Environmental Specialist 4

Please Note: The pay listed above includes the 3.25% pay increase that will go into effect on July 1, 2022.

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 Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Senior Underground Storage Tank Inspector/Site Hazard Assessment and Washington Ranking Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) position. This position is located in our Bellingham Field Office (BFO) in Bellingham, WA.


In this role, you will prevent environmental contamination by protecting the land, water, and air of the state through regulatory oversight of underground storage tank facilities, investigations on potential occurrence of a release, and site hazardous assessments. Regulatory oversight is achieved through education, UST technical compliance (TC) inspections, UST installation inspections, UST decommission inspections, complaint investigations, issuing enforcement actions, initial investigations, and site hazardous assessments.  Education, inspections, and enforcement actions result in increased compliance with state UST and MTCA regulations.  

The mission of the Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) is to protect Washington’s human health and the environment by preventing and cleaning up pollution and supporting sustainable communities and natural resources for the benefit of future and current generations.

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.”  

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of June 20, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before June 19, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date. 

Duties

What makes this role unique?

As a Senior Underground Storage Tank (UST) Inspector, you will conduct UST system inspections following the Environmental Protections Agency's TC guidance and demonstrate an ability to apply sound professional judgment in identifying and resolving violations of UST regulations.  UST Inspectors provide technical assistance and education on UST related topics for the Toxics Cleanup Program. They also act as regional contact for external customers and statewide contact for internal customers regarding UST regulations, forms, technical questions, and direct and coordinate with owners and operators of UST systems, UST service providers, local government agencies, and others on complex UST sites. You will also conduct Initial Investigations of potential releases of hazardous substances. Following the Initial Investigation, you will conduct Site Hazardous Assessments ranking the potential exposure risk posed by the hazardous substance.  

What you will do: 

• Conduct UST technical compliance, decommissioning, and installation inspections.
• Promptly respond to UST complaints.
• Conduct Initial Investigations under the provisions of MTCA of potential of a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance.
• Conduct Site Hazardous Assessments involving ranking the potential exposure risk posed by a hazardous substance within a relative scoring system.  
• Issue the appropriate enforcement action(s) to responsible parties and resolve enforcement actions.
• Provide technical assistance, expertise, and education concerning UST systems and the regulations that apply to them.
• Direct and coordinate owners and operators, contractors, local, state and federal government agencies, and others on complex UST projects.

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. 
• 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 – as listed above

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 Ph.D. Degree | 2 years of experience 

OR

Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology, conducting UST inspections and developing an expert working knowledge of Chapter 173-360A WAC and Chapter 90.76 RCW.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license 
• Must pass initial 40-hour hazardous materials training within six months of hire and annual 8-hour refreshers

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

• Three years’ experience conducting UST inspections and an expert working knowledge of Chapter 173-360AWAC and Chapter 90.76 RCW.
• Recommended: Certification by International Code Council
  1. Tank Installation and Retrofit
  2. Tank Decommission ECY 070-532 (Rev 6/10/2021)
  3. Cathodic Protection
  4. Site Assessment
  5. Tank Tightness
• Strong interpersonal communication skills; demonstration of clear, concise, professional, logical communication and technical communication skills - oral and written. Strong capacity for technical data assimilation, analysis, interpretation, and reporting. Routine application work with database and spreadsheet software for data management and interpretation

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 Erik Snyder at: erik.snyder@ecy.wa.gov.  Please do not contact Erik 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 Underground Storage Tank Inspector/Site Hazard Assessment and Washington Ranking Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)