You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Senior Water Resources Compliance Specialist (Two Positions)

Washington State Department of Ecology
Email


Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Water Resources (WR) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill two Senior Water Resources Compliance Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) positions. One of the positions is located in our Bellingham Field Office in Bellingham, WA, and the other one in our Northwest Regional Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.
 
These positions are senior compliance specialists in assigned watersheds within the northwest region. In this role, you will work closely with diverse water users and educate and provide guidance on water use laws and regulations. Candidates must be great problem solvers, tenacious and independent investigators, knowledgeable about water resources laws and regulations, and passionate about protecting and managing the state’s water resources for current and future generations.

The mission of the Water Resources (WR) program is to support sustainable water resources management to meet the present and future water needs of people and the natural environment, in partnership with Washington communities.
 
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.

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. 
  • A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
  • Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

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. 

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. At present, under COVID protocols, the position does not require in-office work. However, as part of initial training and onboarding, successful candidates must be able to come to the office (Shoreline or Bellingham) on a more regular basis. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding building occupancy, mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 

Please Note: The salary posted above does not include the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive if the position's final location is in King County (Shoreline). 
 
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of January 28, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before January 27, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Duties


What makes this role unique? 
In this position, you will work independently to ensure compliance with state water laws and regulations in assigned watersheds. To be successful in this role, you must be comfortable navigating high-conflict situations and able to communicate clearly to water users with variable understanding of the laws and policies that govern water use in Washington. You will be part of a dynamic and growing regional water resources compliance team that workshops issues and supports one another.

What you will do: 

  • Independently investigate and respond to alleged violations of water resources laws and regulations. 
  • Lead compliance actions and coordinate closely with the section manager on escalating levels of enforcement. 
  • Represent the agency as the section expert in enforcement actions, hearings, and legal proceedings. Provide testimony in cases involving the approval, denial, or conditioning of permits, or the imposition of civil penalties. 
  • Be a member of a growing water resources compliance team that works together to prioritize workloads and areas of focus and collaborates and supports one another on individual actions. 
  • Draft permits and seasonal changes to water rights, often as a follow-up action in compliance efforts.
  • Build positive working relationships with partners and members of the regulated community, including tribal governments, municipal water purveyors, irrigators, and representatives of other state agencies. 
  • Provide expertise on regional water resources issues to the general public, outside parties, and diverse stakeholders, and represents the region and the program on internal and external work groups. 



Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
A total of Nine (9) years of experience and/or education as described below:
  • Professional level Experience in: environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning. 
  • Education: involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.

Experience may include but not be limited to a combination of the following:
  • Investigating environmental complaints or violations.
  • Field sampling activities or participating in contaminated site remediation activities.
  • Implementing best management practices to protect environmental quality.
  • Performing inspections or field investigations.
  • Planning, developing, conducting data collection, data management, and analyzing the results.
  • Providing technical assistance to the public and businesses on compliance with environmental regulations.

See chart below for a list of ways to qualify for this position:
 

OR
Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

  • Valid driver’s license required. 
  • Annual boater safety certification required. This has to be fulfilled before summer 2022 and can be secured during your onboarding.

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

  • Experience investigating complaints against the law and pursuing escalating levels of enforcement – Ability to work independently to investigate and achieve compliance with the Washington State Water Code. 
  • Understanding of Washington State water law and policies – ability to interpret and implement Washington State water law and policies in the context of ensuring compliance and processing water right applications. 
  • Experience working with Geographic Information Systems.

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 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 promotion, if applicable. 
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (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 Ria Berns at: ria.berns@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Ria 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.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.
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.