Salary: $62,568.00 – $92,868.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent

The Water Quality program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Groundwater Quality Hydrogeologist (Hydrogeologist 3) (In-Training) position. This position is located in our Southwest Region Office (SWRO)  in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

You will serve as a Water Quality Program Hydrogeologist (HG) providing groundwater and hydrological technical services to Ecology staff. This includes collaborative work with senior staff to administer Washington’s underground injection control (UIC) program. The UIC program is a Federal Safe Drinking Water Act program to protect groundwater. You will also work with a team of HGs throughout the department. You will train to become the program’s expert on state groundwater standard (GWS) regulations. Through that gained knowledge, you will advise other staff who must implement the GWS regulations as part of their regulatory decisions, for example permit issuance, remediation projects, and strategic planning effort to protect groundwater.

Additional work includes special projects such as updating the state critical aquifer recharge area guidance, groundwater nitrate data mapping and assessment, and related groundwater research questions. A desired hiring qualification for this position is a current state hydrogeologist specialty license. However, this is also an opportunity for you to work with a licensed hydrogeologist on our team to get training which will help prepare for gaining a state hydrogeologist license. You are expected to achieve licensure within a maximum three-year in-training period.

Note: A desired qualification for this position is a current state hydrogeologist specialty license. This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This is an opportunity for interested candidates at the Hydrogeologist 2 level to work with a licensed hydrogeologist on our team to get the training necessary to attain a state hydrogeologist license and qualify for the Hydrogeologist 3 level. The successful candidate is expected to achieve licensure within a maximum three-year in-training period. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section. 

Program Mission: The mission of the Water Quality Program is to protect and restore Washington’s waters to support healthy watersheds and communities. Our work ensures state waters can support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public health.     

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work schedule. 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 7th, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before September 6th, 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? 

What you will do: 

• Evaluate hydrogeologic studies and site assessments to determine if they comply with UIC laws and policies. 
• Managing and evaluate nitrate groundwater data, using GIS for public presentation of nitrate and other groundwater pollutant data. 
• Answer inquiries regarding the interpretation of state groundwater rules. This involves collaboration with permittees, stakeholders, tribes, and other state and federal agencies. 
• Work with Washington Department of Health on topics such as drinking water rules, onsite septic rules, and other environmental protection issues in which Ecology and the Department of Health (DOH) share responsibilities.

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.

This is an In-Training position. The goal class for this position is a Hydrogeologist 3 (HG3). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the Hydrogeologist 2 and 3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the HG2 level, then they will be placed into a training program to become a HG3 within a specified period of time.

At the Hydrogeologist 2 Level – Pay Range – 58 ($5,214- $7,016 Monthly) (In-Training)

Option 1:

• A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field. 
• Two years of professional experience as a hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geologist or closely allied profession.
  

Option 2:

• A Master’s degree with major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field.

Option 3: 

• One year as a Hydrogeologist 1, at the Department of Ecology.

At the Hydrogeologist 3 Level – Pay Range – 62 ($5,756 – $7,739 Monthly) (Goal Class)

Option 1:

• A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field. 
• Three years of professional experience as a hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geologist or closely allied profession.
• Registration as a Licensed Geologist AND Licensed Hydrogeologist in the State of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington. 

Option 2:

• A Master’s degree with major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field.
• One year of professional experience as a hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geologist or closely allied profession.
• Registration as a Licensed Geologist AND Licensed Hydrogeologist in the State of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington. 

Option 3:

• A Ph.D. involving major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field. 
• Registration as a Licensed Geologist AND Licensed Hydrogeologist in the State of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington.

Option 4: 

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• At the HG3 level position MUST have a valid Washington State Geologist License AND a Washington State Hydrogeologist specialty license under RCW 18.220, within 6 months of hire. 

NOTE:  Individuals who are interested in applying to this position, and believe they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington based on reciprocity, are responsible for ensuring they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington prior to submitting their application materials. These requirements can be found at the following website:  WA State Licensing (DOL) Official Site: How to get your license: Geologists, engineering geologists, or hydrogeologists by reciprocity 

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