Salary: $48,156.00 – $75,120.00 Annually
Location: Multiple Locations Statewide, WA
Job Type: Project (limited duration)
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2023-SEAP1235-06815
Department: Dept. of Ecology
Division: Shorelands and Environmental Assistance
Opening Date: 05/26/2023
Closing Date: Continuous

The Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Restoration Project Permit Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training) position. This position can be located in our Headquarters Building or any of our main Region Offices:

Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.
Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.
Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA.

Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station. Please Note: If the final location of this position is determined to be in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA. there will be an additional 5% pay increase due to its location in King County.

In this role you will serve as a senior environmental section specialist representing Ecology on a statewide Habitat Recovery Pilot Program (HRPP). While ensuring the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s land, water, and water resources you will assist Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and other agencies in the development of innovative solutions to resolve emerging issues around habitat restoration and recovery projects permitting delays.

Note: This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Environmental Specialist field and achieve the goal class of Environmental Specialist 4 (ES 4). Candidates will be considered at the Environmental Specialist 3 (ES 3) and the Environmental Specialist 4 (ES 4) levels, depending on their qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.

Program Mission: The mission of the Shoreline and Environmental Assistance program is to work in partnership with communities to support healthy watersheds and promote statewide environmental interests.

Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until June 30, 2025. 

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 80% tele-work schedule after an initial training period. 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 12, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before June 11, 2023. 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. 

Duties
Using the innovative approach and guidance developed in the pilot, you will conduct the permit review and environmental assessments for proposed habitat restoration and recovery projects throughout Washington State going through the HRPP process. This entails creative thinking and ability to provide technical assistance within a context of statewide collaboration with multiple parties.

What you will do: 

• Represent Ecology on the interdisciplinary statewide Habitat Recover Pilot Program (HRPP).  
• Provide technical assistance in the development, implementation, and evaluation of improvements to regulatory processes for permitting habitat restoration and recovery while protecting the environment.
• Review, analyze, develop, and recommend agency policies, guidance, and procedures to address the complex environmental review and permitting needed associated with habitat restoration and recovery projects. 
• Coordinating, evaluating, and accepting stakeholder input and then providing recommended actions to Ecology management.
• Design, develop conduct or review environmental studies related to complex environmental impacts or gains from habitat restoration and recovery projects.
• Provide independent review, evaluate, and assess of habitat restoration and recovery projects needing Ecology permits that are going through the HRPP or other improvement efforts.
• Work closely with other federal and state agency reviewing habitat restoration and recovery projects and conduct site visits.
• Establish and work with other Ecology programs and state agencies review teams to habitat restoration and recovery projects.
• Work cooperatively with colleagues to resolve internal policy interpretation issues, concerns, or disagreements.  

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.

Environmental Specialist 3 (Salary Range 49:  $4,013-$5,399 Monthly)
A total of Six (6) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Professional level Experience in: Environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.
• Education: Involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.

See chart below for a list of ways to qualify for this position:

OR

One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2 at the Department of Ecology

Environmental Specialist 4 (goal class) (Salary Range 55: $4,655-$6,260 Monthly)
A total of Nine (9) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Professional level Experience in: Environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.
• Education: Involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.

See chart below for a list of ways to qualify for this position:

OR 
Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 at the Department of Ecology. 

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment
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.

• Demonstrated ability to understand environmental legislation and regulations at the federal, state, and local level, by independently reviewing, analyzing, developing, and recommending guidance and procedures.

• Knowledge and experience with reviewing or permitting habitat restoration and recovery projects at the federal, state and/or local level. 
• Experience with Ecology regulations related to shoreline management, wetlands, floodplains, or clean water section 401 water quality certifications.
• Demonstrated understanding of project management for complex projects that require multi agency and program coordination.

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.
• A list of three professional references.

For more information and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4050738/restoration-project-permit-specialist-environmental-specialist-4-in-training