Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

Are you a creative thinker? Do you enjoy helping others to understand complex information? Are you skilled in translating complex information into an easy to understand message? If so, join a team that shares your interests!

The Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Public Outreach Coordinator (Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist 3) position. The position is located in our Southwest Regional Office (SWRO) in Lacey, WA.

In this role you will provide education and outreach specific to the Tacoma Smelter Plume (TSP) project. The Tacoma Smelter Plume is a high priority project for the Toxics Cleanup Program. Nearly 1000 square miles of Puget Sound were polluted by the Asarco smelter in Tacoma. Many communities are impacted by the smelter pollution. You will also coordinate public involvement at various cleanup sites in the TCP SWRO section. Public involvement is required at various stages in the cleanup process, by the Model Toxics Control Act, the law that governs cleanup in Washington.

Your strong communication skills coupled with excellent people skills and your ability to work on a team in a fast paced environment will help you be successful in this role.

Agency and Program Mission:  Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land and water. The agency’s goals are to prevent pollution, clean up pollution and support sustainable communities and natural resources. The mission of the Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) is to protect human health and the environment for the people of Washington by preventing, reducing, or eliminating exposure to contamination to support the development of environmentally and economically sustainable communities.

Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until June 30, 2027.

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, collaborative, with leadership who embrace the value of people.

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.
• A wellness program that offers education, and fitness classes; an agency-wide fondness for walking meetings.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect and leadership who encourage all employees to bring their authentic selves to work.

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.

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.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of June 14, 2021.  In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before June 13, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

Asarco operated a smelter in Tacoma for nearly 100 years.  Ecology is addressing the legacy of contamination from the smelter as part of the Tacoma Smelter Plume (TSP) project.  This is a high priority project for the Toxics Cleanup Program covering two regions – NWRO and SWRO. Funding for this work comes from the Asarco bankruptcy settlement.
Some of the key work activities include:

Providing education and outreach for the Tacoma Smelter Plume project to raise awareness of the contamination and promote healthy actions (like taking shoes off at the door). 

Tasks Include: 

• Developing, implementing, and overseeing general outreach plans and activities including mass media advertising plans and contracts; developing and updating general outreach materials; reporting outreach performance measures; assisting the project planner with developing reports about outreach activities; and evaluating overall Tacoma Smelter Plume outreach.
• Overseeing outreach activities by the local health departments as detailed in the interagency agreements. This includes reviewing scopes of work and work plans; coordinating regular check-ins with individual health departments; reviewing and approving deliverables and expenditures; and reviewing budgets, invoices, and progress reports. Coordinate bi-county health department meetings.
• With the yard program outreach coordinator, developing and implementing a strategy for homeowners whose yards do not qualify for soil replacement so the families are aware of the contamination on their property and healthy actions (like taking shoes off at the door) they can take.
• With the TSP Outreach team and the local health departments, developing and implementing a behavior change strategy to encourage the impacted communities to take healthy action (like taking shoes off at the door).
• As part of Ecology’s environmental justice effort, planning, coordinating, and developing non-English outreach strategy and materials. Provide oversight for and ensure Ecology translation team review of local health department non-English materials.

Providing education and outreach for cleanup sites in the SWRO TCP consistent with the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and consistent with Ecology’s environmental justice strategy.  Our goal is to provide the public with timely information and meaningful opportunities for participation that are commensurate with each cleanup site.   

Tasks include: 

• Planning, prioritizing, developing, and implementing public involvement activities in accordance with MTCA at TCP-SWRO cleanup sites.
• Preparing, developing, implementing, and overseeing public involvement plans, which outline public involvement and communication issues, activities, and a schedule of events for TCP-SWRO site cleanups.
• Planning, developing, coordinating, conducting, facilitating, and making presentations at public meetings, hearings, and workshops involving specific Ecology proposals or issues such as site cleanups, permit issuance, SEPA, etc.
• Conducting investigations for community outreach planning and development.
• Working with the TCP-SWRO Section Manager and assigned Cleanup Project Manager to develop site specific public involvement strategies.

Option 1: A Bachelor’s degree involving a major study in environmental, physical, or natural sciences, education, communications or closely related field AND three years of professional experience involving environmental analysis or control, environmental planning, environmental education, community outreach, or communications activities and conflict resolution, or equivalent education/experience.

Option 2: Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education. See chart below:

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

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.

The following Competencies, while eventually required for the position, may be learned/developed during the probationary period.

• Knowledge of MTCA public involvement process.
• Understanding of public involvement, risk communication, behavior change, and environmental justice best practices.
• Experience with environmental and/or public health outreach and education planning and implementation.
• Experience with outcome evaluation and tracking.
• Writing and editing skills.

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

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.

• 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.
• Two writing samples. (e.g., newsletter, fact sheet).

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.