Shoreline Management Act Compliance Lead

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 Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Shoreline Compliance and Enforcement Lead (Environmental Planner 4) position.  

This position is open for recruitment statewide. Your duty station may be located in one of the following: 

Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.
Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.
Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA.

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

In this role, you will lead a new effort to improve the implementation of the Shoreline Management Act (Chapter 90.58 RCW) and local Shoreline Master Programs through the development and implementation of a proactive monitoring and adaptive management program. Responsibilities include coordinating the work of Ecology staff on SMA monitoring and adaptive management efforts; creating implementation strategies and resources for Ecology regional staff and local government partners; and sharing results of statewide SMA monitoring and adaptive management work. You will coordinate with other state agencies, Tribes and external stakeholders and local governments.

We are looking for applicants who possess excellent people skills, the ability to thoroughly analyze permit data to inform adaptive management strategies and the ability to communicate complex permitting information to audiences with a wide range of interests.

Agency Mission: Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land and water. The agency’s goals are to prevent pollution, clean up pollution and support sustainable communities and natural resources. 

Program Mission: The mission of the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance  (SEA) Program is to support community conservation efforts for our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains. 

This position is a member of the Coastal/Shorelands Section in Ecology’s Headquarters in Lacey WA, near Olympia, the state capital. The position offers flexible work schedules and telecommute options. We are a dynamic, collaborative group of employees committed to protecting Washington's shorelands, wetlands and floodplains.  

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of September 14, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before of September 13, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Please Note: The salary posted above does not include the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive if it ends up being located in King County.  

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? 

  You will be joining a team of passionate public servants who work with a broad network of local shoreline administrators to develop a new program as we move into a new era of shoreline management. You will get to work and build relationships with various partners, including local governments, Tribes, non-profits, and state and federal agencies. This is a great opportunity to use creative and solution-oriented problem solving skills to protect Washington’s shorelines.

   

  What you will do:        

  The position will lead the development of a statewide Shoreline Management Act (SMA) Compliance and Enforcement Program. For the purpose of this position, compliance means effective implementation of Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs) through use of appropriate permit review processes, successful ecological mitigation, and consistency with SMP policies and regulations; and enforcement means addressing violations of permits and responding to unpermitted actions.

   

  Key duties include:

  • Developing a proactive SMP compliance assistance program; to help local governments build systems for monitoring and adaptive management of their SMPs to ensure effectiveness and improve efficient administration. 
  • Creating monitoring and adaptive management tools, templates, and other resources to be used by regional staff and local governments.
  • Creating enforcement tools, templates, and other resources to be used by regional staff and local governments in enforcement actions.
  • Developing Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) program enforcement priorities, including identifying priority waterbodies and riparian areas, violation types to focus on, and decision support tools for establishing the state interest in pursuing enforcement actions to address violations. 
  • Developing approaches for gathering and assessing shoreline permitting information at the local, regional and statewide scale for improved monitoring of SMA and SMP effectiveness. 
  • Representing the Department regarding SMA compliance and enforcement in statewide venues and multiple agency groups; participating in advisory groups or other forums with local governments and other entities.

   

  Qualifications

   

  Required Qualifications:

  Option 1: A Bachelor’s degree with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field AND Five years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

   

  Option 2: A Master's degree or above with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field AND Three years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development. 

   

  Option 3: One year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3, at the Department of Ecology - provided a degree as described above has been obtained. 

   

  Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:   
  Must obtain and maintain a valid state 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. 

  • Skills and abilities in applying planning principles, techniques, current trends, environmental laws, policies and programs concerning shoreline management; understanding of governmental administrative structure at local and state levels. 
  • Experience in administering Washington’s Shoreline Management Act is especially preferred. Experience working for a closely allied state, federal, local, or Tribal resource or planning agency is also preferred.
  • Ability to accept responsibility for major program activities; interpret and apply agency policy; develop long-range work plans, think conceptually, observe and interpret trends, analyze data, identify key relationships, draw logical conclusions, and maintain effective working relationships with state and local governmental officials; address large groups and write effectively.
  • Knowledge of principles of staff supervision and leadership skills.

   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 Bobbak Talebi at: Bobbak.Talebi@ecy.wa.gov.  Please do not contact Bobbak 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.