Section Administrative Assistant (Administrative Assistant 3)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Section Administrative Assistant (Administrative Assistant 3) within the Water Quality Program’s Northwest Region.

Location:

• Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, WA.
• The salary listed includes 5% premium pay due to the duty station being located 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.
• During the first 6 months, this position is eligible for flexible schedule options and is required to work in the office.  After successfully passing a 6 month probationary period, the position is eligible for routine telework with a minimum of three days per week required in the office. 
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: 

• Apply by April 7, 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

Do you love to bring organization to chaos and check things off your “to-do” list while working to protect and restore the environment? Are you a resourceful self-starter who thrives on taking initiative to solve organizational problems? Are you an excellent communicator who expertly manages communication flows? The Northwest Region section of the Water Quality Program is seeking an organized and enthusiastic Administrative Assistant to support the Section Manager and broader team of 60+ employees. You will directly support our organizational mission and goals by ensuring the administrative functions of the office are conducted in a timely, transparent, organized, and accurate manner. You will serve as the section expert in purchasing, timekeeping, and equipment tracking. In collaboration with section leadership and the administrative assistant to the unit supervisors, you will organize and facilitate office environment teambuilding activities, shared-space usage, safety and disaster preparedness, document accessibility, and you will help new employees learn internal administrative procedures and tools.

What you will do:

• Provide confidential administrative support to the Section Manager and staff.  Maintain confidentiality of information and records with personally identifiable information and/or legal issues.
• Support the Section Manager with their schedule and electronic calendar. Track emergencies and/or time-sensitive projects, keeping the section manager informed of significant issues and status of projects.
• Support the section as subject matter expert on timekeeping and leave in the Agency’s electronic system, including training new employees and troubleshooting challenges, running reports, and sending reminders.
• Perform complex word processing tasks such as formatting and editing letters, memos, technical reports, program publications, position descriptions, evaluations, program policies and procedures. Ensure final letters and memos meet Accessibility minimum standards and comply with ADA requirements as applicable.
• Serve as the section’s purchasing coordinator. Learn and maintain working knowledge of state purchasing requirements and protocols. Independently follow up on purchase request orders to ensure correct billing is applied, contacting fiscal office and vendors when corrections to billing statements are required, and maintaining records of incoming and outgoing orders. Evaluate costs and/or develops cost estimates for supplies, equipment, and event details (i.e., rental spaces and vehicles, catering, meeting host logistics).
• Assist the section with scheduling and organizing meetings, trainings, and public events. Effectively use electronic and personnel resources to identify availability and poll large groups for scheduling. Assist subject matter experts with meeting packets, brochures, and signage, and assists with sign-in/attendee lists.  
• Learn and maintain a working knowledge of building conferencing equipment, including but not limited to a range of screens, microphones, headphones, cameras, computer connections and applications. Troubleshoot media problems in-person and online in hybrid meeting settings. 
• Cultivate excellent professional relationships with administrative staff and leadership from other regions and programs, to collaborate on best practices and support Ecology business needs.

Qualifications

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

Required Qualifications:

Four (4) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in clerical, secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting, or general administrative office work.
• Education involving a major study in business administration, public administration, or closely allied field.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 4 years of experience.
• 3 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 2 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 1 year of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• No experience AND a Bachelor’s degree or above.
• 1 year of experience as an Administrative Assistant 2, at the Department of Ecology.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience creating and implementing administrative office procedures.
• Experience training others on complex processes, software or equipment.
• Experience providing secretarial or office support to a large (20+) person team.

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.

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's duty station, schedule, or duties, please contact Rachel McCrea at Rachel.McCrea@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 Water Quality Program

The mission of the Water Quality Program is to is to ensure that all aquatic life, and communities in the watershed, experience cool, clean water to refresh and sustain us in a changing climate. The Northwest Region covers seven counties (King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Kitsap, Island and San Juan) which contain half of the state’s population. The region has a mix of urban, suburban, agricultural and forest land uses, and a significant maritime presence. The Northwest Region Section of the Water Quality Program has 60+ employees assigned to project management of grants and loans, water cleanup planning and implementation, municipal and industrial point source discharge permitting, nonpoint source discharge technical assistance, compliance assurance and enforcement, administrative support, customer service and management/supervision. Nearly all our work has a role in protecting and restoring Puget Sound.

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.

Ecology Job Opportunities | Careers at Ecology