Senior Environmental Inspector (Environmental Specialist 4)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Senior Environmental Inspector (Environmental Specialist 4) within the Toxics Cleanup Program.

Location:

• Southwest Region Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options. A minimum of one day every two weeks is required in the office.
• During the first six weeks of training, most of the time will be in the office and in the field with some teleworking.
• Once fully trained, you will perform field work 3 to 4 days per month. Field work will include travel within counties of the Southwest Region of Washington.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: 

• Apply by April 7, 2025
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after April 7th may not be considered.

Duties

As a Senior Environmental Inspector, you will work to protect the land, water, and air of the state by preventing environmental contamination through regulatory oversight of underground storage tank (UST) facilities. Serving as one of the region’s UST technical experts, you will ensure the proper operations and maintenance of USTs to prevent releases to the environment. Duties include conducting UST inspections, completing initial investigations, and issuing enforcement actions at UST facilities. You’ll also be a resource on the interpretation and implementation of the state’s UST law, regulations, and standard operating guidelines. You will serve as one of the main points of contact for the resolution of high priority issues, including UST emerging issues requiring coordination with other Ecology programs. In this role, you will provide support to UST staff in the region, statewide UST peers, and UST relevant groups/persons. 

As a senior UST inspector, you’ll have the opportunity to serve on the Statewide UST Task Team making technical and regulatory decisions for the state. You will mentor, advise, and train junior UST inspectors in all aspects of UST duties, including the UST regulations and technical UST equipment.     

As a Senior Environmental Inspector, your duties will include:

• Complete UST inspections and promptly respond to UST complaints.
• Conduct UST installation/retrofitting and decommissioning inspections.
• Conduct initial investigations in response to suspected releases from USTs.
• Issue enforcement action(s) to UST owners/operators when violations are observed and documented.
• Educate and assist UST owners/operators with guidance on compliance to prevent releases.
• Provide testimony for Pollution Control Hearing Board hearings, case reviews, and court cases involving UST regulations and enforcements.
• Provide UST expertise in training, technical review, and UST data analysis related to tank installation and retrofit, tank decommission, cathodic protection, site assessment and tank tightness testing.
• Advise and train junior UST inspectors in all aspects of UST duties.
• Create and revise guidance documents and develop tools to assist UST inspectors.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Nine years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience performing environmental-based or work related to the position, that includes one or more of the following:
  • Communicating regulations, codes, or procedures to relevant groups or persons.
  • Applying an understanding on how complex equipment relates to a particular regulation, code, or procedure.
• Experience must include demonstrated competence in the following skill sets:
  • Using critical / analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to make decisions or determine a course of action.
  • Reviewing / assessing information and data to draw conclusions, and recommending decisions or actions.
  • Conducting research and performing data analysis on both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Higher education involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; or environmental planning.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 9 years of experience
• 8 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits
• 7 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree)
• 6 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 5 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree
• 3 years of experience AND a Master’s degree
• 2 years of experience AND a Ph.D.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

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

Desired Qualifications:

• Technical knowledge of underground storage tank (UST) systems.
• Education, compliance and enforcement experience in an environmental field.
• Strong capacity for scientific data assimilation and analysis.
• Experience in regulation interpretation and reporting.
• Routine work with database and spreadsheet software for data management and interpretation.
• Experience working with UST systems, including tank installation/retrofitting, tank decommissioning, site assessments, cathodic protection testing, or tightness testing of UST systems and leak detection equipment.

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Supplemental Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

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.

Application Process

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 job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Connie Groven at Connie.Groven@ecy.wa.gov.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov

About the Toxics Cleanup Program

The mission of the Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) is to protect Washington’s human health and the environment by preventing and cleaning up pollution and supporting sustainable communities and natural resources for the benefit of future and current generations. Our Underground Storage Tank (UST) program is one of the largest pollution prevention programs at Ecology. Every year, just over 3 billion gallons of fuel are stored underground. We inspect tank systems at least every three years. We also provide technical assistance to help tank owners make sure their systems are installed, managed, and monitored correctly to prevent leaks or spills.

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology 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. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

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 *Click here for more information 

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

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.

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

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.