This is an exciting time in Washington as Ecology implements brand new legislation addressing climate change. This position reports directly to the Air Quality Deputy Program Manager, with a primary focus on performing high-level administrative and secretarial support duties for the Air Quality Program, management team, and staff. A significant part of this positions will be supporting hiring and onboarding a large number of staff who will implement recently passed climate legislation. This position will be instrumental in establishing whole new teams and organizational structure to combat climate change.

The Air Quality Program (AQP) is looking to fill a Deputy Program Managers Assistant (Administrative Assistant 3) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA.

Some of the activities the Deputy Program Manager’s Assistant will be responsible for:

1. Organizing and effectively prioritizing multiple competing tasks.
2. Working on fast paced issues which are part of the Governor’s key priorities.
3. Being part of and supporting a team with diverse skills and expertise to further our environmental mission.

The mission of the Air Quality Program (AQP) is to protect, preserve, and enhance the air quality of Washington to safeguard public health and the environment and support high quality of life for current and future generations. The Air Quality Program’s vision is clean, healthy air for all of Washington. Our goal is to identify, prevent, and minimize air pollution.

Everyone deserves clean air to breathe and a sustainable future that addresses the challenges of climate change. The Air Quality Program works to monitor air quality and reduce air pollution to protect the health of every Washingtonian. We also work to protect Washington’s future by tracking our state’s efforts to cut the carbon pollution that drives climate change, and implement carbon reduction programs.

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. Join a team that is highly effective, collaborative, with leadership who embrace the value of people.

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

• A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect and leadership who encourage all employees to bring their authentic selves to work.
• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities.
• A wellness program that offers education, and fitness classes; an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

During Stay Home, Stay Healthy, employees 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.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of May 26, 2021.  In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before May 25, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

What you’ll do:

This is a fast-paced environment which includes multiple and varied responsibilities with opportunities to contribute to multiple projects. Your attention to detail, broad perspective, and the ability to manage complex projects with strong stakeholder interest are some of your strengths. Your good communication skills (oral and written) will set you up to be successful in this role.

What makes this role unique?

Your understanding of the importance and value of administrative support and coordination is crucial in this role. You will identify places where additional information is needed and will track it down; will operate in a balanced and fair manner, relying on data and information to inform options within an assigned set of goals.

You will:

• Maintain confidentiality and keep managers informed of significant issues.
• Assist with time management by working closely with managers to ensure that calendars are kept up to date and accurate.
• Independently organize the hiring process, including: setting up interviews, compiling and distributing interview packets, and escorting interviewees.
• Assist with onboarding of new staff in a timely and effective manner, including ensuring that necessary paperwork for new hires is fully completed.
• Coordinate travel arrangements and agency-required documentation for managers and staff as needed for attendance at meetings, conferences and training, both in and out-of-state.
• Independently coordinate preparation, proofreading, signatures, and packaging of documents, including reports, for manager and Ecology executive management briefing and/or approval.
• Complete and process internal and external correspondence, including typing, proofreading/formatting, distributing, and filing documents reflecting agency standards to ensure it is clear and concise.

High school graduation or GED.

AND

Four (4) years of clerical, secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting, or general administrative office work experience.

OR

A Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration or closely allied field.

OR

One (1) year of experience as an Administrative Assistant 2 at the Department of Ecology.

Formal education will substitute year-for-year for experience.

Desired Qualifications:

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

• Demonstrated success in managing detailed administrative tasks and projects in support of program wide functions.
• Experience supporting environmental regulatory efforts and editing technical documents.
• Experience administering webinars and other web-based communications using software such as WebEx and Skype for Business.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.
 
Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• 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 are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.

It’s in the applicant’s best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position

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

Additional Application Instructions for Current 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.

Application Attestation: 

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.

Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Rob Dengel at: Robert.dengel@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Rob to inquire about the status of your application.

To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov
Why work for Ecology?

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.

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 your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work 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 *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help

The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

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.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 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.

Note: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.