The Washington State Department of Ecology has an incredible opportunity for an experienced strategic thinker, inclusive collaborator and community leader who is committed to protecting and preserving Washington’s natural environment.
   
The Program Manager for the Nuclear Waste Program (NWP) is an Exempt Management Service Band 4 position that reports to Ecology’s Deputy Director, and is located at our Nuclear Waste Program office in Richland, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station. 

In this role, you will lead a team of dedicated professionals committed to the effective and efficient cleanup of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford site. Your work will include managing and directing personnel and budget resources to ensure sound management and progress for cleaning up mixed hazardous and radioactive wastes to protect Washington State’s air, water and land.

This is an exciting and challenging position for a proven leader. It’s an opportunity to become part of a dynamic team that engages federal, state, local, Tribal, citizen, elected official and environmental group interests to create innovative partnerships to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations.

Our Mission at the Department of Ecology is to protect, preserve, and enhance Washington’s environment, for current and future generations. 

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 40% tele-work schedule. Applicants with questions about 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 March 4, 2024. In order to be considered, please apply on or before March 3, 2024. 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. 

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 *Click here for more information 

About the Department of Ecology

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 that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan. 

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:
 

• 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. 
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. 

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.

 
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.  

Key Aspects of the position:

You will manage and direct personnel and budget resources to accomplish the Nuclear Waste Program’s mission to lead the effective and efficient cleanup of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford site and ensure sound management of mixed hazardous and radioactive wastes to protect the Washington State’s air, water and land.

In this role, you will represent the state’s interests in the Tri-Party Agreement, which is a 30-year, multi-billion dollar compliance order signed by Ecology, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) to guide cleanup of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the Consent Order which directs the construction of Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant and hazardous waste storage tank retrieval.

What you’ll be doing:

You will be responsible for administering and managing the state and delegated federal programs to manage environmental cleanup of the Hanford Site and management of mixed hazardous and low-level radioactive waste in the state of Washington. This includes implementing hazardous waste management, clean up, clean water and clean air regulations at the Hanford site and at sites that manage low-level radioactive waste on and adjacent to the Hanford site as well as the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
 
You will be responsible for:

• Formulating policy, procedures, guidelines and rules related to these responsibilities and coordinating with other programs and agencies that may also play a role in the clean-up of the Hanford nuclear waste site.
• Playing a highly visible role with three Tribal governments, federal and state agencies, local governments in the Tri Cities area and environmental and worker safety advocacy organizations across the region.
• Serving along with Ecology’s Director, on a workgroup consisting of senior executives of the US Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Serving as Washington’s member of US Department of Energy’s State and Tribal Government’s Working Group.
• This position has historically been appointed by the Governor’s Office to serve on the National Governor’s Association Federal Facilities Task Force representing Washington State along with regulators from other states with US Department of Energy legacy cleanup sites.
• This position is actively involved in and provides leadership in the national group of state environmental directors (ECOS) on issues related to federal facilities.

Who are we looking for?

We’re looking for an experienced leader who is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and who is ready to team with a large group of dedicated professionals. You’ll need to have the ability to:

• Problem solve and adjust strategies to capture emerging opportunities or unexpected challenges.
• Have a clear understanding of larger state and federal policies which impact the work and direction of the Nuclear Waste Program, as well as an ability to translate those larger imperatives into appropriate actions.
• See and understand the opportunities and challenges of how the work impacts people and what is needed to ensure durable outcomes to protect the environment.

A Key Member of Ecology’s Executive Leadership Team
 
It is critical that this important position maintains the highest standards of personal, professional, and ethical conduct to support the state’s commitment to efficient, effective, inclusive and accountable government.
 
This is a highly visible environmental management role that requires the use of advanced management, communication, negotiation, and consensus-building skills with high-level, influential elected and appointed officials.
 
As a key member of our Department’s Executive Leadership Team, the successful candidate will:

• Represent the Director with federal, state, local, Tribal and elected officials, the general public, environmental groups, and the business community.
• Develop credibility as a problem solver and a source of land use and water quality information for decision-makers and the public.
• Make recommendations to the Executive Leadership Team on how to implement programs and develop policies including agency direction for work procedures to ensure responsive service delivery and consistency.
• Foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive and respectful workplace.

Why join the team?

All relevant experience including lived, volunteer, professional, or a combination of experience and education that demonstrates the ability to perform the work will be considered.

Your application, cover letter, and resume will be used to determine if you have the demonstrated experience and knowledge listed in the required qualifications. Please ensure your application materials describe how you meet the required qualifications.

Required Qualifications:

1) Demonstrated experience in managing budgets.

2) Demonstrated experience in managing and supervising teams, including:

• Providing direction to mid-level managers and supervisors in scientific, engineering and/ or public health fields, which includes coaching, training, recruitment, evaluation, and performance.
• Providing oversight of a program’s diverse functions combining and directing all aspects to meet overall program objectives.

3) Working knowledge of environmental regulations associated with hazardous waste, air quality, and water quality permits (under state and federal law) and cleanup actions under the state’s Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) as well as safe management practices for hazardous and mixed radioactive waste and low-level radioactive waste at commercial and government facilities.

4) Familiarity with Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). 

6) The incumbent must also possess the following:

• The ability to motivate staff in a high pressure and high demand environment.
• Willingness to travel on a frequent basis including overnight travel.
• Willingness to work extensive hours including evenings and weekends.

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be demonstrated through professional degrees and/or professional and lived experience.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Most work is conducted in an office environment. Hours vary and can be unpredictable. There are night meetings. Travel to and from meetings or site visit locations frequently extend the workday. There is a frequent need to travel to meetings, both by automobile and airline. Some site visit locations may be in remote areas. Travel will require overnight stays and multiple-day out-of-state travel to meetings and conferences. 
• Hanford is a federally restricted cleanup site. Candidates for this position must meet US Department of Energy requirements to attain access to the Hanford Site. 

• The ability to obtain 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.

Preferred education and involvement in scientific and/or technical service areas in the environmental, natural resource management and/or health protection fields. Experience may be gained concurrently.

• Experience developing relationships with key senior-level stakeholders.
• Project management, regulatory, or planning experience related to hazardous waste material and clean-up, along with federal and state permitting requirements.
• Experience as a member of a senior management or executive team.
• Experience providing leadership and guidance (not always with direct line authority) to a large workforce with technical, scientific and/or policy experience.
• Advanced knowledge of legislative processes and intergovernmental relations.
• Working knowledge of state fiscal practices.
• Knowledge of Washington State Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act.
• General knowledge of federal facilities.
• Ability to navigate and implement fair, durable and protective regulatory actions and decisions.

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