Hazardous Waste Compliance Inspector (Environmental Specialist 4) (In Training)

Please Note: The pay listed above doesn't include the 3.25% pay increase that will go into effect on July 1, 2022.

Per Governor Inslee'sProclamation 21-14.2, 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 contactCareers@ecy.wa.govwith "COVID-19 vaccination" in the subject line.

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Hazardous Waste Toxic Reduction Programwithin the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Hazardous Waste Compliance Inspector (Environmental Specialist 4)(In Training) position.

This position is locatedin our Headquarters Office inLacey, WA.

Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Would you like to help Washington state protect human health and the environment from chemical waste pollution? Do you like to learn about how things are made and about processes that keep society going? Do you like to decipher complex regulations or information into terms that people can understand, so they know what to do? Our ideal candidate will have a passion for protecting 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 processes that generate hazardous waste.

In this role, you will conduct compliance inspections at complex dangerous waste generators, and work with internal and external stakeholders focusing on the interface between the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Dangerous Waste Regulations.

We are looking for applicants who want to combine their strong communication skills with technical knowledge in order to work collaboratively and partner with large and small business, other government agencies, and the public on reducing toxic threats.

As an agency, we invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

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:

* Ahealthy 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.

DuringHealthy 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 21, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before June 20, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

What makes this role unique?

TheHWTR Program enforces many of Washington's toxics laws, including the Dangerous Waste regulations that most businesses and institutions, both large and small, need to comply with. We also offer technical assistance to businesses to reduce or eliminate their use of hazardous chemicals, work to identify safer chemical alternatives, support the development of green chemistry, and test consumer products for toxic chemicals.

This position plans and leads dangerous waste compliance inspections and investigations, anticipated to exhibit a high level of complexity, at priority regulated businesses and industries in the Southwest region. This position makes regulatory determinations which significantly influence the environmental management of a variety of chemicals exhibiting a variety of hazards. This is imperative to minimize impacts of these chemicals to the human health and the environment.

What you will do:

As a dangerous waste inspector, you will:

* Prepare and conduct dangerous waste compliance and compliance assistance visits at a wide variety of businesses and institutions (e.g., universities, other government agencies) to ensure compliance with state statutes and regulations.
* Develop regulatory relationships with businesses and other regulatory agencies in order to identify and respond to environmental issues that affect the common interest.
* Prepare written documentation of inspections issued to businesses and external stakeholders' with observations, and recommendations to support compliance with the Dangerous Waste Regulations, WAC 173-303, consistent with agency and program policies.
* Evaluate the compliance history of a regulated business and provides technical recommendations and documentation during the formal enforcement process.

As the compliance section specialist for the interface between the Clean Water Act and the Dangerous Waste Regulations, this positions' goal is to ensure consistency in the application of the regulations to sectors regulated by Water Quality and HWTR. In the role you will:

* Lead the section in establishing working relationships internally with Water Quality staff and externally with local water quality programs to coordinate our respective work with facilities regulated by both the Clean Water Act and the Dangerous Waste Regulations.
* Be primary lead for conducting inspections at facilities within the region that are regulated by HWTR and that possess WQ discharge permits/authorizations or are otherwise regulated by RCW 90.48. This position will communicate with other regions on HWTR/WQ issues to ensure consistent application of the laws and regulations at those facilities. Such work will include problem identification; goal definition; fieldwork planning and completion including the collection of physical evidence; analysis of results; development of improvements and solutions, including rule amendments, policy guidance, and training.
* Inform HWTR Statewide Compliance Trainer and HWTR Compliance Policy Specialist on issues of significance regarding the interface between the Clean Water Act and the Dangerous Waste Regulations to identify needed policies, educational materials and training.
* Assist in the development of such policies, educational materials and training.
* Coordinate with the Pollution Prevention Assistance Program staff on identifying areas of focus, emerging issues and opportunities to collaborate about proper dangerous waste management and protection of the waters of the state. Works with the section Pollution Prevention Assistance Inspector to identify fieldwork opportunities, including identifying specific sectors and specific regions to focus on based on type of business and/or location within a watershed.

The goal class for this position is Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the Environmental Specialist 3 & 4 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level then they will be placed into a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time

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.

Environmental Specialist 3 (Salary Range 49: $3887-$5102 Monthly)

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 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.Years of professional level experience.Combination 1No college credit hours or degree6 years of experienceCombination 2I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.5 years of experienceCombination 3I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).4 years of experienceCombination 4I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.3 years of experienceCombination 5A Bachelor's Degree2 years of experienceCombination 6A Master's Degree1 years of experienceCombination 7 A Ph.D.0 years of experience

OR

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

Environmental Specialist 4 (goal class) (Salary Range 55: $4509-$5913 Monthly)

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 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.Years of professional level experience.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 5A Bachelor's Degree5 years of experienceCombination 6A 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 possess and maintain a valid driver's License.
* Must have or be able to obtain and maintain 40-hour HAZWOPER certification.

Desired Qualifications:

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

* Experience communicating complex regulatory, technical, or scientific information to an audience that doesn't have a background in this type of information, such as business owners or the general public.

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

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

* Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.govand 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 Leslie Morris at: Leslie.Morris@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Leslie to inquire about the status of your application.

To request the full position description: emailcareers@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, 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.