Nonpoint Source Pollution Control/Water Quality Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)(In-Training)

The Water Quality Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Nonpoint Source Pollution Control and Water Quality Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training) position.

This position is located in our Southwest Region Office (SWRO) in Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Are you passionate about environmental stewardship and looking to engage in meaningful work aimed at ensuring cool, clean water for aquatic life and communities in the watershed?

In this dynamic role, your focus will be on implementing water quality improvement plans in priority watersheds, with an emphasis on addressing pollution issues from agricultural and livestock activities.

You will gain valuable experience in nonpoint source pollution control, environmental compliance, water quality assessment, and environmental management, which will prepare you well for future career advancement in the environmental sector.

Note : This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Environmental Specialist field and achieve the goal class of an Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4).

Candidates will be considered at the ES3 and the ES4 levels, depending on their qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.

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

Program Mission : The mission of the Water Quality Program 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.

Telework options for this position : This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint.

This position will be eligible for up to a 90% telework schedule.Applicants with questions about position location options, telework, 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 J uly 26, 2024. To be considered, please submit an application on or before July 25, 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?

This role is unique and challenging due to its focus on mitigating nonpoint source pollution, which requires innovative strategies and collaboration with various partners.

You will address complex environmental issues within watersheds, navigate regulatory frameworks, and implement effective pollution control measures to safeguard water quality.

What you will do :

• Conduct watershed evaluations and implement water quality improvement plans in priority watersheds.
• Provide technical assistance to landowners to help them implement and achieve compliance with water quality laws.
• Coordinate with multiple partners to execute water quality improvement initiatives and ensure alignment with overall goals.
• Utilize knowledge of agricultural Best Management Practices to address water quality impairments resulting from agricultural and livestock activities.
• Investigate and resolve pollution issues identified through watershed assessments or reported complaints, with a focus on achieving compliance with Total Maximum Daily Load and water quality standards.
• Provide technical consultation to agency staff, local, state, federal, and Tribal entities regarding water quality improvement strategies and compliance assurance.
• Issue enforcement actions, as necessary, to address noncompliance with water quality laws and regulations, while encouraging voluntary compliance and cooperation.
• Collaborate with Ecology staff, other jurisdictions, and various involved partners to develop and implement technical assistance programs for pollution prevention and natural resource protection.

Qualifications

This is an In-Training position. The goal class for this position is Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the ES3 and ES4 levels.

If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level, they will be hired in at that level and placed into a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.

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.

At the Environmental Specialist 3 level : Pay Range 53 ($4,740 - $6,384 monthly) In-Training

A total of six (6) years of experience and / or education as described below :

• Experience in 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 allied 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 required experience as listed above

Combination 1

No college credit hours or degree

6 years of experience

Combination 2

30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits

5 years of experience

Combination 3

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

4 years of experience

Combination 4

90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits

3 years of experience

Combination 5

A Bachelor's Degree

2 years of experience

Combination 6

A Master's Degree

1 years of experience

Combination 7

A Ph.D.

No experience

One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2, at the Department of Ecology.

At the Environmental Specialist 4 level : Pay Range 59 ($5,501 - $7,400 monthly) Goal Class

A total of nine (9) years of experience and / or education as described below :

• Experience in 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 allied 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 required experience as listed above.

Combination 1

No college credit hours or degree

9 years of experience

Combination 2

30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits

8 years of experience

Combination 3

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

7 years of experience

Combination 4

90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits

6 years of experience

Combination 5

A Bachelor's Degree

5 years of experience

Combination 6

A Master's Degree

3 years of experience

Combination 7

A Ph.D.

2 years of experience

Two (2) years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment :

Must possess and maintain a valid drivers license.

Desired Qualifications :

• Experience or training with environmental enforcement.
• Experience or training with water quality sampling.
• Experience working in an agricultural setting.

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