Federal Permit Manager (Environmental Specialist 4) (In Training)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Federal Permit Manager (Environmental Specialist 4) (In Training) position. This position can be located in our Southwest Region Office in Lacey, WA; or our Vancouver Field Office (VFO) in Vancouver, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
 
In this role, you will ensure in-water, wetland, and coastal projects will meet state water quality standards and not impact our coastal zone. This includes reviewing specific projects and federal actions like infrastructure projects, developments, energy and restoration projects that need a Section 401 Water Quality Certification or Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) federal consistency. 
 
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. Candidates will be considered at the Environmental Specialist 3 and the Environmental Specialist 4 levels, depending on their qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section. 
 
Agency Mission: The mission of the Department of Ecology’s 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 90% 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, with a next screening date of January 25, 2024. In order to be considered for the next screening, please submit an application on or before  January 24, 2024.  The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

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. 

Duties

What makes this role unique?
In this position, you will review and process requests for Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certifications and requests for federal consistency with the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) within very short timeframes and deadlines. This includes coordinating with tribes, federal agencies, and state agencies. Additionally, you will have an opportunity to work with a number of other Ecology programs and learn about their role in protecting the environment and agency mission.

What you will do:  

• Apply advanced knowledge of water quality, state laws and federal laws.
• Review complex projects that have the potential to impact waters of the state and determine if state water quality standards will be met. Manage the state level permitting response to federal permits issued under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
• Review projects with the potential to impact the state’s coastal zone for consistency with Washington’s enforceable policies under the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). Manage the state level permitting response to CZMA Federal Consistency.
• Make decision recommendations to Ecology management based on the merits of the project proposal and whether the project will meet state water quality standards or federal consistency requirements.
• Provide project coordination and be a technical advisor to state and federal agencies in reviewing and developing procedures and policies pertaining to the Section 401 process.
• Perform field work and site visits as needed to evaluate projects.
• Assist with the resolution of appeals of Section 401 Water Quality Certifications to the Pollution Control Hearings Board.  Work directly with the Attorney General Office and other parties (including local planners, attorneys, and citizens).

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.

This is an In-Training position. The goal class for this position is an Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the ES4 or the ES3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements at the ES3 level, then they will be hired as an ES3 and will be placed in a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.

At the Environmental Specialist 3 level  (Salary Range 53:  $4,602-$6,198 Monthly) (In-Training)

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

• Professional level 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.

See chart below for a list of ways to qualify for this position:

Possible Combinations.College credit hours or degree – as described above.Years of professional level experience – as described above.

• Combination 1; No college credit hours or degree; 6 years of experience
• Combination 2; I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits; 5 years of experience
• Combination 3; I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree); 4 years of experience
• Combination 4; I have 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 year of experience
• Combination 7;  A Ph.D.; 0 years of experience

OR

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

At the Environmental Specialist 4 (goal class) Level (Salary Range 59: $5,341-$7,184 Monthly) (Goal Class)

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

• Professional level Experience in: Environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.
• Education: Involving major a study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.

See chart below for a list of ways to qualify for this position:

Possible Combinations.College credit hours or degree – as described above. Years of professional level experience – as described above. Combination 1No college credit hours or degree9 years of experienceCombination 2I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.8 years of experienceCombination 3I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).7 years of experienceCombination 4I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.6 years of experienceCombination 5 A Bachelor’s Degree5 years of experienceCombination 6 A Master’s Degree3 years of experienceCombination 7     A Ph.D. 2 years of experience 
OR 
Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology. 

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license.

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

• Demonstrated understanding of project management for complex and at times controversial projects that require multi agency and program coordination. This includes the ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to understand environmental legislation and regulations at the federal, state, and local level, by independently reviewing, analyzing, developing, and recommending permit decisions for projects.
• Testifying at legal proceedings and public hearings, and negotiating resolution in the development of policies and regulations.

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 applicants from diverse backgrounds: 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 this position, please email Maria Sandercock at Maria.sandercock@ecy.wa.gov.  Please do not contact Maria 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:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

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 LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram 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.