Careers

Description:

Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.1 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18th, 2021.  As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 Vaccination as part of the hire process. 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

 Do you want to help bring real change for better air quality?  

The Air Quality Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Senior Smoke Management Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In Training) position. This position is located in our Central Regional Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.

In this position, you will work in heavily agricultural areas in the east slopes of the Cascades. As part of the Smoke Team, you will play an important role in smoke management, particularly in reduction of fine particulate matter. You will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with multiple partners such as tribal, federal, state, and local governments, toward shared success. This position also offers project management opportunity for projects such as woodstove replacement and reducing fine particle air pollution.

The mission of the Air Quality Program (AQP) is to protect and improve air quality in Washington to safeguard public health and the environment and support high quality of life for current and future generations. The Air Quality Program’s vision is Clean, healthy air and climate for all of Washington. 

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 embrace 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. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding building occupancy, mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 

Duties

What you’ll do:

• Implement agricultural burning, outdoor burning, and indoor burning programs. Review burn permit applications and issue permit decisions.
• Make and communicate daily burn ban decisions. 
• Plan and perform a variety of inspections of illegal burning sites, in accordance with agency guidance documents and section work plans, and prepare technical inspection reports.
• Respond to complaints, conduct routine and complex investigations and inspections, and monitor compliance. Communicate with non-complying permittees to achieve compliance. Make recommendations regarding and assists with preparation of enforcement actions. Appear and testify before Pollution Control Hearing Boards (PCHB) and courts on matters arising from regulatory activities and permit issuance.
• Manage projects; develop contracts, verify payment request vouchers, review final reports, and close out contracts. 
• Provide technical assistance, expertise, and general education over the phone and in person. Encourage alternatives to outdoor burning for better air quality. Meet with stakeholders to explain and implement air quality laws, regulations, goals and policies, and best management practices. 

What makes this role unique?

In this position, you will be a senior environmental specialist for burn curtailment programs of Central Washington. The decisions you make will be important for managing air pollution impacts in an area where outdoor burning remains a preferred method for disposal on the farm, in the forest, and in residential settings. You will need to form sustainable partnerships to prevent nonattainment in local communities and manage complex and difficult enforcement projects and permit requests.

Qualifications

This is an In Training positions: The goal class for this position is an Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for both the ES4 and the ES3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level then they will be hired as an ES3 and will be placed in a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time. 

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with a next screening date is May 11, 2022. In order to be considered for next screening, please submit an application on or before May 10, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.