Salary: $48,156.00 – $75,120.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Department: Dept. of Ecology
Job Number: 2023-SWM0907-02249
Closing: Continuous

Description
The Solid Waste Management (SWM) program is looking to fill a Solid Waste Planner/Grants Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training) position. This position is located in our Southwest Region Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with local decision makers to implement many innovative and sustainable environmental projects. In this role, you will gain valuable experience in the world of solid waste through local, comprehensive planning and managing grant funding programs.

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, Candidates will be considered at the Environmental Specialist 3 and Environmental Specialist 4 levels, depending on their qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.  

Agency Mission: Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment and to promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations.  

Program Mission: 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.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to an 80% telework schedule. 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 is subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of February 27, 2023. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before of February 26, 2023. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

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. 

• 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, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Duties
In this role, you will develop a broad knowledge of several solid waste topics, including planning, grant funding, waste reduction, and sustainability among others. Strong communication and organizational skills are critical to excelling in this role, and if this sounds like you, apply to join our team today!

What you will do:

• Serve as the Senior Environmental and Regional Specialist in Local Solid Waste Financial Assistance Program (LSWFAP) implementation and grant project management.
• Work closely with local government officials to provide consultation and technical assistance in developing, improving and negotiating project proposals.
• Evaluate applications and plans, negotiate and develop grant agreements (e.g. scope of work, budget, and project timelines) with grant recipients.
• Provide assistance to local government planning, working with public works directors, solid waste managers, city and county officials, local solid waste advisory committees (SWAC) and other stakeholders to evaluate and prioritize solid and hazardous waste reduction and management issues.
• Plan and conduct statewide and local special training events to grant recipients relating to program updates and administration of LSWFAP grants.
• Administrate Local Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Plans.
• Communicate with local planning jurisdictions to assure appropriate consistency with statewide planning goals and directives, and bring local government interests, concerns, and perspectives to statewide issue discussions and processes.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:This is an In-Training position. The goal class for this position is Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the Environmental Specialist 3 or 4 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level, then they will be hired as an ES3 and will be placed in a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.

At the Environmental Specialist 3 level: Range 49 ($4,013 – $5,399 per month) (In-Training)
Six (6) years of combined experience and / or education –
Experience: In environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.
Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.

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

-OR-
One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2, at the Department of Ecology.

At the Environmental Specialist 4 level: Pay Range 55 ($4,656-$6,260 monthly) Goal Class
Nine (9) years of combined experience and / or education –
Experience: In environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.
Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.

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

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

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.

• Experience and/or academic training in solid waste management, waste reduction, reuse, and recycling and/or sustainable resource management practices. 
• Willingness and ability to stay up-to-date on state-of-the-art technology, research and innovation in waste management, reduction, reuse and recycling, and other sustainable resource management practices.
• Experience and/or training in providing direct customer service, especially in difficult situations. 
• Experience working as a member of a team assigned to create and complete a project. 
• Training related to developing interpersonal communication skills or providing good customer service.

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 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.
• Three professional references.

To Apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3915464/solid-waste-planner-grants-specialist-environmental-specialist-4-in-training

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. 

Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1, state employees must be fully vaccinated effective November 4, 2022. Providing proof of being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment and your vaccine status will be verified prior to starting work. Being fully vaccinated means two weeks after you have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed or otherwise authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or listed for emergency use or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line. 

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 Peter Lyon at Peter.Lyon@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Peter 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 Apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3915464/solid-waste-planner-grants-specialist-environmental-specialist-4-in-training