See full details at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3167250/municipal-stormwater-grant-project-specialist-environmental-specialist-4-in-tr

Duties

What will you do?

Stormwater is one of the largest contributors of pollution in Washington. Stormwater contains toxic chemicals, excess nutrients, and bacteria. The Municipal Stormwater Grant Project Specialist helps reduce this pollution by providing financial assistance for grant and loan recipients in Southwest Washington. You’ll do this by:

• Working with a team of internal and external partners, including engineers and financial managers, to evaluate, plan, install, and maintain critical stormwater water quality treatment and flow control infrastructure.
• Developing and negotiating grant and loan terms of agreement.
• Tracking project performance against contract obligations, which includes visiting sites at critical stages to make sure they are following the grant agreements.
• Reviewing and rating environmental stormwater grant applications for accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements. 
• Helping local governments understand how to use Ecology funds to improve stormwater management. 
• Participating in critical decision making processes regarding the value of various stormwater management options. 

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. 

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• A wellness program that offers education, and fitness classes; an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Why join the team?

Stormwater management is a dynamic discipline that plays a critical role in understanding the health of local streams and rivers. Our understanding of how and where to manage municipal stormwater continues to evolve as we plan for retrofitting stormwater facilities built over the last century.  
 
Our challenge of reducing stormwater pollution is a long-term project that will require public and private investments for decades to come. In addition to managing state grant funding on a project by project basis, you will be a member of a statewide team that helps guide the management and evolution of the Stormwater Financial Assistance Program through:  

• Participation in the statewide Stormwater Action Team (SWAT).
• Coordination with the SWRO Grants Team, Watershed Leads, and municipal stormwater permit planners.
• Direct interaction with multiple local governments managing grants involving a diverse collection of stormwater treatment approaches and by facilitating information sharing with those entities.
• Analyzing Environmental Justice data and working with the WQ team to find ways to use this data as part of our decision making processes.

Qualifications

The goal class for this position is an Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for both the ES4 and the ES3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level then they will be hired as an ES3 and will be placed in a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time. 

Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational, volunteer and lived-experience. See below for how you may qualify.

At the Environmental Specialist 3 level: Pay Range 49 ($3,887 – $5,102 – monthly)

Option 1:

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

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

• Providing technical environmental assistance and administrative guidance on environmental programs, projects, and grants.
• Participating in the implementation of municipal stormwater programs and permits. 
• Reviewing and evaluating grant and loan applications. 
• Managing grants and the implementation of environmental projects.
• Developing, negotiating, and monitoring terms of agreements for environmental grants and projects in accordance with state and federal rules and regulations.
• Analyzing and interpreting RCWs, WACs, internal policies, procedures, and guidance documents appropriate to environmental grants.

Option 2:

• Two (2) years of experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning, which may include the experience described in Option 1. 

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

Option 3: 

• One (1) year of experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning, which may include the experience described in Option 1. 

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

Option 4:

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

At the Environmental Specialist 4 level Pay Range 55 ($4,509 – $5,913 monthly) Goal Class

Option 1:

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

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

• Providing technical environmental assistance and administrative guidance on environmental programs, projects, and grants.
• Participating in the implementation of municipal stormwater programs and permits. 
• Reviewing and evaluating grant and loan applications. 
• Managing grants and the implementation of environmental projects.
• Developing, negotiating, and monitoring terms of agreements for environmental grants and projects in accordance with state and federal rules and regulations.
• Analyzing and interpreting RCWs, WACs, internal policies, procedures, and guidance documents appropriate to environmental grants.

Option 2:

• Five (5) years of experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning, which may include the experience described in Option 1. 

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

Option 3: 

• Three (3) years of experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning, which may include the experience described in Option 1. 

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

Option 4:

• Two (2) years of experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning, which may include the experience described in Option 1. 

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

Option 5:

• Two (2) years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 at the Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
 

• Must have 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.

• Experience communicating technical or scientific information with a wide variety of audiences, including the general public who may not have a technical scientific background.
• Experience reviewing, creating, or explaining technical documents, such as water quality-related statutes, regulations, or permits. 

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• 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 are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

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

Please to do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current 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.

Application Attestation: 

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. 

Other Information:

If  you have specific questions about the position, please email Lawrence Sullivan at: Lawrence.Sullivan@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Lawrence to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability.

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 your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work 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 *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

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.

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

Equal Opportunity Employer: 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.

Note: 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.