Senior Environmental Inspector - Underground Storage Tanks (Environmental Specialist 4)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Senior Environmental Inspector - Underground Storage Tanks (Environmental Specialist 4) within the Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP).

Location:

• Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, WA.
• The salary listed includes 5% premium pay due to the position location in King County.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• This position is required to be in the office at least 10% of the time in a two week period. To maintain a permanent dedicated office space you must be in person at least 60% of the time.
• During the first six weeks of training, most of the time will be in the office and in the field with some teleworking.
• Once fully trained, you will perform field work 4 to 6 days per month. Field work will include travel within counties of the Northwest Region of Washington.
• 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

As a Senior Environmental Inspector - Underground Storage Tanks (UST), you will play a critical role in protecting the state’s land, water, and air by preventing environmental contamination through regulatory oversight of underground storage tank (UST) facilities. As a regional UST technical specialist, you will ensure UST systems are operated and maintained in compliance with state regulations to prevent releases to the environment. This position offers a dynamic mix of fieldwork, technical problem-solving, and collaboration, including conducting UST inspections, educating facility owners on compliance, and issuing enforcement actions. You will serve as a trusted resource for interpreting and implementing the state’s UST laws, regulations, and standard operating guidelines, and as a key point of contact for resolving high-priority and emerging UST issues in coordination with other Ecology programs.

In this role, you will support and mentor UST staff, collaborate with statewide peers, and engage with regulated entities and other interested parties. You will also have the opportunity to serve on the Statewide UST Task Team, helping shape technical and regulatory decisions that affect UST program implementation across the state. As a Senior UST Inspector, you will mentor, advise, and train junior inspectors, sharing your expertise in UST regulations and technical equipment. Duties will include:

• Conduct UST inspections in accordance with EPA technical compliance guidance, independently applying professional judgment to identify violations and determine appropriate corrective actions.
• Perform UST system installation, retrofit, and decommissioning inspections to ensure work meets regulatory and environmental protection standards.
• Issue enforcement actions consistent with the UST Inspector Enforcement Manual and follow up with responsible parties to return facilities to compliance.
• Investigate complaints of suspected leaking underground storage tanks, documenting findings and recommending next steps.
• Provide technical assistance and education to UST owners, operators, contractors, and internal staff on UST regulations, forms, and compliance requirements.
• Provide testimony for Pollution Control Hearing Board hearings, case reviews, and court cases involving UST regulations and enforcements.
• Advise and train junior UST inspectors in all aspects of UST duties.
• Create and revise guidance documents and develop tools to assist UST inspectors.
• Coordinate with owners, operators, contractors, and local governments on complex UST projects, and contribute to special projects such as developing or updating guidance, tools, and resources for inspectors.
• Maintain accurate and complete UST files and databases by reviewing submittals, documenting compliance data, and supporting performance measures related to UST compliance.

Qualifications

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

Required Qualifications:

Nine years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience performing environmental-based work, OR work related to the duties of the position, that includes one or more of the following:
  • Communicating regulations, codes, or procedures to relevant groups or persons.
  • Applying an understanding on how complex equipment relates to a particular regulation, code, or procedure.

• Experience must include demonstrated competence in the following skill sets:
  • Using critical / analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to make decisions or determine a course of action. 
  • Reviewing / assessing information and data to draw conclusions and recommending decisions or actions.
  • Reading, interpreting and applying regulations and/or code of practices.
• Education involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; environmental planning, or an academic discipline related to the duties of the position.

Examples of how to qualify:

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

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 complete annual 8-hour refreshers.

Desired Qualifications:

• Technical knowledge of underground storage tank (UST) systems.
• Education, compliance, and enforcement experience in an environmental field.
• Strong capacity for scientific data assimilation and analysis.
• Experience in regulation interpretation and reporting.
• Routine work with database and spreadsheet software for data management and interpretation.
• Experience working with UST systems, including tank installation/retrofitting, tank decommissioning, site assessments, cathodic protection testing, or tightness testing of UST systems and leak detection equipment. 

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 Dan Rollins at Dan.Rollins@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 Toxics Cleanup Program

Accidental spills of dangerous materials and past business practices have contaminated land and water throughout the state. The Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) works to remedy these situations, which range from cleaning up contamination from leaking underground storage tanks (LUST) to large complex projects requiring engineering solutions. Our mission is to get and keep contaminants out of the environment.

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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