Western Operations Section Manager
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
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. If you want to join a team that is highly effective, collaborative, has leadership that embraces the value of people, and believes in the fun factor, Ecology is a good fit.
Do the words self-motivated, strong leader and problem solver describe you? Are you a seasoned professional who is ready for your next challenge? If so, then this opportunity may be the one for you!
The Department of Ecology is looking to find a Western Operations Section Manager to join our Environmental Assessment Program management team. The Environmental Assessment Program (EAP) provides a range of scientific, monitoring, laboratory, and quality assurance services. Its mission is to measure and assess environmental conditions in Washington State.
This position is accountable for approximately 37 professional staff and manages the section budget of about $10M. It oversees all Western Operations functions including freshwater and marine monitoring activities, ensuring strategic data management planning in support of agency regulatory requirements. For example, the section provides assessment services to support agency mandates under the State Clean Water Act including 305(b) water quality assessments, 303(d) listings, nutrient control strategies for Puget Sound, development of Total Maximum Daily Loads and monitoring for nonpoint pollution. The position serves on the EAP and the Southwest Regional management teams, coordinates with Information Technology, Business Administrative Team (BAT), and represents EAP on the Environmental Information Management System (EIM) and MPA steering committees. The successful candidate is able to communicate technical information to a broad audience, develop and maintain key professional relationships, manage a heavy workload, and be solution oriented to appropriately balance section work quality and quantity.
As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.
Local efforts... Diverse people... Statewide impacts
Duties
The Western Operations Section (WOS) within the Environmental Assessment Program (EAP) is looking to hire a Section Manager. This position is classified as Washington Management Service (WMS) Band 2. To learn more about the state's management classification system, please visit this link.
The position will be located at our Headquarters in Lacey, WA. . This position directs the operations of the (WOS) and reports directly to the Program Manager. The WOS currently houses 3 units that serve multiple functions within the program. The 3 units include: the Marine Monitoring Unit, the Modeling and TMDL Unit, and the Freshwater Monitoring Unit. This position supervises a section of 39 staff in a highly technical, culturally and scientifically diverse work environment.
Some of the key aspects of the position include:
Manage WOS section:
- Manages section budget and monitor expenditures; approve leave, timesheets, training requests, travel expense vouchers, and purchasing requests.
- Is responsible for all safety, health, and environmental control issues, including compliance with state and federal laws relating to employee safety and hazardous waste disposal.
- Oversees all WOS functions ensuring timely and accurate environmental monitoring, strategic data management planning, and assessment in support of agency regulatory requirements to ensure completion of agency mission, goals and objectives.
- Evaluates section staffing needs, initiate personnel actions, prepare position descriptions and essential functions analyses, arrange training and professional development opportunities, evaluate staff performance and initiate or recommend corrective actions.
- Manages recruiting and hiring of staff in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement by and between the State of Washington and the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) and with civil service rules.
- Plans and schedules workload, coordinates annual planning, establishes priorities, assigns tasks, facilitates intra- and inter-program project teams, monitors status of unit tasks and commitments and ensure timeliness of employee assignments.
Coordination within Ecology:
- Serves on the EAP management team (PMT): attend regularly scheduled meetings, observe meeting "business rules", provide timely feedback on agenda issues, carry out Program Manager and PMT decisions and provide accountability feedback for PMT decisions. Interact with PMT members as peers, proactively communicate issues and provide feedback and advice, and provide information and assigned work in a timely manner.
- Coordinates between EAP and other Environmental Programs including ITSO/EAP coordination, EAP IT Planning and Prioritization Group, Business Admin Team (BAT) representative, Environmental Information Management System (EIM) steering committee, EAP-MPA steering committee.
- Serves on Ecology's Northwest and Southwest Regional Management Teams and Water Management Teams following the same requirements listed above for serving on the EAP PMT.
- Be the primary management point of contact for WQP on nutrient reduction in Puget Sound.
- Coordinates ocean acidification activities in the program.
Coordination external to Ecology:
- Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with professional and managerial staff of government agencies and external stakeholder groups.
- Presents complex technical materials to diverse audiences, including senior management and the public.
- Assures the long-term storage, archival, maintenance, and public access of quality assured data collected or derived by section staff.
This position is open until filled, with an initial screening on March 25, 2020. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before March 24, 2020. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Required Qualifications:
A Bachelor of Science degree in a natural or environmental science or related field.
AND
At least five years of professional level work experience in environmental monitoring or scientific investigations. Advanced degrees may substitute for part of the required work experience:
- A master's degree may substitute for one year of experience.
- A Ph.D. may substitute for two years of experience.
AND
At least two years of increasingly responsible leadership experience. This position also requires knowledge of the principles of management as applied in a scientific work environment, including familiarity with environmental monitoring and assessment methods.
Desirable Qualifications:
Boat operation knowledge and skills (e.g. for 26 foot oceanographic research vessel, electroshocking boat, jet sled)
Supplemental Information
Application Instructions:
Please include the following documents as an attachment to your application:
- A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required qualifications of this position.
- A resume outlining your professional experience.
Please complete the applicant profile when applying for this position. Or, you may paste the text of your resume within the profile's resume text field.
Please read the supplemental questions carefully and answer completely. Incomplete responses, including "please see resume" may disqualify you from further consideration.
Department of Ecology employees, please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources at (360) 407-6186.
If you are reading this announcement in print format, please visit www.careers.wa.gov to access the online recruitment system. Click on "Look for Jobs" and select Dept. of Ecology under the "Department" search list. Click "Apply Search."
Other Information:
If you need assistance applying for this job, please call Human Resources at (360) 407-6186 or e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not call this number or send an email to this address to follow-up the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.
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 or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.