Senior Air Monitoring Specialist

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  Air Quality Program (AQP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Senior Air Monitoring Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)(In-Training) position. 
This position is located in our Northwest Regional Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.

This is the perfect position for anyone who enjoys working outdoors and wants to apply their scientific expertise to help the Air Quality Program understand and reduce air pollution.
 
In this position, you will monitor the ambient air for fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) particulate, ozone, and other pollutants, as well as their chemical constituents, at locations throughout Ecology’s Northwest Region. The monitoring work you do in this position will be focused on implementing several national programs designed to understand air pollution levels near the busiest roadways, determine the chemical components of fine particle pollution, and determine compliance with federal health-based pollution standards through filter-based PM2.5 and PM10 sampling. This position also provides back-up operation for the automated gas chromatograph that is part of the Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS) program as well as manual method carbonyls and VOCs for the National Air Toxics Trends Stations (NATTS) program at the Seattle-Beacon Hill NCore monitoring site.
 
Being a reliable self-starter, an excellent problem-solver, and a natural collaborator is a must as you will function both independently and as an integral member of our regional and statewide teams of dedicated air monitoring professionals.
 
The mission of the Air Quality Program (AQP) is to protect and improve air quality in Washington. The Air Quality Program’s vision is clean, healthy air and climate for all of Washington.

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. 

Please Note: The salary posted above does includes the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive due to this position's location in King County.    

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.”  Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of May 26, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before May 25, 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 your primary focus will be on implementing the Near Road Monitoring, PM2.5 Chemical Speciation Network (CSN), National Core (NCore) Monitoring fine and coarse particulate and other particulate monitoring programs. You will provide backup support as a member of a multi-disciplinary, highly collaborative and cooperative team that also implements the Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS), National Air Toxics Trends Stations (NATTS), and other NCore monitoring. In this position, you will participate in operating almost every type of ambient air monitor, sampler, and sensor used in the Washington Network, including new monitoring to implement Environmental Justice provisions of the Climate Commitment Act. You will help the Air Quality Program better understand the formation, transport and fate of particulate and ozone pollution and their chemical constituents throughout the greater Puget Sound region.
 
What you will do: 

• Uses advanced scientific knowledge to independently plan, prioritize, implement and perform professional activities in locating, installing, and operating new and existing air monitoring sites within Ecology’s Northwest Region that will help the Air Quality Program characterize air quality, meet federal air pollution standards, and ensure clean healthy air.
• Serves as the primary operator for, and has a specialty focus on, the national near-road, PM2.5 Chemical Speciation Network, and fine and coarse particulate monitoring programs within Ecology’s Northwest Region.
• Processes large amounts of air sample media for several different types of manual-method samplers. This is includes installing sample media in samplers in the field, properly storing media (e.g., refrigerating) sampled filters, as well as packing, shipping, and tracking media sample packages and coordinating with delivery services (FedEx, USPS) and analysis laboratories.
• Investigates and evaluates new and current air monitoring sites, including sites in overburdened communities consistent with the implementation of the Environmental Justice provisions of the Climate Commitment Act.
• Installs monitoring equipment including the site shelter and air monitors and coordinates with the IT & Telemetry unit and Calibration & Repair team to configure air monitors with data logging equipment.
• Installs and operates temporary monitors and low-cost air sensors as needed to respond to wildland fire smoke and other emergent events.
• Provides back-up operations for fellow Northwest Regional Office teammates, including the automated gas chromatograph for the Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS) program and manual method carbonyls and VOCs for the National Air Toxics Trends Stations (NATTS) program at the Seattle-Beacon Hill NCore monitoring site, as well as for other ambient air monitoring operators around the state as needed. 
• Uses advanced scientific knowledge to provide technical consultation, assistance, support, and training on highly complex air monitoring operations to regional, tribal, federal, and local air agency air monitoring operators to ensure data collected within the Washington State Ambient Air Monitoring Network are accurate and comparable.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational, volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

The goal class for this position is an Environmental Specialist 4  (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the Environmental Specialist 3 & 4 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level, then they will be placed into a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.

Environmental Specialist 3 (Salary Range 49:  $4,081-$5,357 Monthly)

A total of Six (6) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Professional level Experience in: environmental analysis or control or environmental planning. Experience may include:
  • Investigating and / or resolving complaints involving science or technology content
  • Performing inspections 
  • Drafting technical evaluations and reports 
  • Develops plans for researching information used for technical projects, regulatory or policy development 
  • Plan and facilitate public meetings and hearings 
  • Project work requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes 
  • Providing technical assistance for complex scientific content and/ or support for implementing scientific content programs 
  • Conducting tests, analyzing and evaluating data 
  • Using environmental databases to support technical projects
  • Developing scientific studies and resource management plans 
  • Providing environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects 
  • Experience in operations and maintenance of air monitoring instrumentation or closely allied environmental sampling field

• Education: involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.  

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

Possible Combinations. | College credit hours or degree. | Years of professional level experience.

Combination 1 | No college credit hours or degree | 6 years of experience

Combination 2 | I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. | 5 years of experience

Combination 3 | I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). | 4 years of experience

Combination 4 | I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. | 3 years of experience

Combination 5 | A Bachelor's Degree | 2 years of experience

Combination 6 | A Master's Degree | 1 years of experience

Combination 7 | A Ph.D. | 0 years of experience

Environmental Specialist 4 (goal class) (Salary Range 55: $4,734-$6,208 Monthly)

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. Experience may include:
• Investigating and / or resolving complaints involving science or technology content
• Performing inspections 
• Drafting technical evaluations and reports 
• Develops plans for researching information used for technical projects, regulatory or policy development 
• Plan and facilitate public meetings and hearings 
• Project work requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes 
• Providing technical assistance for complex scientific content and/ or support for implementing scientific content programs 
• Conducting tests, analyzing and evaluating data 
• Using environmental databases to support technical projects
• Developing scientific studies and resource management plans 
• Providing environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects

Experience must Include: 
One (1) year of the professional level experience must be in conducting air monitoring or similar environmental measurements to qualify at the ES 4 level. A Master's degree in Atmospheric, Meteorological, or Environmental science will substitute for 6 months experience in conducting air monitoring experience, and a Ph.D. in Atmospheric, Meteorological, or Environmental science will substitute for the full year requirement. 

• Education: involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.  

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

Possible Combinations. | College credit hours or degree. | Years of professional level experience.

Combination 1 | No college credit hours or degree | 9 years of experience

Combination 2 | I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. | 8 years of experience

Combination 3 | I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). | 7 years of experience

Combination 4 | I have 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 Ph.D. | 2 years of experience

OR  

Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 at the Department of Ecology, which must include One (1) year of the professional level experience in conducting air monitoring or similar environmental measurements. 

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must possess and maintain 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.

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of the principles, practices and methods of air quality monitoring and assessment, environmental pollution prevention and pollution control. 
• Understanding of and experience with emerging technologies and techniques of air quality sampling, testing, data gathering, basic research and field investigations.
• Experience performing gas chromatography, particularly to analyze ambient air samples. 
• Understanding and experience applying applicable state, federal, and local environmental regulations and policies.
• Ability to provide technical direction to professional staff for complex or controversial studies or projects.
• Excellent deductive reasoning skills.
• Experience designing and developing guidelines for environmental assessment activities, field studies and siting surveys.
• Experience conducting final reviews for technical reports, and conclusions reached by professional staff.
• Experience collaborating with other government officials, the regulated community and other clientele groups on complex or controversial environmental issues or problems.

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 Scott Dubble at: Scott.Dubble@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Scott 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. 

Senior Air Monitoring Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)(In-Training)