Shoreland, Wetland, Aquatic Resource Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)

The(SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Shoreland, Wetland, Aquatic Resource Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) position.

This position will be located in our Central Regional Office (CRO) in . Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

In this role, you will get to work with cutting edge wetland science and regulatory tools throughout the North Central Region (including Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties) developing relationships with local governments, federal partners, sibling agencies, and private landowners as you work to implement Washington environmental laws around shoreline, wetland, and aquatic resource management and protection.

You will establish many meaningful partnerships with local, state, federal agencies, and many consultants that specialize in the field of environmental permitting.

This is a highly skilled and dynamic position that is both challenging and rewarding. If this sounds like a fit for you, apply to join our team today!

Central Washington offers a rich multi-cultural community, with many experience-based opportunities to enjoy new adventures.

Primarily an agricultural economy, the Yakima Valley is a foodie’s delight, from the first cutting of the asparagus in the spring, to the ripe tomatoes and peppers of the summer, and the apples and gourds of the fall;

Yakima’s bountiful produce inspires all.

Agency Mission : The mission of the Department of Ecology is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations.

Program Mission : The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.

Tele-work options for this position : This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work schedule.Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in other information.

Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change. Application Timeline : This position will remain open until filled.

We will review applications on July 16, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before July 15, 2024.

If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date.

Please Note : We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following :

About the Department of Ecology

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference.

Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our .

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering :

• A healthy life / work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

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.

Duties

What makes this role unique?

In this position, you will perform environmental review and provide permitting recommendations for development proposals situated near shorelines and wetlands within three counties in North Central Washington.

You will be one of only two Environmental Specialists in Washington who carry the same set of permitting responsibilities.

You will be responsible for independently interpreting and implementing our State’s Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58), The Water Pollution Control Act (RCW 90.

48), Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act, and providing technical assistance to local jurisdictions on our wetland guidance documents and participating in a series of dynamic multi-level teams.

What you will do :

• Provide independent review and technical assistance to local, state, and federal government partners and landowners within Washington’s Central Region.
• Provide independent review of wetland delineation reports, wetland ratings, and field verify findings for accuracy and correctness.
• Provide independent review of Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) requests, Administrative Order requests (AO), and Shoreline permitting requests, including supporting documentation (JARPA’s) for completeness and accuracy.

Types of projects vary from infrastructure projects, developments, pipelines, and restoration projects.

• Work closely and coordinate with other federal and state agency staff reviewing projects and conduct site visits.
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with other Ecology programs, local, state, and federal agencies.
• Responsible for maintaining current information in Ecology’s Aquatics, Shoreline Permit Tracking System (SPTS), Environmental Response Tracking System (ERTS), and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) databases.
• Work cooperatively with colleagues to resolve internal policy interpretation issues, concerns or disagreements. Brings unresolved issues to respective policy leads or Section Manager.
• Compose correspondence, reports and prepare draft and final documents.
• Occasional participation in evening hearings, meetings, presentations, etc.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications :

Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time.

We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked.

Examples of the proration calculations are :

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months : (30 / 40) x 20 months 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months : (20 / 40) x 12 months 6 months full-time equivalent

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience.

See below for how you may qualify.

A total of nine years of experience and / or education as described below :

• Experience : Involving environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
• Education : Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other closely allied scientific field.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position :

Possible Combinations College credit hours or degree - as listed above Years of professional level experience - as listed above Combination 1No college credit hours or degree9 years of experienceCombination 230-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits8 years of experienceCombination 360-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree)7 years of experienceCombination 490-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits6 years of experienceCombination 5A Bachelor's Degree 5 years of experienceCombination 6A Master’s Degree3 years of experienceCombination 7A Ph.D.2 years of experience

Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment :

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Willingness and ability to occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and travel throughout the North Central Region and less frequently across the state.

Desired Qualifications :

• Working knowledge of the State’s Revised Code of Washington’s (RCWs); 90.48, the Water Pollution Control Act, RCW 90.58, the Shoreline Management Act, and Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
• Working knowledge of wetland ecology, delineation, and mitigation.
• Demonstrated ability to understand environmental legislation and regulations at the federal, state, and local level, by independently reviewing, analyzing, developing, and recommending permit decisions for projects.

Note : Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.