Salary
$59,688.00 – $78,408.00 Annually
Location
Whatcom County – Bellingham, WA
Job Type
Full Time – Permanent
Department
Dept. of Ecology
Job Number
2021-SEA2737-03280
Apply Here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3046182/regional-shoreline-planner-environmental-planner-3
Closing
Continuous

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’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 diversity, equity, inclusion and the value of people, Ecology is a good fit.

The Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Regional Shoreline Planner (Environmental Planner 3) position. This position will be located in either our Bellingham Field Office (BFO) in Bellingham, Washington or our Northwest Regional Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, Washington.

Please Note: The salary posted above does not include the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive if it ends up being located in King County.

The Regional Shoreline Planner position serves as an associate-level planner, providing planning, technical, and regulatory support to local governments in an assigned geographic area in the development and administration of Shoreline Master Programs under the Shoreline Management Act. The position also reviews the assigned jurisdiction’s shoreline permits, supports administration of Shoreline Master Program and Coastal Zone Management grants, conducts training, and supports Shoreline Management Act compliance.

We are looking for applicants who possess excellent people skills, and the ability to understand and articulate a wide array of planning and technical principles to highly diverse audiences of interested parties. Must have excellent organizational skills and the ability to work with a multitude of internal and external stakeholders.

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, respects diversity, professionalism and accountability. Ecology values tribal sovereignty, and seeks meaningful engagement through consultation. We also strive to eliminate environmental and health disparities across the communities that we work with, integrating consideration of environmental justice in our decisions.

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

Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations. Our goals are to prevent pollution, clean up pollution, and support sustainable communities and natural resources.

The mission of the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance  (SEA) Program is to support community conservation efforts for our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains. This position supports the mission by managing the use of shoreline, wetlands, and floodplain resources in the Northwest Region

Some of the key work activities of the Regional Shoreline Planner position are:

Shoreline Master Programs: Serves as project manager for Shoreline Master Program activities, including:

  • Provides expertise and guidance in the development or amendment of shoreline master programs.
  • Manages negotiations with local governments to ensure local master program amendments are consistent with the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) and the Shoreline Master Program guidelines.
  • Manages the state review and approval process, conducting public hearings as necessary and assuring compliance with applicable Washington Administrative Codes.
  • Conducts research and prepares analyses, including legal implications, on shoreline issues for incorporation into master program amendments.
  • Looks for opportunities to engage in meaningful tribal consultation and integrate environmental justice considerations into our SMA work.
  • Participates in Program-wide work on SMA policy interpretation and the preparation of SMA guidance for local governments.
  • Coordinates with program staff as needed regarding the above.

Permit Review:  Files shoreline substantial development permits within assigned jurisdictions.  Reviews and makes recommendations for Ecology action on conditional use and variance permits.  Assists other regional planners and programs with select complex permit issues.  Recommends and assists with compliance actions as necessary.

Technical Assistance and SEPA:  Coordinates with program staff and local government personnel to provide appropriate help in SMA-related policy interpretations or training. Monitors and facilitates effective administration of SMP’s in assigned communities.

  • Monitors SEPA or permit notices and comments (as time allows) for shoreline related projects in assigned jurisdictions.
  • Coordinates with local personnel to arrange trainings or other SMP implementation support.
  • Responds to requests for technical assistance from local governments.

SMP/CZM Grants:  Serves as grant officer for SMP and CZM grants:  participates in evaluating and development of grants, provides technical assistance on issues related to the work program, monitors and ensures compliance with grant terms and financial conditions.

Please note: During Stay Home, Stay Healthy, staff are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need.  

Ecology is maintaining less than maximum building occupancy, and requiring masks, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing.

Please Note: This recruitment is open until filled, with an initial screening scheduled for May 11, 2021. To be considered in the initial screening, please submit your application on or before May 10, 2021 The agency reserves the right to make an appointment at any time after the initial screening date.Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
 
There are multiple ways to qualify for this position. See options below:

Option 1: A Bachelor’s degree with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, environmental or natural sciences, or closely related field AND four (4) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

Option 2: A Master’s degree with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, environmental or natural sciences, or closely related field AND two (2) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

Option 3: One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 2, provided a Bachelor’s degree as described above has been obtained.

Planning Knowledge:

  • Able to apply the principles and processes of land use and environmental planning.
  • Knowledge of the authorities governing land use or environmental permitting processes, and the institutions that govern these authorities. 
  • Ability to review and understand complex shoreline regulatory or technical documents through expert review of materials prepared to support SMP amendments or shoreline permits.
  • Ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills

 
Desired Qualifications:

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

  • Education – a Master’s degree with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.
  • Shoreline Management Act – experience applying the shoreline management act in both a planning context (i.e. Shoreline Master Program development or modification) and a permitting context (i.e. the review and issuance of Shoreline Substantial Development Permits, Conditional Use Permits, or Variances). Knowledge of the relationship between the SMA and the Growth Management Act and Critical Areas Ordinances and their administrative rules.
  • Environmental Science – a degree, substantial coursework, or professional experience in environmental science, wetland science, geology, biology, oceanography, or other natural sciences.
  • Government Experience – experience working for a local, state, federal or tribal resource management agency in a planning, program management, policy, or regulatory capacity.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Why work for Ecology?

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington’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 short on-line application, supplemental questions and upload:

  • Your current chronological resume.
  • A cover letter explaining how you fit the requirements of the position.

 
Important Note:
When attaching documents to your application (Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

  • Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc.
  • Do not attach documents that are password protected as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded.

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

It is in the candidate’s best interest to submit all of the documents requested above. Applications without these documents may be declined.

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 Joe Burcar at: joe.burcar@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Joe 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.

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 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.