CRO SWM Section Manager (WMS Band 2)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a CRO SWM Section Manager (WMS Band 2) within the Solid Waste Management Program.

Location: 

• Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, 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.

• A minimum of one day per week is required in the office.

• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: 

• Apply by July 28, 2026

• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Duties

In this role, you will step into a dynamic leadership position where you will guide complex environmental programs that will directly influence the health, safety, and future of communities across Washington. You will manage permitting, enforcement, and grant activities that will often involve intricate technical issues, evolving regulations, and high-visibility outcomes. Each day, you will face a mix of strategic decisions and real-time challenges that will require sound judgment, clear communication, and the ability to navigate competing priorities. You will collaborate with local governments, industries, and other interested parties, using your expertise to solve problems that will often be unprecedented or multifaceted.

You will lead a team of professionals who will depend on your direction, coaching, and support to carry out critical work. You will balance resources, staff development, and operational needs while ensuring your section will deliver high-quality results. You will influence policies and help shape regional priorities, making decisions that will affect environmental protection, human health, and public investment. This position will offer the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while continually adapting, learning, and finding innovative approaches to emerging issues.

What you will do: 

• Lead and manage section staff, including assigning work, coaching, evaluating performance, and supporting professional development. 
• Oversee program operations related to solid waste, biosolids, and delegated federal programs to ensure regulatory compliance and alignment with organizational goals. 
• Review, develop, and approve permits, enforcement actions, and grant awards to protect environmental and public health outcomes. 
• Interpret and apply laws, rules, and policies to make consistent, defensible decisions on permitting, planning, compliance, and funding. 
• Develop and manage budgets and resource plans to align staffing, workload, and financial needs with program priorities. 
• Provide clear communication and guidance to staff, leadership, interested parties, and the public on program activities and regulatory requirements. 
• Coordinate with internal and external partners, building relationships to support collaborative problem-solving and effective program implementation. 
• Implement strategic and program plans, track section performance, and address emerging issues to ensure high-quality outcomes.

Qualifications

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

Required Qualifications:

Nine (9) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:

• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally to help others understand information, expectations, and decisions.
• Ability to work effectively with others to build positive relationships and support shared goals.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage program activities and resources to deliver consistent and accountable outcomes.
• Ability to understand and apply laws, rules, and policies to ensure decisions are accurate, defensible, and consistent.
• Ability to review and approve permits, plans, and enforcement actions to ensure work follows applicable laws and standards.
• Ability to review work for accuracy and completeness to maintain high-quality documents, decisions, and outcomes.

Education: involving a major study in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering or Civil Engineering, Public Administration or Public Policy, Natural Resource Management, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, or Related Physical Sciences, Business Administration or Management, Environmental Health or Public Health, Urban, Regional, or Environmental Planning, Legal Studies or Environmental Law coursework or related area of study.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in meeting the WMS leadership competencies

• 5 years’ experience managing environmental issues, environmental permitting, doing scientific analysis, and rule interpretation.

If you are excited about this role and meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Desired qualifications reflect additional knowledge, skills, or experience that are nice to have but not required. Studies have shown that some applicants, especially women and people of color, are less likely to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging, and we welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and unique perspectives.

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 Peter Lyon at Peter.Lyon@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

The mission of the Solid Waste Management Program is to reduce wastes through prevention and reuse, keep toxics out of the environment, and safely manage what remains.

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 Incentive, 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.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. 

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