Salary 
$65,928.00 – $86,484.00 Annually
 
Location 
Thurston County – Lacey, WA
 
Job Type
Full Time – Permanent
 
Department
Dept. of Ecology
 
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of December 9, 2021. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before December 8, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

What makes this role unique? 

The HWTR Environmental Justice Planner will be responsible for leading and supporting efforts to recognize and address environmental justice concerns and challenges across HWTR’s major work functions. You’ll have opportunities to continue to learn, grow leadership skills, and connect with the communities we serve. You’ll feel good about making a difference as we work to protect Washington communities with higher risks to the effects of toxic threats and pollution.


What you’ll do: 

As the HWTR Environmental Justice Planner, you will focus on understanding how our work impacts external organizations, such as members of the public, community groups, and nongovernmental organizations, business owners and employees, and key contacts from other programs and agencies. You will:

  • Develop a deep understanding of current and historical program activities and relevant Environmental Justice (EJ) considerations by:
    • Meeting with HWTR staff, reviewing current and historical program and state plans
    • Reviewing data about hazardous waste generation and disposal, toxics reduction, and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of Washington communities
  • Identify and engage with stakeholders in order to co-create approaches to address EJ in the program’s work using best practices and frameworks that incorporate social justice and community design principles, such as Equity-Centered Community Design. 
  • Facilitate public involvement events to inform and support equitable service delivery of HWTR programs, especially with overburdened communities, including communities of color, and low-income populations.
  • Share information and collaborate with other EJ teams across the program, agency, and state. Align our efforts to reduce redundancy and share lessons learned.

You will also look inward, working with our program to:

  • Contribute to program and agency implementation of Washington’s new EJ law (Chapter 70A.02 RCW).
  • Lead or support EJ related analysis and assessments within HWTR.
  • Organize and facilitate the HWTR EJ workgroup and lead development of an HWTR EJ work plan.
  • Build and share expertise in EJ, anti-racism, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) to help expand EJ capacity and expertise across HWTR.

 

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.


Option 1:

  • A Bachelor’s degree with a major emphasis in environmental studies, environmental justice and policy, social science, political science, 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.
  • Five (5) years of experience in environmental justice and policy, community organizing or engagement, land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development. 
Experience may include a combination of the following: 
  • Building and maintaining relationships or engaging with a diversity of stakeholders and people (including historically underserved and underrepresented communities, communities of color, Tribes, and low-income communities).  
  • Leading change within a complex or contentious environment. 
  • Communicating technical or legal information effectively to audiences with varying levels of expertise or knowledge of the subject. 
  • Experience applying or familiarity with practices and policies related to equity, environmental justice, or civil rights.

 
Option 2:

  • A Master’s degree with a major emphasis in environmental studies, environmental justice and policy, social science, political science, 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.
  • Three (3) years of experience in environmental justice and policy, community organizing, land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development. 
Experience may include a combination of the following: 
  • Building and maintaining relationships or engaging with a diversity of stakeholders and people (including historically underserved and underrepresented communities, communities of color, Tribes, and low-income communities).  
  • Leading change within a complex or contentious environment. 
  • Communicating technical or legal information effectively to audiences with varying levels of expertise or knowledge of the subject. 
  • Experience applying or familiarity with practices and policies related to equity, environmental justice, or civil rights.

 
Option 3:

  • One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3 at the Department of Ecology.

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

  • Proficiency in a language other than English, preferably Spanish.

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.