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

The Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response program (SPPR) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Vessel and Oil Transfer Inspector (Marine Transportation Safety Specialist 3) position. This position will work out of our Vancouver Field Office (VFO) in Vancouver, WA.

The Vessel and Oil Transfer Inspector position works to prevent oil spills to Washington waters. Our goal, established by the Washington State Legislature is “zero spills”. To accomplish this, the inspector evaluates oil spill risks from arriving commercial cargo and passenger vessels, conducts vessel inspections to determine substantial risks of spills, and investigates spills and marine casualties to determine incident causes and identify prevention recommendations. This position inspects regulated oil transfers to or from commercial vessels to ensure compliance with Washington regulations. Working with regulated oil handling facilities, this position reviews operations manuals and training and certification plans for mobile facilities and conducts inspections of regulated fuel terminals and marinas. Additionally, this position is engaged with the regional maritime community, and represents Ecology in meetings and events with tribes and stakeholders.

We are looking for applicants with a positive attitude who excel at working independently and who have strong technical skills related to vessel engineering systems, vessel inspection, engine department operations and management, and incident investigation.

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 Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (SPPR) program is to protect Washington’s environment, public health, and safety through a comprehensive spill prevention, preparedness and response program.

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 commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect and leadership who encourage all employees to bring their authentic selves to work.
• 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.

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 8, 2021.  In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before June 7, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

• Schedule and conduct inspections of regulated vessels to determine substantial risks of oil spills.
• Provide marine engineering subject matter expertise by answering questions, developing training material, and providing insight into engineering causes of vessel loss of propulsion and spill incidents. Schedule and conduct oil transfer inspections involving Class 1, 2, and 3 facilities and delivering vessels.
• Monitor pre-booming activities to ensure compliance with regulations.
• Perform bunker operations monitoring inspections of covered vessels.
• Inspect regulated fuel terminals (Class 3) and regulated marinas (Class 4) to ensure compliance with regulations.
• Support spill investigation by providing technical assistance and performing spill incident and marine accident causal analysis investigations.
• Audit vessels participating in Washington’s Voluntary Best Achievable Protection (VBAP) and Exceptional Compliance (ECOPRO) Program for Tank Vessels.
• Assist with outreach efforts with the Lower Columbia River Harbor Safety Committee, shipping agents, vessel operators, environmental community, and other agencies as appropriate.
• Document inspections; drafting correspondence to vessel operators; maintains databases; and performs analysis work for the Prevention Section.
• Serve as Prevention Duty Officer on a regular rotation during normal working hours.

The goal class for this position is a Marine Transportation Safety Specialist 3 (MTSS 3). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the Marine Transportation Safety Specialist 2 (MTSS 2) level. If the finalist meets the requirements for the MTSS 2 level then they will be hired in at that level and will be placed into a training program to become an MTSS 3 within a specified period of time.

Required Qualifications at the MTSS 3 level – Pay Range 67  ($6,063-$7,957) (Goal class):

Option 1: A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Marine Transportation, Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, or closely related field to include the Maritime Environmental Sciences from an accredited four year college or university AND four years of experience in the field of marine engineering, marine transportation, or vessel inspection.

Option 2: A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Marine Transportation, Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, or closely related field to include the Maritime Environmental Sciences from an accredited four year college or university AND proof of a valid or expired United States Coast Guard license as a Chief or Assistant Engineer with at least four years of experience serving under such license(s).

Option 3: A Bachelor or Master’s degree in Marine Transportation, Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, or closely related field AND three years of experience as a Marine Transportation Safety Specialist 2 (MTSS2) performing marine inspection activities. Complete documentation of experience is required in the application.

Required Qualifications at the MTSS2 level – Pay Range 61 ($5,229-$6,862) (In-training level):

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four year college or university AND proof of a valid or expired United States Coast Guard license in good standing as Chief or Assistant Engineer, or a valid or expired merchant mariner’s document (MMD) endorsed as a Tanker man- Person in Charge (PIC) or Qualified Member of the Engine Department in good standing with at least 2 years serving under that license or endorsement.

*Additional closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year by year basis as appropriate for the MTSS2 in-training level.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment:

• Vessel and Oil transfer inspections require several hours each day of standing, walking, squatting, and climbing (about four deck levels without stopping and can include up to ten deck levels) on a steel deck/stairwell. Inspectors also require the ability to push/pull, reach out/up, grasp, manipulate fingers, and lift objects weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Inspections require the ability to access various types of vessels at the pier by climbing gangways, inclined ramps, and moveable stairways as well as the ability to access vessel at anchor by riding a launch vessel and climbing a pilot ladder (lowered gangway or rope ladder), pigeon holes, or accommodation ladders on a regular basis
• This position works in environments with a broad range of health and safety concerns. Ecology provides periodic testing through a mandatory medical monitoring program.
• This position involves both field inspection work as well as work in an office environment.
  This position is part of the Spills Program Incident Management Team (IMT) and Crisis Management Team and is required to complete Incident Command System (ICS) training at the level of 100, 300, 700 and 800.
• Maintain HAZWOPER certification annually and continue training as required by the Program as courses come available to maintain IMT position qualifications.
• Be able to obtain the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) which entails a detailed background check.
• Hold and maintain eligibility and certification to permit travel to and from Canada, including passport or Enhanced Driver’s License.
• Hold and maintain a valid Washington driver’s license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.

Desired Qualifications:

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