The Department of Ecology’s priority during the Covid-19 health crisis is to keep our staff, candidates, and the public safe.  We are still hiring and encourage you to apply to open positions.  The majority of our staff are currently working from home; we have transitioned to a virtual recruitment process, to include web-based interviews.   

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

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. If you want to join a team that is highly effective, collaborative, has leadership that embraces the value of people, and believes in the fun factor, Ecology is a good fit.

Are you a problem solver that enjoys a challenge? Do you want to make a difference by making a positive impact on the environment? If so, then join a great team that shares your interests!

The Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response program (SPPR) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Response & Natural Resources Damage Assessment Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) position. This position will be located in our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA.

This position responds to oil spills and directs multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams to conduct natural resource damage assessments, conducts sampling and scientific studies, manages and evaluates data, and generates reports. The successful candidate will support the TRAP after-hours emergency response team, responds to spills of oil and hazardous materials, and is required to perform after-hours on-call duty and work extra time after-hours and weekends during spills. This position supports the Resource Damage Assessment and Coastal Protection Fund steering committees and helps to administer restoration and equipment grants. This position also serves as the QA/QC coordinator for the Spills Program and maintains the program Data Quality Procedure.

We are looking for applicants who:

• Thrive in a response environment and are flexible to an environment of shifting priorities.
• Are analytical, organized and detailed.
• Have excellent communication and group facilitator skills.
• Are committed to public service and feel rewarded by achieving excellent environmental outcomes.

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.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

The mission of the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (Spills) program is to protect, preserve and restore Washington’s environment. Our vision is to create a zero spills world.

This position serves as a senior environmental specialist for the Ecology Spills Program Response Section.  With the ultimate objective of restoring public resources injured by oil spills, this position works independently, with the public and multiple stakeholders to apply the Washington State Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment law to process damage assessments and manage agency-funded restoration work.

This position is required to serve as a duty officer for after-hours pager duty on a regular rotation. 

Some of the key work activities of the Response & Natural Resources Damage Assessment Specialist are:

• Processing Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) actions
• Responding to oil and hazardous materials spills
• Performing worker safety and community air monitoring
• Assisting with hazardous materials incident safety
• Serving as the Spills Program QA/QC Coordinator
• Maintaining Procedures, Spills Program Sampling QA/QC and providing training to Spills Program staff
• Developing and processing Coastal Protection Fund grants in Ecology’s grant and loan administration system

Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field and five years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

OR

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.

OR

A Ph.D. in one of the above fields and two 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

ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 certification is required.  Free on-line ICS training and certification is available at:

ICS 100: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-100.c
ICS 200: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-200.c
ICS 700: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-700.b
ICS 800: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-800.c

Desired Qualifications:

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

A Master’s degree or higher in a science or natural resource field is preferred. Knowledge of the Northwest Area Contingency Plan. Familiarity with Washington Labor and Industry HAZWOPER safety regulations and developing site-specific health and safety plans. Knowledge of sampling and analytical data QA/QC, and familiarity with air monitoring for worker and community safety.  Previous experience with oil and hazardous materials response and cleanup. Experience administering grants is desired.

Other desired qualification include knowledge of processing natural resource damage assessments, environmental policies, federal and state environmental regulations, impacts of oil pollution on marine and freshwater natural resources, and methods of identifying, analyzing, and documenting the consequences of oil spills.  Additionally, this position should have a thorough knowledge of oil spill sampling procedures and knowledge of case documentation, quality assurance/quality control measures, and evidence collection.

HAZWOPER Certification at the Technician level is highly desirable.

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

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment:

• Must hold and maintain a valid Washington State driver’s license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.
• Must pass employment medical surveillance physical and demonstrate and maintain the ability to wear respiratory protection and chemical protective clothing.  Must pass a physical agilities test.
• Must be able to pass a detailed background check required to obtain and maintain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
• Must successfully complete initial SAFETRAC requirements and other required training outlined in Spills Program Policy and Procedures within 6 months of entering the position.
• Must be prepared for a minimum 3-day field deployment within 1 hour of notification during work hours and while on standby duty.
• Must hold and maintain eligibility and certification (valid passport or enhanced driver’s license) to permit travel to Canada in the event of a transboundary spill.
• Must notify supervisor immediately if the employee is unable to obtain any of the above required licenses or certifications, or if any of the above are revoked, expired or suspended for any reason.
• This position is required to maintain a personal level of fitness necessary to pass a periodic medical surveillance exam, which may include a stress test.
• This position is identified as an Essential Agency Employee and is expected to work during facility closures and natural disasters.
• This position is required to perform after-hours on-call duty on a rotation.

Why work for Ecology?

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 the health and financial security of you and your family a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to work/life balance.

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

Student debt and how working for Ecology can help
Employees may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, which forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

*See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information

Application Instructions:

Please complete the short on-line application, supplemental questions and upload:

• Your current chronological resume;
• A cover letter explaining how you fit the requirements of the position;
• Three professional references with current contact information.

Important Note:

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.

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

It is in the candidate’s best interest to submit all of the documents requested above. Applications without these documents may be declined.

Department of 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.

If you are reading this announcement in print format, please visit www.careers.wa.gov to access the online recruitment system. Click on “Look for Jobs” and select Dept. of Ecology under the “Department” search list. Click “Apply Search.”

Other Information:

If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov or call 360-407-6186. 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 have specific questions about the position, please email David Byers at: david.byers@ecy.wa.gov.  Please do not contact David to inquire about the status of your application.

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.

This position is included in the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) union bargaining unit for the Department of Ecology.

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.

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 1-800-833-6388.