Salary: $46,644.00 – $61,224.00 Annually
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Closing: Continuous

See full details at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3268269/environmental-education-outreach-specialist-community-outreach-enviro-ed-spe

What makes this role unique?

As a Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialists (COEES) you either have or will be provided training in “risk communications”, and will work with a variety of scientists and technicians to provide timely information to the public and stakeholders regarding air quality issues and conditions.

What you’ll do: 
You will provide professional services focused on community education and outreach regarding air quality issues in Ecology’s Eastern Region. At the COEES3 level you will be the lead for print and electronic media design and development, public involvement planning and program implementation, and you will act as a program inter/ intra agency liaison for the AQP program in Eastern Washington. In this position, you will also act as the lead on all education/outreach needs and environmental justice issues for the Section and represent Ecology on regional and intra-state outreach efforts. You will organize public meetings and hearings, develop outreach and educational materials, and coordinate outreach activities with other state agencies, tribes or local governments as well as the public. Some additional duties will include:

  • Plan, develop, prioritize, organize and facilitate public meetings and opportunities for public participation; provide education and outreach about air pollution, air monitoring and pollution source reduction efforts.
  • Speak and present in public settings. 
  • Coordinate resources and outreach with local clean air agencies, local governments, tribes, community groups, and other stakeholders.
  • Integrate the outreach, education and engagement efforts with the broader climate and environmental justice initiatives underway. 
  • Develop outreach and educational materials, including written materials, online content, video production, and presentations. 
  • Identify stakeholders, their needs, and environmental justice concerns; determine strategies for outreach.
  • Plan and teach workshops.
  • Provide leadership to staff participating in the development of outreach information.
  • Establish communication with English- and non-English-speaking communities.
  • Understand missions, functions and interactions of involved agencies and stakeholder groups; identify obstacles; negotiate solutions.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

The goal class for this position is Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialist 3 (COEES 3). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for both the COEES3 and the COEES2 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the COEES2 level then they will be hired as an COEES2 and will be placed in a training program to become an COEES3 within a specified period of time.  

At the Community Outreach Environmental Education Specialist 2 level: Pay range 46 (3616-4738) 

Equivalent education and experience to total 5 years. 

Professional Level Experience: Involving environmental analysis or control, environmental planning, environmental education, community outreach, or communications activities; or equivalent education/experience. 

Education: Involving major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, education, communications or closely related field. 

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:

Possible Combinations College credit hours or degree Years of required experience
Combination 1 No college credit hours or degree 5 years of experience
Combination 2 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. 4 years of experience
Combination 3 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). 3 years of experience
Combination 4 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. 2 years of experience
Combination 5  A Bachelor’s Degree 1 years of experience
Combination 6  A Master’s Degree 0 years on experience 

At the Community Outreach Environmental Education Specialist 3 level: Pay range 49 (3887-5102) Goal Class

Equivalent education and experience to total 7 years.

Professional Level Experience: Involving environmental analysis or control, environmental planning, environmental education, community outreach, or communications activities; or equivalent education/experience. 

Education: Involving major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, education, communications or closely related field. 

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:

Possible Combinations College credit hours or degree Years of required experience
Combination 1 No college credit hours or degree 7 years of experience
Combination 2 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. 6 years of experience
Combination 3 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). 5 years of experience
Combination 4 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. 4 years of experience
Combination 5  A Bachelor’s Degree 3 years of experience
Combination 6  A Master’s Degree 2 years of experience

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

  • Must obtain and maintain a valid state driver’s license. 

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

  • Previous experience applying accessibility laws including section 504 & 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
  • Previous experience with language access provisions under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
  • Previous experience applying environmental justice community engagement best practices. 

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

 

Supplemental Information

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.

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.   

Application Instructions:

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.
  • Three professional references.
  • Two writing samples. (e.g., newsletter, fact sheet).

Please 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 David Knight at: dkni461@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact David 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 ForgivenessTuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life InsuranceDeferred Compensation ProgramsDependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA)Employee Assistance ProgramCommute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader)Combined Fund DriveSmartHealth *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 LinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagram 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.