SEPA Greenhouse Gas Senior Planner (Environmental Planner 4)

The (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a SEPA Greenhouse Gas Senior Planner (Environmental Planner 4) position.

This position will be located in our Headquarters Office inUpon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

This senior-level position at the SEA Program is a pivotal role where you'll lead efforts in developing and implementing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction guidance under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

You'll review GHG assessments, collaborate on interagency strategies, and ensure consistent GHG mitigation across state projects.

This is an ideal opportunity to advance your career by shaping environmental policy, working closely with state agencies and local governments to integrate GHG reduction into planning processes, and making a tangible impact on climate resilience in Washington State.

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 80% 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 10, 2024 . In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before July 9 , 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?

As a Senior Planner with our State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Team, you will provide expertise, planning, and coordination on consideration of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions during SEPA review.

Many interested parties will be looking to Ecology for how to assess the GHG emissions from project proposals and how to mitigate GHG emissions in local planning.

In this role, you can help lead the way on this important work.

What you will do :

• Develop policies, procedures and standards of adequacy for incorporating consideration of greenhouse gas reductions into State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) reviews, including greenhouse gas impact analysis and mitigation.
• Provide technical review of SEPA documents to ensure adequate consideration of greenhouse gas reductions.
• Coordinate with relevant groups to ensure the use of consistent guidance and methods for greenhouse gas analysis and mitigation across state government.
• Serve as a senior planner as a member of a coordinated team to plan and provide technical assistance and guidance related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles travelled.
• Serve as technical liaison on approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions for principal planning personnel in other state departments and with directors of regional and local planning agencies.
• Plan, facilitate, and represent the agency on greenhouse gas emissions analysis and reductions strategies in public or internal meetings and workshops.
• Develop recommendations for and provide review of state and local legislative proposals related to greenhouse gas emission reductions or SEPA requirements related to greenhouse gases.
• Track agency participation in various groups to inform internal collaboration.
• Develop and implement training for internal and external staff.

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 seven (9) 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.
• Education involving a major study 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.

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

Possible Combinations

College credits or degree as listed above

Years of required experience as listed above

Combination 1

No college credits or degree

9 years of experience

Combination 2

30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits

8 years of experience

Combination 3

60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (AA degree)

7 years of experience

Combination 4

90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits

6 years of experience

Combination 5

A Bachelor's Degree

5 years of experience

Combination 6

A Master's Degree

3 year of experience

One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3, at the Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment :

Must be able to possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Desired Qualifications :

• Knowledge of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Growth Management Act, and local government planning principles, climate change and greenhouse gas mitigation strategies, and experience.
• Experience with greenhouse gas emissions assessment and accounting, developing and implementing greenhouse gas mitigation guidance.

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