Drills and Exercises Unit Supervisor (Environmental Planner 5)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Drills and Exercises Unit Supervisor (Environmental Planner 5) within the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program.

Location:

• 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: $7,082 - $9,756 monthly.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A minimum of one day every other week is required in the office. 
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by February 22, 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 manage the state’s oil spill drill and exercise program, ensuring that federal, state, local, tribal, and industry response partners are trained, equipped, and ready to respond effectively to oil and hazardous substance spills whenever they occur. In this supervisor role you will serve as a subject matter expert in drill design, contingency planning, and response readiness; leading a team of drill coordinators who work closely with the response community in developing a world-class drill program for Washington state. This role requires complex judgment and critical thinking to align drills with the federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (NPREP), and Washington state regulatory standards, ensuring strategic, realistic, and effective spill response training.

What you will do:

• Manage all aspects of an innovative and progressive drill and exercise program.
• Develop regulatory standards pertaining to drills.
• Set performance measures and track and report progress.
• Develop and publish training and educational materials pertaining to drills and exercises
• Supervise staff, assign work, and manage unit workloads. 
• Develop content for Regional and Area contingency plans. 
• Support responses through participation on the Program’s Incident Management Team.   

In this role you are identified as a Critical Agency Employee who is expected to work during facility closures and natural disasters; participates in the Spills Program Incident Management Team in positions designated on the Program roster; and may be required to serve as a PREP Pager Duty Officer during normal business hours and during after-hours on rotation. You must be prepared for a minimum 3-day field deployment within 1 hour of notification. All required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided. Stand-by pay and response pay will be received when applicable.

Qualifications

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

Required Qualifications:

Eleven (11) 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 which may include any of the following:

• Supervising staff and managing unit workloads, including assigning work, setting performance expectations, providing timely feedback, and ensuring adequate staffing to meet program needs.
• Managing projects including multiple concurrent projects, tracking issues to resolution, meeting deadlines, and adapting to priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Oil spill preparedness and response, including expert knowledge of Incident Command System (ICS) principles, and experience participating on Incident Management Teams. 

Education 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.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Obtain Incident Command System (ICS) training at the level of 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800. 
• Obtain and maintain 40-hour HAZWOPER certification. 
• Obtain and maintain Incident Management Team (IMT) position qualifications, as applicable. 
• Obtain the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC card) which entails a detailed background check. 
• Hold and maintain eligibility and certification to permit travel to and from Canada, including passport or Enhanced Driver’s License. 
• Hold and maintain a valid driver’s license and be able to operate a motor vehicle. 
• Must be prepared for a minimum 3-day field deployment within 1 hour of notification. 

Desired Qualifications:

• Managing complex drills and exercises, including planning, participation, and evaluation under the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (NPREP). 
• Strategic planning and program development, including leading change initiatives, adopting best practices, and contributing to long-term program direction and policy development.
• Develop training and curriculum to educate and share information with diverse audiences.
• Information management systems and technology, including proficient use of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams), SharePoint, websites, and electronic data/file management systems.
• Creating professional, safe, and inclusive workplace environments, including the ability to work effectively under stress, maintain professional demeanor, support health and safety requirements, comply with training and credentialing requirements (e.g., HAZWOPER, ICS), and demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accountability, and ethical decision-making.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and professionally in writing and verbally; as a representative at public hearings and conferences and interact effectively with industry, government partners, tribal governments, and elected officials. 

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 email Matt Bissell at matt.bissell@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

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.

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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