Salary: $54,108.00 – $70,956.00 Annually
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Closing: Continuous

The Solid Waste Management (SWM) program is looking to fill a Recycling Development Center Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) position. This position will be located in our Headquarters Office (HQ) in Lacey, WA.

The focus of this position is recycling and recycling market development, working to increase use of recyclable materials to create a sustainable and circular economy. This position will dig deep into data, policy, and technology to support new or expanding businesses to keep recyclable materials out of the landfill. This work involves collaboration with a variety of passionate interested parties, including universities, local governments, nonprofits, and business innovators. We are looking for someone who is excited about working on a wide range of assignments, learning how the recycling system functions and making recommendations for improvements, as well as developing relationships and partnerships to make things happen.

The mission of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) program is to reduce wastes through prevention and reuse, keep toxics out of the environment, and safely manage what remains.

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

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.

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees 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 July 7, 2021. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before July 6, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Duties

What makes this role unique?

The Recycling Development Center Specialist position will work with a team to research technologies, policies, and markets to improve recycling of collected materials and to support the growth of recycling businesses in the Northwest. The initial focus of this work will be on materials that have been most impacted by the collapse of the domestic market for recyclable materials. The goal is to create recycling markets in Washington State, reduce reliance on foreign markets, and enhance implementation of Washington’s solid and hazardous waste plan to sustainably manage materials and reduce the impacts of solid waste on the environment.

We are looking for candidates with a passion for recycling who work well both on a team and individually. The successful candidate must have the ability to analyze and interpret data, communicate with a diverse audience, and communicate with government officials, industry leaders, recycling businesses, environmental organizations, and non-profits. This is a unique effort at Ecology, join our team as we work to improve and expand recycling markets in our state and region.

What you’ll do:

  • Work with the Recycling Development Center Coordinator and the Lead Planner, the Department of Commerce (Commerce), and the Center Advisory Board on the implementation of the Center work plan (Download PDF reader).
  • Conduct and contract for studies and research that support the goals of the Center and share the results with a variety of audiences.
  • Conduct recycling market policy research, recommend policies that would improve recycling markets in Washington.
  • Research into recycling data and market data; analyze the data to identify challenges and opportunities to improve recycling markets.
  • Manage Recycling Development Center grants and contracts, coordinating as needed with Commerce.
  • Provide customer service and technical assistance related to recycling markets to recycling businesses, entrepreneurs, state and local governments, and universities.
  • Work and communicate with diverse external parties involved and interested in recycling, including the Center advisory board, recycling and solid waste industry, local governments, environmental organizations, and others.

This senior-level position will help shape the direction of recycling in Washington state. Join the Solid Waste Management Program team at this exciting time as we tackle important issues like plastics, food waste reduction, and recycling markets.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Option 1: High school diploma or GED AND nine years of professional-level experience in grants or contracts administration at a federal, state, or local government, or similar project management experience, which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above. See chart below:

Option 2: A Bachelor’s degree involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning, public administration, or other allied field AND five years of professional-level experience in grants or contracts administration at a federal, state, or local government, or similar project management experience, which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

Option 3: A Master’s degree in one of the above fields AND three years of professional – level experience as required above which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above. 

The 1 year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 can include a combination of the following: 1) investigating and / or resolving complaints involving science or technology content, 2) performing inspections, 3) drafting technical evaluations and reports, 4) develops plans for researching information used for technical projects, regulatory or policy development, 5) plan and facilitate public meetings and hearings, 6) project work requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 7) providing technical assistance for complex scientific content and/ or support for implementing scientific content programs, 8) conducting tests, analyzing and evaluating data, 9) using environmental databases to support technical projects, 10) developing scientific studies and resource management plans, 11) providing environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.

The 2 years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2 can include assisting in any of the following areas: 1) performing field surveys or studies, 2) responding to complaints involving scientific or technical content, 3) preparing public meetings and hearings, 4) assistance with routine inspections or investigations requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 5) responding to routine inquires or requests for technical assistance involving scientific content, 6) special projects that are scientific in nature, 7) conducting routine sampling and testing analyses, interprets data, writing reports 8) performing basic sampling data review, 9) maintaining an environmental data base to support technical projects, 10) providing routine environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.

Desired Qualifications:

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

  • Knowledge of recycling systems and market issues.
  • Research experience or knowledge of life cycle assessments, hazard assessments, alternative assessments, environmental justice, equity analyses, circular economy, industrial symbiosis, or related topics.
  • One year of experience in conducting advanced research and effectively communicating environmental data.
  • Experience working with a variety of interested parties, especially diverse business and government interests.
  • Two years of experience administering government grants or contracts.

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 1-800-833-6388.
  • 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 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 Kara Steward at: Kara.Steward@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Kara to inquire about the status of your application.

To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov