Product Stewardship Policy Specialist (Environmental Planner 5)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Product Stewardship Policy Specialist (Environmental Planner 5) within the Solid Waste Management (SWM) program.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• You may telework 90 percent of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by January 19, 2026
• 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

In this role, you will help guide and carry out plans and policies to reduce waste and manage products more responsibly. This includes working on programs that make manufacturers responsible for the waste their products create. You will work with government agencies, elected officials, nonprofits, businesses, and industry groups at the local, state, and national levels. You will also communicate on behalf of Ecology about these programs, sharing information and representing its views at meetings, trainings, and conferences.

What you will do:

• Assist and mentor staff of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Product Stewardship (PS) unit to oversee development and implementation of current and future EPR and PS programs in Washington State. 
• Review and report to Ecology leadership on EPR and PS programs functioning in Washington, including progress related to program and state solid waste plan goals.
• Coordinate and facilitate EPR and PS law and policy implementation with internal and external interested parties through meetings, work sessions, and briefings (in-person or virtual).
• Conduct bill analysis and assist with fiscal note development for new EPR and PS legislation.
• Serve as the Program’s primary contact for the Northwest Product Stewardship Council Steering Committee and other related groups.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Eleven (11) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:

Experience: 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. Experience must include:

• Demonstrated expertise in policy development and legislative analysis, including interpreting statutes, administrative rules, and legislation, and leading or supporting bill development, fiscal notes, and legislative testimony.
• Significant professional experience with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Product Stewardship (PS), solid waste management, or related environmental policy programs, including program design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Strong program and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, develop work plans, track progress and outcomes, manage budgets or resource needs, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to build, maintain, and lead collaborative partnerships with diverse interested parties, including state and local governments, federal agencies, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), industry representatives, product stewardship organizations, and the public.
• Experience conducting or overseeing research and data analysis to support policy decisions, continuous improvement, and recommendations for regulatory, legislative, or organizational changes.


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:

• 11 years of experience.
• 10 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 9  years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 8  years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 7  years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 5  years of experience AND a Master’s degree.
• 4  years of experience AND a Ph.D.

Note: Two years of experience as an Environmental Planner 4 at Ecology will qualify.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience developing presentations and public speaking
• Skill researching emerging issues and evaluating data
• Experience leading legislative or policy initiatives
• Demonstrated understanding of incorporating equity, environmental justice and inclusive engagement principles into policy or program work
• Experience translating complex technical, legal, and policy information for non-technical audiences
• Ability to facilitate meetings and workgroups, and experience consensus building.

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.

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.

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 Chery Sullivan at chery.sullivan@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 Solid Waste Management Program (SWM)

The Solid Waste Management Program's mission is to reduce waste through prevention and reuse, keep toxics out of the environment; and safely manage what remains.  The Solid Waste Management program's vision is to transition to a society where waste is viewed as inefficient, and where most wastes and toxic substances have been eliminated, contributing to economic, social, and environmental vitality.

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.

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, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information

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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