Salary: $61,632.00 – $82,896.00 Annually
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step.
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2023-WQ2705-06646
Department: Dept. of Ecology
Division: Water Quality
Opening Date: 06/02/2023
Closing Date: Continuous
Learn more about this position and apply today at Department of Ecology’s Government Jobs page.
Job Description:
The salary above doesn’t include the increases scheduled to go into effect 7/1/23. These include a 4% general salary increase, and an increase from range 59 to range 63 for this particular job classification.
The Water Quality program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Large-scale Project TMDL Lead (Environmental Specialist 5) position.
This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA
Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
Washington State is at the forefront of finding creative ways to clean-up polluted waters. Ecology’s Water Quality Program is looking to fill the project manager lead position that will work on clean-up plans for two of our State’s iconic watersheds: the Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction Project and the Columbia and Snake Rivers Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan. These projects need a creative leader that can find solutions to water quality challenges, connect with local communities and communicate the complex relationship between water quality and land use. In addition, the Project Manager lead will be assisting other arms of the Water Quality Program (NPDES permit staff and Hydropower 401 certification staff to have the facilities they regulate meet the pollution reductions needed to achieve water quality standards. This will involve working with our modeling and permitting staff to come up with allocations that work.
If you enjoy working on challenging projects, distilling key science, policy and technical information to help make decisions, and solving complex environmental problems, apply today!
The mission of the Water Quality Program is to protect and restore Washington’s waters to support healthy watersheds and communities. Our work ensures state waters can support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public health.
Duties:
What Makes This Role Unique?
In this position you will lead the development of two large technically and politically complex water clean-up plans.
Our research and data have shown that humans are responsible for dissolved oxygen conditions in Puget Sound that are harmful to aquatic life. Problems will only get worse as our area’s population increases. The Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction Project will use the latest science to find the right combination of solutions for reducing human sources of nutrients to the Sound. Implementation of this plan will improve water quality and support a health marine ecosystem that can withstand the stress of a warming climate and increasing population growth. As our lead for developing the plan this position will need to coordinate with a diverse group of subject matter experts (permit writers, scientific professionals, modelers, nonpoint practitioners) to identify solutions, communicate complex science to an arrange of stakeholders and navigate a politically charged project.
Water temperatures in the Columbia and Lower Snake Rivers are well above levels protective of salmon. Because the Columbia and Snake Rivers cross multiple state boundaries and span almost 900 miles, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed a TMDL in 2020. It is Ecology’s responsibility to draft and execute an implementation plan for the TMDL in coordination with Oregon. The plan will detail our strategy for how we will reduce temperature pollution to the Columbia and Snake Rivers, including working with dam operators and our Water Quality 401 certification staff, working with permit staff for point sources, and prioritizing nonpoint pollution clean-up efforts. The lead for this plan will use strong project management skills to move a highly technical implementation plan through from start to finish, build strong working relationships with EPA, dam operators, and other project partners, and synthesize technical information to draft innovative solutions for reducing temperature in our state’s largest rivers.
This position is an excellent opportunity to craft real-world solutions to water quality problems in our State’s most iconic waterbodies. You will work with a collaborative group of water quality professionals and scientists that work together in a team atmosphere.
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 June 15, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before June 14, 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.
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 *Click here for more information
What You Will Do:
- Draft the Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction Plan, and the Columbia and Snake River TMDL implementation plan.
- Build relationships and engage with federal and state agencies, city and county government, Public Utility districts, Federal dam operators, Tribes, conservation districts, environmental groups, POTWs, and other local stakeholders during plan development. Coordinates with Ecology modelers on Salish Sea modeling to support the Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction Project.
- Coordinate with federal and state staff for the Columbia and Snake River dams to determine how hydropower facilities can meet their load allocations.
- Organize community outreach activities, in coordination with our communication team, to support development and implementation of the Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction project and the Columbia and Snake Rivers Temperature TMDL Implementation Plan.
- Provide internal technical support to regional staff working on other TMDLs, nonpoint projects, grants and 401 certifications in the Columbia and Snake River watershed.
- Regularly update and inform Ecology Leadership on the successful progress on these highly visible projects.
| Possible Combinations | College Credit Hours or Degree (As Described Above) | Years of Professional Level Experience (As Described Above) |
| Combination 1 | No college credit hours or degree | 10 years of experience |
| Combination 2 | I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits | 9 years of experience |
| Combination 3 | I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree) | 8 years of experience |
| Combination 4 | I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. | 7 years of experience |
| Combination 5 | A bachelor’s degree | 6 years of experience |
| Combination 6 | A master’s degree | 4 years of experience |
| Combination 7 | A Ph.D. | 3 years of experience |
OR
One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 4, at the Department of Ecology.
Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.
- Experience developing TMDLs
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.
- A list of three professional references.
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.
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 Ben Rau at: Ben.Rau@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Ben 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 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.
Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
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.
Note: 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.
