Salary: $48,156.00 – $64,788.00 Annually
Location: Whatcom County – Bellingham, WA
Job Type: Project (limited duration)
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Department: Dept. of Ecology
Job Number: 2023-WQP882-04638
Closing: Continuous

The Water Quality Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Nonpoint Source and Shellfish Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3) position. This position is located in our Bellingham Field Office (BFO) in Bellingham, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until April 30, 2025. The Funding for this position has a high probability of being renewed for the next bi-annual budget.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to telework or conduct fieldwork the majority of your week, and should live within a commutable distance to our Bellingham Field Office for in-person meetings, fieldwork, and activities. If you like a job with varied tasks, schedule and work environment, value clean water, and support strong stewardship in our agricultural community, this may be a great opportunity for you. You will develop strong communications skills working with dedicated state and local agencies and livestock operators, and will help protect and restore local shellfish growing areas for sustainable harvest. 

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. 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. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership who embrace the value of people.

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 May 02, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before May 01, 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. 

Duties
In this role you will provide direct guidance to livestock operators and landowners, predominantly in Skagit County but also in Whatcom County, to stop polluted runoff from their land. You will also work directly and collaboratively with dedicated and skilled teams of state and local agency professionals, including Skagit and Whatcom Counties and Conservation Districts, state departments of Agriculture and Health, local Tribes, and the Environmental Protection Agency. You will gain valuable experience and develop lasting relationships with these environmental partners.

What you will do:

• Respond to and investigate practices that may be causing nonpoint pollution.
• Work with landowners to address impacts of livestock on shellfish harvest areas. Help them implement ways to mitigate these impacts.
• Work closely with Skagit and Whatcom Conservation District staff and other agency partners to develop and implement pollution protection plans.
• Work with Ecology’s Water Quality Communications Consultant to conduct outreach and education activities related to nonpoint issues.
• Work with agency partners to plan, conduct, and oversee water quality sampling and data collection.
• Use GIS to get information to help with investigations into water quality pollution.
• Create and share data and maps to communicate project status with other agencies and the public.
• Apply enforcement actions, when needed, to address noncompliance with water quality laws and regulations.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
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.
 
Option 1:
A total of six years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Professional experience in: environmental analysis, natural resources management or environmental planning. Experience may include a combination of the following:
  • Enforcing rules, statues or policies pertaining to landowners, businesses, parks, or public lands.
  • Planning or implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) that reduce the risk of agricultural stormwater pollution.
• Education involving: environmental or natural science, or other related education fields.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:

Option 2:

• A Master’s degree or higher in environmental or natural science, or other related education fields, AND
• One year of experience in a field related to water quality compliance or the planning and/or implementation of Best Management Practices that protect water quality.

Option 3: 
One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2, 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.

• Environmental regulatory compliance experience.
• GIS experience or certification.
• Mediation training.
• Water quality sampling experience or training.

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

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

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.

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

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. 

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3991357/nonpoint-source-and-shellfish-specialist-environmental-specialist-3