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Corrective Action Site Management Specialist



Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Hazardous Waste Toxic Reduction program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Corrective Action Site Management Specialist (Natural Resource Scientist 3) position. 

This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.


Would you like help Washington state cleanup historical environmental contamination from industry? Do you have project management and negotiation skills to navigate through the Dangerous Waste and Model Toxics Cleanup regulations? Our ideal candidate will have a passion for cleaning up the environment, a love of digging into the details, a curious and questioning mind, an ability to see the big picture, demonstrated experience building relationships and the ability to conduct research on contaminates, cleanup technologies and regulatory pathways.

In this role, you will focus a lot of your time implementing regulations that ensure cleanup of past and current treatment, storage or disposal (TSD) facilities in the Southwest Region. This position serves as a research specialist project manager to achieve corrective action goals during remedial investigations/feasibility studies, cleanup design activities, ecological and human risk assessments, and other phases of cleanup while working cooperatively with liable parties, resource agencies, local government, Attorney General’s Office, and tribes to coordinate cleanup and restoration. This position reviews and approves QAPPs and SAPs for SWRO corrective action sites to ensure that the submitted plans satisfy Ecology’s Quality Management Plan and will provide data of sufficient reliability for decision making.

The mission of the HWTR Program is to protect Washington’s residents and environment by reducing the use of toxic chemicals, safely managing dangerous waste, preventing new contaminated sites, and cleaning up contamination. The HWTR vision is to be national leaders in minimizing and eliminating the impacts of toxic chemicals and hazardous waste.   

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.

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. 
  • A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
  • 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. 


During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. This position is not currently required to work in the office on a regular basis. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. Looking ahead, Ecology has recently updated the agency policies on telework and flexible and compressed work schedules. 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.” 
 
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of June 7, 2022 . In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before June 6, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Duties
What makes this role unique? 
This role is a unique opportunity for you to do something good and positive for a community, the cleanup of contaminated sites. This role is unique because the cleanup of past and current treatment, storage or disposal (TSD) dangerous waste facilities requires ensuring both the Dangerous Waste regulations and the Model Toxic Control regulations are followed. If you enjoy a challenge, then this job is for you. You will research the historical contamination, learning what’s worked and what hasn’t and how to move forward in cleaning up the site. This role will challenge your attention to detail, navigating the regulations, researching appropriate technologies and negotiating sometimes challenging Potential Liable Parties (PLPs). This work has a long horizon so a positive can-do attitude is very helpful.

What you will do: 
  • Ensure the cleanup of environmental contamination is effective and permanent.
  • Recommend compliance schedules and/or formal enforcement actions necessary to expedite contaminated site cleanup.
  • Review sampling and analysis plans to make sure the data collected will be of sufficient quality to use in decision making.
  • Conduct five-year reviews at corrective action sites. This work may include researching sites by conducting site visits, reviewing files, and writing extensive reports that document the effectiveness of various cleanup actions.
  • Evaluate whether sampled soil from contaminated construction sites can be disposed of at a regular landfill.
  • Review closure plans, closure certifications and reports on closure activities of Dangerous Waste management facilities.



Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

Option One:
A Bachelor’s degree with major study in a natural science.
AND
Four years-professional research work experience in environmental analysis or control.
 
Option Two:
A Master's degree with major study in a natural science.
AND
Two years-professional research work experience in environmental analysis or control.

Option Three:
A Ph.D. degree will substitute for all of the required experience, provided the field of major study was in the specific specialty. 

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 
  • Initial 40 hour Hazwoper training followed by annual 8 hour refresher.
  • Must obtain and maintain a valid Drivers License. 

Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

  • Experience with the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), Chapter 173-340 WAC and/or Comprehensive, Environmental Response and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Dangerous Waste (DW) regulations and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
  • Experience with soil sampling, surface water and upland ground water sampling and analysis techniques, cleanup process and remediation and natural resources recovery technologies.

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

 

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

  • Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
  • If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
  • If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
  • If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology 

Application Instructions:

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

  • A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
  • A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
  • Three professional references.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable. 
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

  • Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
  • Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current 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.

Application Attestation: 

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. 

Other Information:
If you have specific questions about the position, please email Michelle Underwood at: Michelle.Underwood@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Michelle to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

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.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagram or our blog.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

Equal Opportunity Employer: 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, military spouses 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.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.