Pollution Reduction Grants Section Manager (WMS Band 2)

The salary listed above includes any pay increase that goes into effect on July 1st, for this classification.

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Air Quality Program (AQP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Pollution Reduction Grants Section Manager (WMS Band 2) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
 
As the Grants Section Manager, you will lead a diverse group of grant managers and staff. A major portion of your work will focus on how to better serve Washington communities by further incorporating environmental justice into new and existing grant programs so there are fewer barriers for communities and the public to learn about, engage and apply for grant opportunities.
 
We are seeking applicants for the Grants Section Manager who have strong leadership skills with the ability to build and nurture a collaborative team. Strong applicants will have good organizational skills, strategic thinking abilities, experience leading diverse groups, value   working with stakeholders, and be ready to lead a team to develop guidance to focus grant funds where they are most needed to address air pollution. In this role, you will need to be able to manage a robust portfolio of air quality grant and funding programs.
 
The mission of the Air Quality Program 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.  
Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible to tele-work up to three days per week. 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 July 17, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before July 16, 2023. 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

What makes this role unique?
As the Grants Section Manager, you will play a leadership role in reducing air pollution throughout communities so all Washingtonians can breathe cleaner air. You will work with staff experts to problem solve complex grant and project issues. In this role, you will oversee and manage key grant policy decisions with stakeholder and Tribal input to find common ground to improve air quality for everyone.
 
We are invested in a collaborative and open workplace culture. You will be joining a strong team of leaders in the Air Quality program who work together to accomplish our mission. And you will be integral to fostering a positive workplace culture among your staff by ensuring they have clear expectations, priorities, objectives, training, and the tools needed to effectively accomplish your collective grant work in a fiscally responsible, efficient, and customer friendly manner.
 
 
What you will do:

• Plan, lead, organize, and direct the work performed by the Pollution Reduction Grant Section. Assure appropriate and optimal use of the organization’s resources.
• Ensure air quality grant programs comply with the Healthy Environment for All Act, Climate Commitment Act, Title VI and other applicable environmental justice requirements. 
• Provide support, management, coordination, and supervision of staff. Enhance the effectiveness of employees through timely appraisal and professional development opportunities. 
• Facilitate the development of project priority lists, which incorporates criteria to grant funding to applicants that includes consideration of the air quality and environmental justice.
• Oversee the development of guidance, and the review and evaluation of all applications for grants submitted by local governments, state agencies, stakeholder organizations and Tribes.

Qualifications

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.

A total of nine years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience: Involving environmental, project management, regulatory or planning experience. 
• Education: Involving a major study in physical or natural science, engineering, planning, public administration, public policy, environmental law, environmental studies, or other related field. 

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:
Possible CombinationsCollege credit hours or degree - as listed aboveYears of professional level experience - as listed aboveCombination 1No college credit hours or degree9 years of experienceCombination 230-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits8 years of experienceCombination 360-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree)7 years of experienceCombination 490-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits6 years of experienceCombination 5A Bachelor's Degree 5 years of experienceCombination 6A Master’s Degree3 years of experienceCombination 7A Ph.D.2 years of experience 
Other requirements include:

• Knowledge and demonstrated application of advanced principles of management, budget planning, strategic planning, and personnel administration.
• Experience deciphering multiple local, state, and federal laws and regulations regarding environmental protection, and administrative procedural requirements, including grants.

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

• Master’s Degree or higher in public administration or policy, law, or related field.
• 18 months of experience supervising or managing policy and technical staff, with an environmental focus.
• One year of experience in the design, development, and implementation of grants and/or financial assistance programs.

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.
• College transcript.

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 Kathy Taylor at: Kathy.Taylor@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Kathy 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.

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. 

Apply here: State of Washington Job Opportunities | Work that Matters (governmentjobs.com)