Salary: $55,224.00 – $86,208.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
The Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Wetland Mitigation Banking Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training) position. This position will be located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
The Wetland Section is made up of a group of professionals focused on improving wetland management and protection in the state. The section work includes certifying and overseeing wetland mitigation banks, a form of compensatory wetland mitigation; tracking compensatory wetland mitigation monitoring and compliance; providing the most recent science on wetlands and their management; developing statewide wetland policies; providing input on Puget Sound recovery actions; assisting local governments in developing protective ordinances; and protecting and acquiring wetlands in partnership with a range of entities. In this position, you will evaluate proposals to develop wetland mitigation banks, a form of compensatory wetland mitigation. You will learn how to assess site designs and assign credits, negotiate terms and conditions of wetland mitigation bank certifications, and conduct site inspections.
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 an 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: The mission of the Department of Ecology’s is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations.
Program Mission: The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.
Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work 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 are subject to change.
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on September 13, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before September 12, 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.
What makes this role unique?
Wetland banking is a priority of the agency for improving mitigation success. In this role, you will provide scientific and technical expertise to local jurisdictions, Ecology, other agency staff and the public regarding wetland mitigation banking and the bank certification process. You will review projects and permits, collect and analyze field and library data, make public presentations, and provide technical assistance and training. You will serve as a senior section expert in the department of Ecology’s wetland banking program and you will be instrumental in carrying out the agency’s mission to protect the state’s land, water and air resources.
What you will do:- Implement the wetland mitigation banking certification program.
- Negotiate terms of mitigation bank certifications.
- Review technical documents for assessment of feasibility of proposal, appropriate site design, conservation instruments and long-term management.
- Conduct site visits for wetland bank sites to assess compliance with mitigation plan and permit conditions.
- Represent the agency on Interagency Review Teams for wetland banks.
- Write and edit documents intended for wide public distribution explaining different aspects of wetland mitigation banking.
- Compose correspondence, prepare draft and final documents.
- Make public presentations to a wide variety of audiences.
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 and Environmental Specialist 4 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level, they will be hired in at that level and placed into a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.
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.
At the Environmental Specialist 3 level: Salary Range 53 ($4,602-$6,198 monthly) (in-training)
A total of six years of experience and/or education as described below:
- Professional experience in: environmental analysis, environmental field work, or environmental science, regulation, policy or planning.
- Education involving: 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:
|
Possible Combinations |
College credit hours or degree – as listed above |
Years of professional level experience – as listed above |
|
Combination 1 |
No college credit hours or degree |
6 years of experience |
|
Combination 2 |
I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. |
5 years of experience |
|
Combination 3 |
I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). |
4 years of experience |
|
Combination 4 |
I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. |
3 years of experience |
|
Combination 5 |
A Bachelor’s Degree |
2 years of experience |
|
Combination 6 |
A Master’s Degree |
1 year of experience |
|
Combination 7 |
A Ph.D. |
No experience required |
OR
One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2, at the Department of Ecology.
At the Environmental Specialist 4 level: Salary Range 59 ($5,341-$7,184 monthly) Goal Class
A total of nine years of experience and/or education as described below:
- Professional experience in: environmental analysis, environmental field work, or environmental science, regulation, policy or planning.
- Education involving: 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:
|
Possible Combinations |
College credit hours or degree – as listed above |
Years of professional level experience – as listed above |
|
Combination 1 |
No college credit hours or degree |
9 years of experience |
|
Combination 2 |
I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. |
8 years of experience |
|
Combination 3 |
I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). |
7 years of experience |
|
Combination 4 |
I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. |
6 years of experience |
|
Combination 5 |
A Bachelor’s Degree |
5 years of experience |
|
Combination 6 |
A Master’s Degree |
3 years of experience |
|
Combination 7 |
A Ph.D. |
2 years of experience |
OR
Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- Must be able to 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.
- Some wetland knowledge or course work.
- Ability to understand regulations at the federal, state, and local level.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
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/4165323/wetland-mitigation-banking-specialist-environmental-specialist-4-in-training
