Description
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Water Quality Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Inspector and Permit Developer/Facility Manager (Environmental Specialist 4) position. This position is located in our Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
In this position, you will develop and oversee National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State Waste Discharge permits to ensure effective management of municipal wastewater to protect and restore water quality. You will collaborate with engineers, environmental specialists, and hydrogeologists within Ecology’s Water Quality Program, as well as with other Ecology programs and agencies.
Additionally, you will support the Municipal, Industrial, and Watershed units in the Water Quality Program’s Central Region Office by tracking permit inspection activities. Your responsibilities include ensuring that regional permit inspections are scheduled and conducted at regular intervals in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency Compliance Monitoring Strategy as well as agency goals and polices by utilizing appropriate databases and guidance, maintaining accurate records of all inspections conducted, and tracking compliance along with any corrective actions taken to ensure issues are resolved.
Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations.
Program Mission: The mission of the Water Quality Program is to ensure that all aquatic life and communities in the watershed experience cool, clean water to refresh and sustain us in a changing climate. Our work ensures state waters can support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, wildlife, and public health.
Telework options for this position: This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule with up to 80% telework, roughly 10% fieldwork, and 10% in-office work. 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 September 9, 2024. To be considered, please submit an application on or before September 8, 2024. 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.
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 Note: Personal protective equipment will be provided by the program along with reimbursement for required footwear.
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 ourStrategic 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?
You will be part of a dynamic team responsible for inspecting, developing, and managing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State Waste Discharge permits for municipal wastewater treatment facilities across the Central Region of Washington state.
What you will do:
- Develop permits and fact sheets for NPDES and State Waste Discharge permits for municipal wastewater treatment facilities.
- Track permit inspection activities within the Central Region Water Quality Program, conduct permit compliance inspections, prepare inspection reports, and respond to complaints for facilities assigned for permit management.
- Provide technical assistance to permittees or other affected entities and people to achieve permit compliance.
- Perform statistical analyses of data from wastewater monitoring and receiving water.
- Work cooperatively and in coordination with the compliance specialist to assess compliance, respond to permit violations, and defend enforcement actions.
Qualifications
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.
A total of nine (9) years of experience and/or education as described below:
- Experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
Experience can include assisting in any of the following areas:
- Performing field surveys or studies.
- Responding to complaints involving scientific or technical content.
- Preparing public meetings and hearings.
- Assistance with routine inspections or investigations requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources, or natural processes.
- Responding to routine inquiries or request for technical assistance involving scientific content.
- Conducting routing sampling and testing analyses, interprets data, writing reports.
- Providing routine environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/contract/loan recipients of environmental protection projects.
- Investigating and/or resolving complaints involving science or technology content.
- Performing inspections.
- Drafting technical evaluations and reports.
- Develops plans for researching information used for technical projects, regulatory or policy development.
- Plan and facilitate public meetings and hearings.
- Project work requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources, or natural processes.
- Providing technical assistance for complex scientific content and/or support for implementing scientific content programs.
- Using environmental databases to support technical projects.
- Developing scientific studies and resource management plans.
- Education: involving a 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 required experience – as listed above |
Combination 1 | No college credit hours or degree | 9 years of experience |
Combination 2 | 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits | 8 years of experience |
Combination 3 | 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (AA degree) | 7 years of experience |
Combination 4 | 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college 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 (2) 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.
Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.
- Experience drafting fact sheet and permit documents.
- Experience working with environmental legislation and regulations at the federal, state, and local level.
- Experience reviewing and understanding complex technical documents, preparing enforcement documents, and applying negotiation skills.
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 Accommodationin 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.
Note: References will only be contacted during the final steps of the recruitment process for candidates selected as finalists. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s formal authorization.
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 Erik Van Doren at: Erik.VanDoren@ecy.wa.gov Please do not contact Erik 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 atwww.ecology.wa.govand follow, like or visit us onLinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagramor 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.
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