Salary: $64,092.00 – $86,208.00 Annually
Location: Multiple Locations – Western Washington, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent

The  Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Regional Shoreline Compliance/Enforcement Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) position. This position can be located in any one of the following offices: 

Southwest Region Office (SWRO) in Lacey, WA.
Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.
Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

In this position, you will support both the Northwest and Southwest Regions on shoreline compliance and enforcement. You will work to improve implementation of local Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs) under the Shoreline Management Act (SMA). You will be part of a small team that is working in collaboration with local governments to build a new SMA monitoring and adaptive management program and to expand state capacity to enforce the SMA. You will build people skills, analyze land use decisions to evaluate program effectiveness, respond to SMA violations, and communicate complex permitting information to diverse audiences. You will help ensure shoreline development achieves no net loss of ecological functions and advances the goals of the Shoreline Management Act. 

Agency Mission: The mission of the Department of Ecology’s is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations.

Program Mission: The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.

Tele-work options for this position: This position is not required to work in the office, but will have field work associated with meeting and collaborating with local governments and investigating shoreline violations. 

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 September 5, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before September 4, 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. 

What makes this role unique? 

You will be joining a team of passionate public servants who work with a broad network of local shoreline administrators to implement a new Shoreline Management Act (SMA) monitoring and adaptive management program. You will get to work and build relationships with various partners, including local governments, Tribes, non-profits, and state and federal agencies. This is a great opportunity to use creative and solution-oriented problem-solving skills to protect Washington’s shorelines. 

What you will do: 

• Assist local governments in developing systematic approaches to monitor the success of shoreline permit systems, including the effectiveness of mitigation and other permit conditions.
• Provide review and analysis of shoreline authorizations and share findings with local partners.
• Participate in technical assistance training programs for agency staff and local agencies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs) implementation.
• Serve as grant manager for local grants aimed at improving compliance with SMPs. 
• Investigate SMA violations by coordinating with local staff and Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program Enforcement Lead, conducting site visits and gathering legally defensible data.
• Develop, negotiate, implement, and monitor terms of agreements intended to resolve SMA violations. Solicit and recommend appropriate restoration proposals.
• Represent the agency in SMA enforcement actions, hearings, and legal proceedings.

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, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify. 

A total of nine years of experience and/or education as described below: 

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

 OR
 Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

Must possess and maintain a valid 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.

• Demonstrated ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills and to work collaboratively to resolve difficult situations.
• Ability to understand environmental l regulations at the federal, state, and local level and complex permitting processes.
• Knowledge of the Shoreline Management Act, Shoreline Master Programs, and Ecology and local government roles under the Act.

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/4140604/regional-shoreline-compliance-enforcement-specialist-environmental-specialist-4