Description
About WSDOT
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT manages the world's longest floating bridge, leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds the record for the world’s widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!
The Opportunity
WSDOT is currently seeking two Environmental Documentation & Permit Specialists (TPS3) in our Northwest Region! In this position, you will bring your passion for Washington State’s unique environmental resources, working across disciplines, and problem-solving and strategic thinking to an interdisciplinary team of environmental professionals who support transportation project delivery in the most populous areas of Washington. This position serves as the environmental representative for transportation projects to support environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance throughout scoping, design, construction, and post-construction operations. In this position, you will apply your environmental policy experience and training through hands on collaboration with WSDOT staff, Federal, State and Local agencies, Tribal governments and the public.
What to Expect
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:
- Complete NEPA and SEPA environmental review and permitting, which may include completing or facilitating the completion of environmental analysis and documentation required to complete environmental review, permitting, and environmental commitment tracking, to ensure compliance with numerous environmental laws and regulations.
- Identify and evaluate environmental effects of highway features, construction methods, and operating procedures of transportation facilities for WSDOT project teams.
- Work with WSDOT project teams to recommend strategies for avoiding, minimizing and mitigating impacts to protected resources.
- Perform fieldwork in support of project design, construction and post-construction activities.
- Coordinate with federal, state, tribal and local agencies, as well as other project partners on projects following WSDOT communication protocols.
- Serve as primary environmental point of contact for project engineering offices.
- Develop and review environmental scope, schedule, and budget for assigned deliverables.
- Identify project risks and assumptions and make change management requests to project teams as needed.
- Perform Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) review of deliverables.
- Author Design Bid Build contract specifications.
Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:
Transportation Planning Specialist 3 (TPS3) Level Qualifications:
- Environmental Regulatory Framework Expertise: Advanced knowledge of environmental laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and state/local environmental permitting frameworks.
- Environmental Permitting Development and Compliance: Demonstrated expertise in environmental permit development, review, and compliance, including preparing technical permit applications, impact analyses, and supporting documentation. Experience interpreting engineering plans, environmental design documents, and technical drawings, and identifying environmental constraints and permitting requirements.
- Environmental Data Analysis and Regulatory Interpretation: Proficient in analyzing environmental data and translating findings into regulatory compliance recommendations. Competency in evaluating project impacts and recommending mitigation, avoidance, or minimization measures consistent with regulatory standards and best practices.
- Advanced Technical and Regulatory Writing: Advanced technical writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, defensible, and well-organized technical documents for regulatory agencies, project teams, and the public.
- Project Coordination: Skilled in project coordination, including tracking multiple permits, identifying compliance risks, maintaining permitting schedules, and ensuring integration with project timelines.
- Regulatory Analysis and Problem Solving: Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate complex regulatory scenarios and propose compliant, actionable solutions.
- Environmental Data Management and GIS Applications: Knowledge of environmental data management tools, GIS applications, and digital mapping sufficient to review project impacts and support permit submittals.
- Interdisciplinary Communication and Engagement: Ability to communicate regulatory requirements clearly, both verbally and in writing, to technical and non-technical audiences. Ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams, regulatory agency staff, tribes, consultants, and project stakeholders to resolve environmental permitting issues.
- Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrate a commitment to learning and growth.
- Service-Oriented: Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.
Transportation Planning Specialist 2 (TPS2) Level Qualifications:
- Environmental Laws and Regulatory Knowledge: Knowledge of environmental laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and state/local environmental permitting frameworks.
- Customer Service and Professional Relationships: Ability to develop and nurture healthy and effective working relationships with team members and customers in order to provide excellent customer service.
- Technical and Regulatory Writing: Technical writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, defensible, and well-organized technical documents for regulatory agencies, project teams, and the public. Ability to efficiently compile information into reports and/or plans from sources such as field reviews and scientific publications.
- Stakeholder Presentation and Communication: Experience effectively presenting materials and information to diverse stakeholder groups.
- Data Analysis and Technical Reporting: Ability to accurately perform complex mathematical calculations, use a computer to evaluate data, prepare reports, databases, and Word documents.
- Environmental Impact Evaluation and Mitigation: Competency in evaluating project impacts, including reading engineering drawings and contract plans, and recommending mitigation, avoidance, or minimization measures consistent with regulatory standards and best practices.
- Regulatory Analysis and Problem Solving: Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate complex regulatory scenarios and propose compliant, actionable solutions.
- Environmental Data Management and GIS Applications: Knowledge of environmental data management tools, GIS applications, and digital mapping sufficient to review project impacts and support permit submittals.
- Clear Written and Verbal Communication: Ability to understand and provide clear written and verbal directions.
- Workload Prioritization and Project Coordination: Ability to prioritize and handle multiple work assignments, understand project budgets and schedules, and regularly report work progress.
- Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrate a commitment to learning and growth.
- Service Orientation: Demonstrate a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.
It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:
- Strategic Environmental Documentation and Permitting Advisory: Ability to advise project teams on strategic permitting approaches, regulatory risks, and schedule constraints for highly complex multidisciplinary projects. Advanced knowledge of environmental review requirements applicable to transportation projects, including NEPA, SEPA, and related federal, state, and local environmental policies and procedures.
- Complex Environmental Permitting Coordination: Demonstrated experience coordinating complex environmental permitting for multi-disciplinary transportation or infrastructure projects, including working with regulatory agencies such as Ecology, USACE, USFWS, NMFS, WDFW, and local jurisdictions.
- Agency Processes and Project Delivery Knowledge: Extensive familiarity with agency-specific processes, manuals, and organizational structures, including internal environmental workflows, project development procedures, and cross-functional collaboration expectations.
- Transportation Environmental Policy and Compliance Expertise: Proficiency interpreting and applying transportation-specific environmental policies, mitigation strategies, permit conditions, and compliance requirements throughout project delivery.
- Cross-Functional and External Partnership Development: History of building productive working relationships with internal project managers, design teams, regional staff, and external partners to facilitate timely environmental approvals.
- Environmental Staff Mentorship and Technical Guidance: Experience guiding or mentoring staff in environmental compliance, permit development, and interagency coordination.
- Environmental Data and Project Management Systems: Knowledge of environmental data management systems, project tracking tools, and documentation standards used in transportation agencies.
- Agency Representation and External Engagement: Demonstrated ability to represent the agency in meetings with regulatory partners, tribes, community stakeholders, and other transportation or environmental entities.
- Contract Development Expertise: Experience developing contract language.
*To review the full Position Description, please follow the directions in the Contact Us section of this posting.
Important Notes
- This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
- This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
- The salary listed includes the legislative approved 5% salary premium for positions in King County.
- In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28of the Washington Administrative Code.
- These are Transportation Planning Specialist 3 In Training positions. However, the hiring manager reserves the right to fill the position at a lower level in the Classified Job Series based on candidate qualifications, providing an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal “in-training” plan.
- The base salaries for each level are (Not including the 5% premium pay for King County):
- Transportation Planning Specialist 3: $75,045 - $100,951
- Transportation Planning Specialist 2: $68,014 - $91,400
- WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov
Why WSDOT
- Work-Life Balance – We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
- Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees mayearn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
- Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
- Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.
Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?
How to Apply
Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible.
In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:
- An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
- An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
- Contact details for a minimum of three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment.
Please click the "APPLY" button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.
WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities that need assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the recruiter listed.
Contact Us
For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at Sidra.Fields@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference 25DOT-NWR-10254m in the subject line.
