Oil Pipeline Preparedness Planner (Environmental Planner 3)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring an Oil Pipeline Preparedness Planner (Environmental Planner 3) within the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program.

Location Options:

This position can be based at either of the following duty stations:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, WA.

Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the selected duty station.

Note: If the selected duty station is the Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, the salary will include an additional 5% premium pay due to its location in King County. Salary range: $5,949 - $8,003 monthly.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• You may telework most of your work time, with required fieldwork and occasional in-office time.
• Required fieldwork (spring–fall, occasional in winter) includes activities such as facility visits, spill response, and Geographic Response Plan fieldwork.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by September 14, 2025
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

Duties

As the Oil Pipeline Preparedness Planner, you will manage all oil pipeline plans in the State of Washington, ensuring pipeline companies are prepared for oil spills through contracts with primary response contractors, appropriately staged in-state equipment, and procedures that meet or exceed requirements outlined in WAC 173-182. You will also serve as the Spills Program’s subject matter expert on pipeline operations in the state and manage the program’s interagency agreement with the Utilities and Transportation Commission. 

You will develop inland geographic response plans to protect sensitive resources along Washington’s lakes and rivers from the impacts of oil spills. This plan development incorporates input from federal, state, and local agencies, Tribal governments, contractors, and industry response partners to create robust, well-prioritized plans that can be implemented within the first hours of a spill. 

This position offers an excellent opportunity to build emergency management skills by evaluating and participating in oil industry drills and training, as well as serving in incident management team roles such as communications or environmental support staff during real-world spill incidents. 

What you will do:

• Review contingency plans submitted by pipeline companies using requirements in WAC 173-182 and write detailed reviews of these plans to improve industry preparedness.
• Develop geographic response plans in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies, Tribes, contractors, and industry to protect natural, cultural, and economic resources at risk of impacts from oil spills. 
• Evaluate and participate in industry oil spill drills, providing written evaluations and observations to improve industry preparedness.
• Cultivate a deep understanding of the incident command system structure and train in specific roles to support spill response statewide in communication or environmental support roles. 
• Track agency preparedness actions for oil pipelines, support the Citizens Commission on Pipeline Safety and Pipeline Safety Trust groups to improve preparedness in Washington State, and maintain an inter-agency agreement with our partner agency, the Utilities and Transportation Commission.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Eight (8) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related experience. 
• Education involving a major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field. 

Examples of how to qualify:

• 8 years of experience.
• 7 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 6 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 5 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 4 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 2 years of experience AND a Master’s degree or higher.
• 1 year of experience as an Environmental Planner 2, at the Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• This position is part of the Spills Program Incident Management Team (IMT) and Crisis Management Team and is required to complete Incident Command System (ICS) training at the level of 100, 300, 700 and 800. Maintain HAZWOPER certification annually and continual training as required by the Program as they come available to maintain IMT position qualifications.
• Must be able to obtain the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC card) which entails a detailed background check.
• Must hold and maintain eligibility and certification to permit travel to and from Canada, including passport or Enhanced Driver's License.
• Must hold and maintain a valid Washington driver's license.
• The position normally works in a relatively sedentary open office environment, working with computers and other office equipment for long periods of time. However, this position also may require spill response in field work which could involve several hours of standing, walking, or squatting each day.

Desired Qualifications:

• Familiarity with oil spill response equipment, techniques, management or oil pipeline industry.
• Understanding of Geographic Response Plans and the Northwest Area Contingency Plans.
• Familiarity with freshwater ecosystems and cultural resources.
• Experience working independently and with teams on multiple projects with strict deadlines.
• Working knowledge of online mapping software and ability to produce basic mapping products using this software.

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Supplemental Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Application Process

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 job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Darcy Bird at Darcy.Bird@ecy.wa.gov 
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov

About the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program

The Spills Program's mission is to protect, preserve, and restore Washington's environment. Our vision is to create a zero spills world. 

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology 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. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

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.

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.

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 

This position also offers Spill Responder Pay (afterhours only), Standby Pay (afterhours pager duty), and reimbursement for approved travel costs. Personal protective equipment will be provided by the program along with reimbursement for required footwear.

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, 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.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

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.

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