Salary: $48,156.00 – $75,120.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Lacey, WA
Job Type: Project (limited duration)
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Department: Dept. of Ecology
Job Number: 2023-TCPP826-03486
Closing: Continuous

Learn more about this position and apply today at the Department of Ecology’s Government Jobs page.

Job Description:

The Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Technical Assistance Coordinator (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training) position. This position is located in our Southwest Region Office (SWRO) in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

As the Technical Assistance Coordinator, your focus will be on providing technical assistance on the high-priority Tacoma Smelter Plume (TSP) Project, responding to complex inquiries from developers, property owners, and local government planning offices looking to develop land contaminated due to air pollution from the Asarco smelter in Tacoma.  In this role, you will provide expertise on TSP contamination and the appropriate remediation strategies and ensure compliance with cleanup laws and regulations.  

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 (ES4). Candidates will be considered at the ES3 and ES4 levels, depending on their qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.

The mission of the Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) is to protect Washington’s human health and the environment by preventing and cleaning up pollution and supporting sustainable communities and natural resources for the benefit of future and current generations.

Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until June 30, 2027. The Funding for this position has a high probability of being renewed for the next bi-annual budget.

Telework Options for This Position: This position will be eligible for up to a 90% telework schedule, with about 10% in the field. Applicants with questions about position location options, telework, 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 April 24, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before April 23, 2023. If your application isn’t received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire at any time after the initial screening date. 

Please Note: We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.

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 

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. 

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

  • 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. 
  • Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our Commitment to DEIR:

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

  • Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.
  • Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.
  • Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.
  • Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement. 

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

Duties:

What Makes This Role Unique? As the Technical Assistance Coordinator, you will be part of the Tacoma Smelter Plume (TSP) Project team, and you will serve as site manager for TSP-specific voluntary cleanup projects. Not only will you advise voluntary cleanup property developers on sampling and cleanup by reviewing plans and cleanup reports for compliance with the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and the TSP Model Remedies Guidance, but you will also provide technical assistance and guidance to developers and property owners doing their own cleanup, and to local planning and permitting offices on what is required to address TSP contamination during development.

What You Will Do:

  • Provide Tacoma Smelter Plume (TSP) contamination-specific site management and technical assistance.
  • Review project plans, engineering documents, environmental covenants, maintenance, and monitoring plans, to ensure compliance with cleanup regulations.
  • Serve as a technical resource and respond to inquiries from the public, planners, consultants, and property owners.
  • Manage data in Environmental Information Management (EIM) System and other various program databases.
  • Create and update map layers with new VCP sites and sampling results using GIS. 
  • Draft TSP State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) comments for non-project SEPA notices (Capital Improvement Plans, Public Works plans, comprehensive plans, Grading Ordinance changes).
  • Serve as primary contact for all TSP SEPA-related questions from local governments and applicants.
  • Develop individual webpages for sites remediated through the voluntary cleanup program (VCP).

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 ES3 and ES4 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level, they will be hired at that level and will be placed into a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.

Required Qualifications:

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, and educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

A total of six years of experience and/or education as described below:

  • Professional experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning. This experience may include planning and permitting work for a government agency; management of complex projects; communicating complex technical information to the public and stakeholder communities.
  • Education involving: major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning, or other allied fields.
Possible CombinationsCollege credit hours or degree – as listed aboveYears of professional-level experience – as listed above
Combination 1No college credit hours or degree6 years of experience
Combination 2I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.5 years of experience
Combination 3I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).4 years of experience
Combination 4I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.3 years of experience
Combination 5A Bachelor’s Degree2 years of experience
Combination 6A Master’s Degree1 year of experience
Combination 7A Ph.D.0 years of experience

OR

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

A total of nine years of experience and/or education as described below:

  • Professional experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning. This experience may include planning and permitting work for a government agency; management of complex projects; communicating complex technical information to the public and stakeholder communities.
  • Education involving: major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning, or other allied fields.
Possible CombinationsCollege credit hours or degree – as listed aboveYears of professional-level experience – as listed above
Combination 1No college credit hours or degree9 years of experience
Combination 2I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.8 years of experience
Combination 3I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).7 years of experience
Combination 4I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.6 years of experience
Combination 5A Bachelor’s Degree5 years of experience
Combination 6A Master’s Degree3 years of experience
Combination 7A 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 possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
  • Completion of 40-hour hazardous materials training, followed by annual 8-hour refresher. Initial training must be completed within the first six months of employment.

Desired Qualifications:

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

  • Working knowledge of the Model Toxics Control Act, Chapter 173-340 WAC.
  • Knowledge of property sampling and remediation.
  • Excellent negotiation and facilitation skills.
  • Knowledge of local government planning and policies.

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.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of the 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 any 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 the 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:

act of submitting application materials electronically is considered an 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 Marian Abbett at: Marian.Abbett@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Marian to inquire about the status of your application.

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.

To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov