Salary: $37,152.00 – $64,788.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2023-AQ4981-07085
Department: Dept. of Ecology
Division: Air Quality
Opening Date: 05/26/2023
Closing Date: Continuous

The Air Quality Program (AQP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Climate Change Third-Party Verification & Compliance Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3) (In-Training) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station. The mission of the Air Quality Program (AQP) is to protect and improve air quality in Washington and to protect our State’s environment for current and future generations. In 2021, Washington’s Legislature passed the landmark Climate Commitment Act (CCA) – a sweeping piece of legislation that directs Ecology to develop and implement the state’s first Cap-and-Invest Program and commits our state to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050.

Officially launched on January 1, 2023, Washington’s program is only the second such economy-wide program in the nation, and the work of implementing this program has only just begun. It’s a big task with even bigger long-term impacts on the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and the global fight against climate change. The CCA Implementation Group is already hard at work and looking to hire a diverse range of mission-focused professionals to help us bring this important legislation to life. As the Climate Change Third-Party Verification & Compliance Specialist, you will play a critical role in the Emissions Reporting and Verification unit within the CCA Implementation Group, responsible for managing the emissions databases, helping to establish the third-party verification program, as well as assisting the unit with tracking and ensuring compliance. You will work closely with Ecology and CCA Implementation Group colleagues, as well as external parties, such as regulated entities and their staff, and third-party verifiers.
 
Note: This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Environmental Specialist (ES) field and achieve the goal class of an ES3. Candidates will be considered at the ES1, ES2 and ES3 levels, depending on qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible to tele-work up to 3 days per week. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on June 12, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before June 11, 2023. If your application isn’t received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

Duties
As the Climate Change Third-Party Verification & Compliance Specialist, you will:

• Utilize, develop, and maintain the greenhouse gas emissions and third-party verification databases, reviewing entries for completeness and accuracy, and updating as necessary.
• Review, accept or reject, and administratively process third-party verification applications.
• Provide technical assistance to applicants during the third-party verification application process.
• Assist in the development of third-party verification training materials and programs, and work with other CCA Implementation Group staff to carry out these trainings.
• Track, organize, and monitor reports from third-party verifiers and contracts between verification bodies and clients to ensure quality and compliance with all applicable guidelines.
• Maintain and ensure the accuracy and completeness of Washington’s list of approved third-party verifiers.
• Respond to inquiries, either in person, on the telephone, or in writing concerning third-party verification applications, the verification process, and status of applications. 
• Draft notices of enforcement, supporting documentation, and other compliance documents.

Qualifications
The goal class for this position is Environmental Specialist 3 (ES3). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the ES1, ES2 and ES3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES1 or ES2, they will be hired in at that level and placed into a training program to become an ES3 within a specified period of time.

Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

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

At the Environmental Specialist 1 level: Salary Range 38 ($3,096-$4,117 monthly) (in-training) 
A total of four years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience: Involving environmental or other analysis or control, or environmental or other planning, or allied field.
• Education: involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other field.

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

 
At the Environmental Specialist 2 level: Salary Range 45 ($3,650-$4,892 monthly) (in-training) 
A total of five years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience: Involving environmental or other analysis or control, or environmental or other planning, or allied field.
• Education: involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other field.

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

 
OR
One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 1, at the Department of Ecology.
 
At the Environmental Specialist 3 level: Salary Range 49 ($4,013-$5,399 monthly) Goal Class 
A total of six years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience: Involving environmental or other analysis or control, or environmental or other planning, or allied field.
• Education: involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other field.

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

 
OR
One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2, 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.

• Demonstrated ability to maintain complete and accurate data and records within timelines, using required procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask in an ever changing fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with Washington’s Cap-and-Invest Program, or similar programs.
• Demonstrated commitment and interest in working to address climate change.   

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.
• A list of three professional references.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4058656/climate-change-verification-specialist-environmental-specialist-3-in-training