Outreach and Engagement Specialist (Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist 4) description image

Outreach and Engagement Specialist (Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist 4)

Salary: $59,844.00 – $80,460.00 Annually
Location: Benton County – Richland, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Job Number: 2024-NWP5224-06594
Department: Dept. of Ecology
Division: Nuclear Waste
Opening Date: 06/04/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Category: Environmental Services / Public Health / Public Relations / Education / Natural Resources / Marketing / Communications / Sciences / Green-Collar/Environmental
 
 
 
                         Outreach and Engagement Specialist (Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist 4) description image
 
 

The salary listed above includes the 3% pay increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2024.

 
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Nuclear Waste Program (NWP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist (Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist 4) position. This position is located in our Richland Field Office (RFO) in Richland, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

In this position, you will have the opportunity to take the lead on developing our program’s outreach, education, and environmental justice policies, strategies, and other initiatives to effectively engage with communities impacted by Hanford Site cleanup. Hanford is one of the most complex environmental cleanup efforts in the world and is tracked by a wide variety of audiences regionally, across the Pacific Northwest, and nationally. In this role, you will gain valuable experience in relationship building, engaging with diverse audiences, communicating complex topics in in a meaningful way, and working collaboratively with a small, but mighty communications team and peers from other agencies.

Agency Mission: Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations.   

Program Mission: The Nuclear Waste Program’s (NWP) mission is to lead the effective and efficient cleanup of the United States Department of Energy’s Hanford Site; to ensure sound management of mixed hazardous wastes in Washington; and to protect the state’s air, water, and land at and adjacent to the Hanford site.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint. In general, this position is required to work a minimum of 10% of its scheduled hours in the office – typically a half day a week, or one day every two weeks. However, due to the outreach, education, public involvement, and communications work this position entails, you will be expected to come to the office and/or work in the field as required or requested for meetings, outreach and education events, and similar work. This could mean multiple days per week, or just the minimum stated above, depending on what is scheduled or requested. 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 June 18, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before June 17, 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 ForgivenessTuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life InsuranceDeferred Compensation ProgramsDependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA)Employee Assistance ProgramCommute Trip Reduction Incentives(Download PDF reader)Combined Fund DriveSmartHealth *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. 

 

 

Duties

 

Outreach and Engagement Specialist (Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist 4) description image

What makes this role unique?

Keeping Hanford top of mind is crucial to maintaining progress – Hanford cleanup will extend into at least the 2070s and much of the work at the site is the first of its kind in the world. Those most vulnerable to harmful impacts are overburdened and underserved communities, including people of color, low-income populations, Tribes, and indigenous people. Many of these communities have historically been left out of the decision-making process and haven’t had a voice in cleanup. In this role, you will build relationships, engaging and involving the community in the crucial work being done.

What you will do:

  • Develop and implement the program’s community engagement plan. 
  • Develop and implement the program’s outreach and education strategy across the Pacific Northwest. 
  • Create and maintain the program’s environmental justice committee. 
  • Develop and advise management on the program’s outreach, education, and environmental justice policies. 
  • Create a regular external newsletter for the program.
  • Take lead on developing educational materials about the Hanford Site’s cleanup budget. 
  • Support public involvement, outreach, and education opportunities across the Pacific Northwest. 
  • Work as part of the program communications team on other communications materials, projects, and initiatives.

 

 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:

  • 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
  • 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

A total of eight years of experience and/or education as described below:

  • Experience: Involving environmental analysis or control, environmental planning, environmental education, community outreach, or communications activities. 
  • Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, education, communications, or related field. 
All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:

Possible Combinations College credit hours or degree – as listed above. Years of required experience – as listed above.
Combination 1 No college credit hours or degree 8 years of experience
Combination 2 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. 7 years of experience
Combination 3 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). 6 years of experience
Combination 4 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. 5 years of experience
Combination 5  A Bachelor’s Degree 4 years of experience
Combination 6  A Master’s Degree or higher 2 years of experience

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

  • After employment begins, this position requires passing the Hanford General Employee Training (HGET) course and acquiring a badge for access to the Hanford Site.
  • 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.

  • Experience developing community engagement plans, outreach and education strategies, or public involvement plans.
  • Planning, organizing, and executing outreach and education events.
  • Understanding of environmental justice policies, procedures, and communications strategies.
  • Writing and editing. This experience can include writing and editing outreach and education documents, fact sheets, brochures, blogs, and/or other communications documents.
Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool. 

 

 

Supplemental Information


Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


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 1-800-833-6384.
  • 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 on 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 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 (such as 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 Ryan Miller at Ryan.Miller@ecy.wa.gov Please do not contact Ryan 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.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagram 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 1-800-833-6384.


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. 

 

Agency
State of Washington
Address
View Job Posting for Agency Information

View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504
Phone
View Posting for Agency Contact