years of 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.

Desired Qualifications:

• Team leadership experience.
• Working Knowledge of the NW Area Contingency Plan.
• Familiarity with Washington Labor and Industry HAZWOPER safety regulations and experience developing site-specific health and safety plans.
• Experience working in Unified Command with the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Coast Guard, and tribes.
• Possess a high level of knowledge using electronic tools and integrating them into emergency responses; tools such as GPS devices, wireless networks, and data systems.
• Worker safety and community air monitoring experience.
• Experience collecting waste and environmental samples.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment:

• Must hold and maintain a valid Washington State driver’s license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.
• Must pass employment medical surveillance physical and demonstrate and maintain the ability to wear respiratory protection and chemical protective clothing.  Must pass a physical agilities test.
• Must be able to pass a detailed background check required to obtain and maintain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
• Must successfully complete initial SAFETRAC requirements and other required training outlined in Spills Program Policy and Procedures within 6 months of entering the position.
• Must be prepared for a minimum 3-day field deployment within 1 hour of notification.
• Must hold and maintain eligibility and certification (valid passport or enhanced driver’s license) to permit travel to Canada in the event of a transboundary spill.
• This position is required to maintain a personal level of fitness necessary to pass a periodic medical surveillance exam, which may include a stress test.
• This position is identified as an Essential Agency Employee and is expected to work during facility closures and natural disasters.
• This position is required to perform after-hours on-call duty on a rotation.
• This position manages sensitive health and safety information and must maintain this information with absolute confidentiality.
• Must notify supervisor immediately if the employee is unable to obtain any of the above required licenses or certifications, or if any of the above are revoked, expired or suspended for any reason.

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:

In order to be considered, applicants MUST attach the following documents as an attachment to their application:

• A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required/desired qualifications of this position.
• A resume outlining your professional environmental experience.
• Please to 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 or call 360-407-6186. 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 Alison Meyers at: Alison.meyers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Alison to inquire about the status of your application.

This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency.  Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

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, military spouses 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.