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Climate Rule Communication & Engagement Specialist (COEES4) (In-Training)

Washington State Department of Ecology
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Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

 


The Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP) is looking to fill a Climate Rule Communication & Engagement Specialist (Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialist 4) (In-Training) position. This position will be located at our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
   
As the Climate Rule Communication & Engagement Specialist, you will work as part of the Policy and Planning Section to design, direct and implement public engagement activities specific to rule development under the Climate Commitment Act and other laws to reduce climate pollution to ensure the input of Washington communities. You will partner with rule writing teams to identify outreach, communication and input opportunities specific to this work. Your work will be critical in ensuring that precedent-setting climate pollution reduction rulemaking reflects the community’s input and addresses their concerns.
 
You will achieve some of these connection points through:
 

  • Collaborating with the Communications team to create, develop and maintain a variety of content across media, including story maps, infographics, video conferences, and innovative public outreach materials to increase public knowledge, rule proposals, and engagement opportunities.
  • Evaluating and identifying gaps in outreach to areas and communities across the state. Developing strategic recommendations to improve access, reduce barriers, and ensure more inclusive and equitable outreach and engagement.
  • Building relationships and facilitating dialogue with communities statewide about rulemaking activities.
  • Conducting demographic assessment of the intended audience and potentially affected population to identify planning needs related to providing culturally effective communication, language access, and other tailored outreach strategies.

If you are a passionate communications professional who is confident and experienced in the face of a wide range of public interactions, this position could be for you!

Note: This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist (COEES) field and achieve the goal class of a COEES4. Candidates will be considered at the COEES3 and COEES4 levels, depending on their qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.
 
 

The principal department strategic priorities and goals that relate to the Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP) include: reduce and prepare for climate impacts; prevent and reduce toxic threats; and deliver efficient and effective services. The CPRP’s mission is to implement policies and programs to reduce carbon emissions in the state of Washington so that the state meets its statutory greenhouse gas emission limits. The CPRP focuses long term, requiring creative and strategic decision making for implementation to achieve broad statewide and interstate success reducing carbon emissions in the state of Washington so residents have a healthy environment and climate.


Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to an 80% tele-work schedule, with Tuesdays in-office. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, 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 April 8, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before April 7, 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. 


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 
 

 

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 our Strategic 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

 

 

As the Climate Rule Communication & Engagement Specialist, your work closely connects with requirements of the state Environmental Justice (EJ) Law (Chapter 70A.02 RCW), which directs Ecology and other state agencies to incorporate environmental justice practices into our work. In your role, you will support the program’s alignment with environmental justice priorities and policy, strategic plan goals, environmental justice assessment obligations, and federal nondiscrimination obligations under Title VI including language and disability access. In this role, you will:

 
 

  • Create engagement strategies, develop outreach materials, and write communication plans that align with the agency Community Engagement Plan and Tribal Consultation Framework.
  • Design meetings to offer engaging opportunities for input using innovative meeting design strategies.
  • Respond to community questions and requests.
  • Organize and present at informational meetings.
  • Prepare educational materials using various media.
  • Meet with community leaders and other interest groups.

 

 

Qualifications

This is an In-Training Position. The goal class for this position is Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist (COEES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the COEES3 and COEES4 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the COEES3 level, they will be hired in at that level and placed into a training program to become an COEES4 within a specified period of time.

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.

 

At the Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist 3 level: Salary Range 49 ($4,174-$5,615 monthly) (In-training)
A total of seven years of experience and/or education as described below:
 

  • Experience: Involving environmental analysis or control, environmental planning, environmental education, community outreach, or communications activities.
  • Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, education, communications, public health, public administration, or related 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 professional level experience - as listed above

Combination 1

No college credit hours or degree

7 years of experience

Combination 2

30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits

6 years of experience

Combination 3

60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree)

5 years of experience

Combination 4

90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits

4 years of experience

Combination 5

A Bachelor's Degree or higher

3 years of experience

 
 
At the Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist 4 level: Salary Range 55 ($4,842-$6,510 monthly) Goal class
A total of eight years of experience and/or education as described below:
 

  • Experience: Involving environmental analysis or control, environmental planning, environmental education, community outreach, or communications activities.
  • Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, education, communications, public health, public administration, or related 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 professional level experience - as listed above

Combination 1

No college credit hours or degree

8 years of experience

Combination 2

30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits

7 years of experience

Combination 3

60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree)

6 years of experience

Combination 4

90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits

5 years of experience

Combination 5

A Bachelor's Degree or higher

4 years of experience

 

At all levels, work experience must include a demonstrated commitment to:

  • Experience working on environmental or public health issues with Tribal communities, indigenous people, communities of color, immigrant populations, or populations who are linguistically isolated, rural, or low-income.
  • Experience developing and implementing community engagement strategies to reach and meaningfully engage underserved communities and populations.
  • Strong written, verbal, and listening communication skills to work with a diversity of audiences effectively and respectfully.
  • Communicating technical or legal information effectively to audiences with varying levels of expertise or knowledge of the subject



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

 

  • Demonstrated experience leading community engagement efforts.
  • Experience applying or familiarity with practices and policies related to equity, environmental justice, or civil rights.
  • Experience gathering community demographic data and using online environmental justice mapping tools to develop effective community engagement strategies and materials.
  • General knowledge of Tribal relations and Government-to-Government.
  • Familiarity with integrating community voice, perspective, concerns, and priorities into program plans, projects, and decisions.

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.
  • 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 Joshua Grice at: Joshua.Grice@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Joshua 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 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.