Agency Mission: Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment and to promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations.

Program Mission: The mission of the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program is to foster sustainability, prevent pollution, and ensure safe waste management of the millions of pounds of hazardous substances used and disposed of each year by businesses and households in Washington State.  Over the longer term, we work with businesses and governments to achieve a system where waste is viewed as inefficient, and most wastes and unnecessary use of toxic substances have been eliminated.

What will you do?

• Work with HWTR and TCP (Toxics Cleanup Program) hydrogeologists, toxicologists, and outreach specialists to manage contaminated sites.
• With professional engineers, review documents submitted by cleanup sites to determine if they comply with regulation and present cleanup solutions that will work.
• Keep informed about current cleanup technologies for site remediation .
• Work specifically with Clean Earth Kent and Univar, but have the opportunity to work on many sites in the region in order to develop skills and assist senior-level site managers.

This is a great opportunity to:

• Gain experience working for a professional engineer, which helps qualify you for the PE exam.
• Learn methods for soil and groundwater sampling and analysis.
• Learn how to remediate sites where soil and/or groundwater are contaminated by chemicals according to MTCA and RCRA regulations.
• Learn to be a cleanup site manager that can guide cleanup sites through the corrective action process according to MTCA and RCRA regulations.

Please note: During Stay Home, Stay Healthy, staff are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need.

Ecology is maintaining less than maximum building occupancy, and requiring masks, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing.

This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of February 17, 2021.  In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before February 16, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Required Qualifications:

An Engineer-In-Training Certificate or a Bachelor’s degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields, sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resource, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field AND one year of environmental engineering experience.

OR 

A Master’s degree with major study in one of the following engineering fields, sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field.

Desired Qualifications:

The most competitive candidates may have some or all of the below experience; not having some (or all) of these should not keep an otherwise qualified applicant from applying.

• Experience working with environmental regulations. These could include the Model Toxics Control Act, CERCLA, RCRA, Clean Water Act, etc.
• Experience building relationships with local, state, and federal officials.
• Experience with budget or contract management
• Experience communicating complex scientific issues and concepts to a wide audiences. This could include presentations to non-technical staff, written documents for public use, etc.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Driver’s License
• Initial 40-hour hazardous materials training followed by annual 8-hour refresher training is required and can be completed within six months of candidate hire.

Why work for Ecology?

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 the health and financial security of you and your family a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to work/life 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

Student debt and how working for Ecology can help
Employees may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, which forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

*See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information

Application Instructions:

Please complete the applicant profile when applying for this position. Or, you may paste the text of your resume within the profile’s resume text field.

Include in your application:

• A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required qualifications of this position.
• A resume outlining your professional experience.

It is in the candidate’s best interest to submit all of the documents listed above. Applications without these documents may be declined.

Please read the supplemental questions carefully and answer completely. Incomplete responses, including “please see resume,” may disqualify you from further consideration.

Please to do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.

Department of 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.

If you are reading this announcement in print format, please visit www.careers.wa.gov to access the online recruitment system. Click on “Look for Jobs” and select Dept. of Ecology under the “Department” search list. Click “Apply Search.”

Other Information:

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 have specific questions about the position, please email Christa Colouzis at: christa.colouzis@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Christa to inquire about the status of your application.

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.

This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.

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.