Description

The Department of Ecology’s priority during the Covid-19 health crisis is to keep our staff, candidates, and the public safe.  We are still hiring and encourage you to apply to open positions.  The majority of our staff are currently working from home; we have transitioned to a virtual recruitment process, to include web-based interviews. 

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

Protecting Washington State’s environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. If you want to join a team that is highly effective, collaborative, and has leadership that embraces the value of people, Ecology may be a good fit.

The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction program at the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Hazardous Waste Inspector position. This position is located in our Central Regional Office in Union Gap, WA.

Thousands of businesses in Washington are subject to hazardous waste rules. As a Hazardous Waste Specialist, you will help businesses understand waste rules and determine if businesses are in compliance with these rules. If they aren’t in compliance, you will help them find ways to come into compliance. This work will help protect people’s health and the environment.

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.

Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

Duties

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 where most waste and unnecessary use of toxic substances have been eliminated.

What will you do?

• Research and learn detailed waste rules
• Visit businesses to evaluate compliance with waste rules, and consider options to achieve compliance
• Write inspection reports
• Participate in teams to support the waste compliance program

Why join the team

This In-Training position is a great opportunity to learn and understand state and federal hazardous waste rules. If you meet the requirements for an Environmental Specialist 2, you will be provided a Training Plan in order to become an Environmental Specialist 3 within a specified period of time.

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 March 30, 2021. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before March 29, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

To broaden the candidate pool, we will consider candidates that qualify at the Environmental Specialist 2 and 3 levels. Please read the qualifications section below to learn more about this career growth and in-training opportunity.

At the Environmental Specialist 3 (Pay Range 49) Goal Class: $3,887 – $5,102 Monthly

Option 1:

Six (6) years of combined education and experience:

• Education: Involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied science field.

• Experience: In environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.

Option 2:

• A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field

• Two (2) years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.

Option 3: 

• A Master’s degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field

• One (1) year of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for ES3 level:

Possible Combinations College credit hours or degree Years of required experience
Combination 1 No college credit hours or degree 6 years of experience
Combination 2 I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits 5 years of experience
Combination 3 I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree) 4 years of experience
Combination 4 I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits 3 years of experience
Combination 5 A Bachelor’s Degree 2 years of experience
Combination 6 A Master’s Degree
1 year of experience

At the Environmental Specialist 2 (Pay Range 49) Level: $3,535 – $4,627 Monthly

Option 1:

Five (5) years of combined education and experience:

Education: Involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied science field.
Experience: In environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.
Option 2:

A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field

One (1) year of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.

Option 3:

A Master’s degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for the ES2 level:

Possible Combinations College credit hours or degree Years of required experience
Combination 1 No college credit hours or degree 5 years of experience
Combination 2 I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits 4 years of experience
Combination 3 I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree) 3 years of experience
Combination 4 I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits 2 years of experience
Combination 5 A Bachelor’s Degree 1 years of experience
Combination 6 A Master’s Degree No experience

Desired Qualifications:

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below. Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Experience reviewing, working with, or learning about environmental issues, programs, or regulations at the federal, state, or local level.
Experience effectively communicating complex information to a variety of audiences.
Experience applying negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Obtain and maintain a valid drivers license

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

Supplemental 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 Greg Caron at: Greg.Caron@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Greg 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.

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.

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.