Municipal Wastewater Financial Assistance Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)

The Water Quality Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Municipal Wastewater Financial Assistance Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) position.

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

Help protect, preserve, and enhance water quality in the State of Washington! In this senior-level position, you will provide technical and financial assistance to local governments for municipal wastewater improvement projects located in Eastern Washington.

You will learn and gain experience in applying applicable laws, rules, internal policies, procedures, and guidance necessary to fund upgrades and new construction at municipal wastewater facilities.

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 an 80% telework schedule with the expectation of working in the office one day per week plus time in the field as needed.

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 June 18, 2024 . To be considered, please submit an application on or before June 17, 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 position offers an exciting opportunity to engage with and provide assistance to local governments in the planning and funding of municipal wastewater projects.

You will be part of an experienced team reviewing funding applications, negotiating proposed budgets and scopes of work, and tracking project performance.

Eastern Washington is a beautiful place to live and work! The Department of Ecology’s Eastern Region incorporates the Selkirk Mountains to the north, the Palouse hills and Walla Walla wine country to the south, and the upper Columbia River / Lake Roosevelt to the west.

What you will do :

• Manage grants and loans administered by the Water Quality Program by assisting with decisions involving external clients with interests in ongoing and proposed projects.
• Evaluate the completeness of documents needed to meet state and federal requirements related to environmental and cultural resources reviews.
• Develop grant and loan agreements by negotiating the final scope of work, deliverables, and associated budget.
• Apply general knowledge and interpretation of state and federal requirements for municipal wastewater treatment.
• Work together with recipient staff to ensure all deliverables and final progress reports are completed and received within the established completion date.
• Develop, negotiate, implement, and monitor terms of grant agreements in accordance with state and federal rules and regulations.
• Present project and grant guideline information, both virtually and at local workshops and other outreach opportunities.
• Collaborate as needed internally with municipal facility management engineers, Total Maximum Daily Load leads, grant managers, and other program staff to accomplish Water Quality Program goals.

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 (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 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 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 driver’s license.

Desired Qualifications :

• Experience in planning, contract management, and / or grant and loan management for public works improvement projects.
• Experience applying negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience assisting businesses or public agencies with regulatory requirements, including explaining options for coming into compliance.

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