What makes this role unique?

In this role, you will develop and maintain a high level of readiness to respond to pollution events and apply program policies, procedures and current standards of safety, technology, incident management, and coordination of spill responses. This position also promotes the team structure used in the Response Section and ensures that personal behavior contributes to effective teamwork.

You will report directly to the supervisor of the Southwest Regional Office (SWRO) Spill Response Unit and also take direction from regional Lead Spill Responders.
This position must reside within a one-hour commute to Ecology’s Southwest Regional Office in Lacey, WA. Typical work will include a combination of field work, telework, and in-office work.

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

What you will do:

• Respond to spills of oil and hazardous materials, abandoned waste, fish kills, pressurized cylinders, illegal drug manufacturing facilities, and other environmental and human health emergencies.
• Serve as State On-Scene Coordinator or Incident Commander for spill responses with other federal, state and local agencies, and Tribes.
• Perform 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.
• Oversee the response actions taken by spillers, direct environmental response contractors, and coordinate private, local, state and federal response partners.
• Take enforcement actions, including penalties and cost recovery actions.
• Maintain excellent, enforcement quality incident documentation.
• Conduct safe responses to clean-up clandestine drug labs including sampling lab chemicals, separating chemicals by hazard class, preparing and packaging wastes for transport and delivering wastes to the designated facility for final disposal.
• Maintain personal work gear and spill response equipment and vehicles in a high level of readiness to conduct emergency spill responses.

Qualifications

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

Option 1:
A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in Environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences
AND
Two (2) years of professional level experience in environmental emergency response or hazardous materials management.

Option 2:
A Master’s degree involving major study in Environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences
AND
One (1) years of professional level experience in environmental emergency response or hazardous materials management.

Option 3:
A Ph.D. involving major study in Environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences.
NIMS Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200, 700, and 800 course certification is required upon entry into the position. NIMS ICS training and certification can be obtained for free online at: https://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.aspx.

A 40-hour HAZWOPER Technician certification (WAC 296-824 and 296-843), with a current 8-hour refresher certification is also required. This certification can be obtained after hire.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must possess a valid Washington State driver’s license, and be able to safely operate a motor vehicle, and maintain the license throughout employment.
• Must pass employment medical surveillance physical and demonstrate the ability to wear respiratory protection and chemical protective clothing under high heat and stress, and IDLH conditions. Must successfully pass stress and physical agilities test.
• Must be able to clear detailed background check required to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card.
• 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.
• Must successfully complete initial SAFETRAC requirements and other required training outlined in the Spills Program Policy and Procedures Manual within 6 months of entering the position.
• Must maintain training and certifications necessary to work in a hazardous materials danger/hot zone.
• Must be prepared for a minimum 3-day field deployment within 1 hour of notification.
• Must be able to perform after-hours, on-call work on a regular rotation.
• This position is identified as an Essential Agency Employee and is expected to work during facility closures and natural disasters.
• Must notify supervisor immediately if the employee is unable to obtain any of the above required licenses, certifications, or trainings, or if any of the above are revoked, expired, or suspended for any reason.

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

• Prior hazardous materials or emergency response experience.
• 80-hour HAZWOPER certification (WAC 296-824, and WAC 296-843).
• Hazardous Materials Specialist Certification.
• Experienced working in the Incident Command System (ICS).
• Familiarity with the Northwest Area Contingency Plan.

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 as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• Three professional references.

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 Alison Meyers at: alison.meyers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Alison 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.