Municipal Wastewater Grant & Loan Project Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)
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 Quality Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Municipal Wastewater Grant & Loan Project Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) position.
This position is located in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA. Note that Ecology is hiring two Municipal Wastewater Grant & Loan Project Specialist positions. This posting is for a specialist in the Water Quality Program’s Northwest Regional Office in Shoreline, Washington. A separate posting can be found for a specialist position in the Water Quality’s Southwest Regional Office in Lacey, Washington. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply for both opportunities but should be aware of the differences in the location of the duty station.
Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
Please Note: The salary posted above includes the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive due to this position's location in King County.
Ecology is looking for an experienced project manager to assist local governments with projects that received Ecology-administered financial assistance. This position plays an important role in supporting the Water Quality Program’s goal of providing excellent, senior-level project management support for municipal wastewater projects in the Northwest region. This position allows you use your skills to provide project management and planning-related assistance for grant and loan recipients as they implement wastewater projects to protect and preserve water quality in Washington State.
The mission of the Water Quality Program is to protect and restore Washington's waters to support healthy watersheds and communities. Our work ensures state waters can support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public health.
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of September 26, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before September 25, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
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.
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.
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.
During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. This position is not currently required to work in the office on a regular basis. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. Looking ahead, Ecology has recently updated the agency policies on telework and flexible and compressed work schedules. 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.”
Duties
What makes this role unique?
This role collaborates with public works professionals, engineers and financial planners to develop and oversee grant and loan projects for wastewater facility improvements that will benefit water quality in Washington state. You will help us to provide financial assistance for:
- Wastewater system planning,
- Designing new or expanded wastewater collection and treatment facilities, and
- Constructing new or expanded wastewater facilities.
What you will do:
In this position you will manage complicated and sometimes controversial financial assistance projects associated with municipal wastewater facilities in the Northwest region. You will develop, negotiate, implement, and monitor terms of agreements for municipal wastewater improvement projects. This includes:
- Reviewing and evaluating municipal wastewater facility grant and loan applications.
- Assisting grant and loan applicants and recipients prepare environmental, cultural resource, and environmental justice review documents.
- Negotiating and managing clear project scope of work, budgets, and timelines for project deliverables.
- Tracking compliance with grant and loan agreement requirements.
- Tracking project performance and ensuring that recipients achieve expected outcomes by negotiated completion dates.
- Reviewing and certifying grant and loan payment requests and Progress Reports to verify work complies with the agreement and applicable statutes, rules, policies and procedures.
- Providing technical assistance to potential applicants and recipients helping them understand our funding program, policies, procedures, and tools.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.
Option 1:
- A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.
- Five (5) years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
Previous work with public works projects will qualify for required experience when duties included:
- Financial planning
- Contract management
- Grant and loan management
- Construction project management
Option 2:
- A Master’s degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.
- Three (3) years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
Option 3:
- A PhD degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.
- Two (2) years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
Option 4:
- Two (2) years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 at the Department of Ecology.
Option 5:
Nine (9) years of combined experience and/ or education.
- Education: Involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.
- Experience: In environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.
All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:
Possible Combinations College credit hours or degree Years of required experience
Combination 1 No college credit hours or degree 9 years of experience
Combination 2 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits 8 years of experience
Combination 3 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree) 7 years of experience
Combination 4 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter 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 PhD 2 years of experience
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- Must have 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 in planning, contract management, and/or grant and loan management for public works improvement projects.
- Experience applying negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
- Experience assisting businesses or public agencies with regulatory requirements, including explaining options for coming into compliance.
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 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 Shawn McKone at: Shawn.McKone@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Shawn 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:
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 *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information
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.