Description
AGRICULTURE - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. First review of applications is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20th.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.
The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.
Veteran's Preference:Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, or other verification of military service. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible,
click here.Persons with a disability, who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.
The Opportunity
This position serves as WSDA’s professional expert, performing, advocacy outreach, consultation, and compliance services, and works skillfully with complex issues from a range of covered programs and diverse groups, including state agency executives, subject matter experts, and other interested parties. Helping establish WSDA’s cross-agency HEAL Act implementation requires facilitating meetings and supporting collaborative efforts with WSDA teams and interagency groups. This position will require strong organization and communication skills and building positive, and productive relationships. In addition, because the Heal Act’s work in unprecedented and informed by past environmental justice performance, this position requires the flexibility to innovate within the framework of existing state agency processes, adding value and continuous improvements.
By using analytics and developing performance- tracking tools and strategies, this position communicates implementation results to WSDA leadership and others. This position has been delegated decision-making authority and performs a wide scope of highly complex duties and responsibilities in the management of the HEAL Act. This position makes data-driven recommendations and supports the development of key deliverables required by the act:
Develops a Community Engagement Plan.
Incorporates an implementation plan into the agency’s strategic plan.
Budget EJ principles implemented and published.
Conducts EJ assessments and reports implemented.
Provides an annual report to the Environmental Justice Council and the agency budget and funding obligations dashboard.
Important Notes
WSDA is recruiting for a full-time permanent External Civil Rights Specialist 4 position within the Director's Office Division. This position is located in Olympia, Washington. This is a non-represented position.
The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary range for this position is: $74,724 - $98,040 annually.
Duties
What to Expect
Some of the various responsibilities within this role: Provide the following for the HEAL Interagency Workgroup; Policy analysis; expert level evaluation and analysis of agencies’ implementation of the HEAL Act; multi-sector, cross agency coordination; project management; meeting facilitation; consensus-building; and leadership. The HEAL Interagency Workgroup includes Ecology, Heath, Natural Resources, Commerce, Agriculture, Transportation, Puget Sound Partnership, and any other agency that opts into HEAL Act implementation.
Oversee WSDA’s research efforts: manage data, analyze problems, provide expert consultation, present findings, and makes recommendations regarding HEAL Act implementation, including significant agency actions, EJ implementation plan, community engagement plan, and a tribal consultation framework.
Oversees strategic alignment between WSDA’s environmental justice framework and guidance from the governing council and interagency workgroup.
Design and facilitate collaboration efforts across the agency and supports engagement with the interagency working group led by the Department of Health.
Use data to tell meaningful stories about WSDA’s HEAL Act performance.
Create collaborative design and track performance and milestones.
Analyze outcome and impact measures and workgroup progress and implements process improvement solutions for complex, inter-agency coordination and decision-making on HEAL Act requirements. These decisions have a statewide impact and set a statewide precedent for environmental justice, underlining the significance of our work.
Support and participate in subcommittees/resource groups created by Interagency Workgroup.
Work closely and collaboratively with Environmental Justice Council staff. Interagency Workgroup members and HEAL Agencies’ Tribal and Community Engagement staff to ensure that meaningful community and tribal engagement is integrated into all activities, including providing language assistance service and general communications activities.
Support the Tribal Liaison in ensuring tribal engagement and opportunities for government-to-government consultation with federally recognized tribes regarding the department’s environmental justice initiatives.
Qualifications
Who should apply?
Professionals with:
Bachelor’s degree in human resources, public administration, or a closely related field. Professional-level human resources experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
NOTE: Experience may have been gained concurrently.
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through lived experience, volunteer experience, formal professional employment, or a combination.
Four (4) years of professional or lived experience with civil rights programs, using an equity lens in analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations, experience in human resources, workforce development, public administration, or public policy and all of the following:
- Project management
- Interpreting policies, laws, rules, or regulations
OR
Master’s degree in environmental health/science, public health, public policy, or a closely related field and three (3) years of professional or lived experience in environmental justice, climate justice, environmental health/science, public health, or public policy and all of the following:
- Project management
- Interpreting policies, laws, rules, or regulations
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:
- Proficient in English and Spanish languages, both verbally and in writing.
- Skilled in strategic thinking, analytical abilities, organizational skills and communication/interpersonal skills with a focus on results.
- Experience facilitating discussions with diverse groups with different levels of understanding and risk to reach agreement.
- Understanding of human resources, workforce development, public administration, and/or a closely related field.
- Lived experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Experience working with diverse communities and tribes.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Understanding of the Washington State government system and agency responsibilities.
- Experience leading process improvement efforts.
- Experience conducting community participatory research.
Supplemental Information
Employee Benefits
- A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, and teleworking.
- WSDA provides an excellent benefits package beyond traditional benefits. State employment offers Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave; click here for more information.
- 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals.
- All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.
How to apply:
You must complete your careers.wa.gov profile and answer the supplemental questions. In addition to completing the online application, and supplemental questions applicants must attach the following documents to their profile to be considered for this position:
· A resume detailing experience and education
· A cover letter describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position
· Three professional references
By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.
Applications with comments "see attachments" will be considered incomplete.
If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or emailsupport@neogov.com.
The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of your application and the materials submitted. All information may be verified, and documentation may be required. Applications received via e-mail will not be accepted in lieu of applying through the state's on-line recruitment system.
WSDA uses a I-9 form(Download PDF reader) to determine Employment Eligibility and Verification, once hired. This document is the authorization of an individual’s ability to be hired for employment within the United States. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.Equity at WSDA
The Department of Agriculture recognizes, appreciates, supports, embraces, and respects all cultural identities and backgrounds while we collaborate in authentic ways. We hire amazing people that share in the commitment to our Pro-Equity Anti-Racist (PEAR) strategic plan, our Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act implementation plan, and our unique needs and desires for belonging, respect, and inclusion. We value the growth and development of our team members by providing equitable access to resources and opportunities for continuous learning, improvement, and advancement.
We strive to hire, cultivate, and retain a productive and dedicated workforce that reflects the communities we serve while we are committed to a workplace that celebrates our differences and supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Contact Us
Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact the Human Resource Office at Recruitment@agr.wa.gov.
Prior to a new appointment into the Department of Agriculture, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
The Human Resources Division may use referrals from this recruitment to help fill future similar vacancies for up to six months.
Veteran's Preference: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, or other verification of military service. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible,click here.
Persons with a disability, who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.
For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at www.agr.wa.gov.
