Hazardous Waste Specialist - Local Source Control (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training)
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program is currently looking for a Hazardous Waste Specialist for local source control, located in our Eastern Regional Office in Spokane, WA
This position identifies urban waterways that are at risk from industrial pollutants and develops approaches to addressing these sources.
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 in communities east of the cascade crest.
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.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov. Check us out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.
Local efforts... Diverse people... Statewide impacts
Duties
The HWTR Program enforces many of Washington's toxics laws, including the Dangerous Waste regulations that most businesses, 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 is a technical lead on a team that identifies chemicals of concern in urban watersheds, and helps identify pollution prevention and source control options within the Eastern and Central Regions. This position:
- Works with other Ecology programs and agency staff to interpret stormwater and Water Quality sampling data in order to identify potential sources and locations of concern to support focused compliance and technical assistance efforts.
- Coordinates with other local governments, and businesses to determine appropriate implementation of pollution prevention and source control options.
- Serves as a resource for cross-program and cross-regional source tracing efforts and data collection. Coordinates work within identified community watersheds with other urban waters staff to ensure work is effectively and efficiently completed.
- Works with Local Source Control Specialist by providing guidance, training, identifying focus areas for business site visits, site visits, and coordinating with Ecology for elevated response.
This position also acts as the section specialist on hazardous waste and storm water inspections in urban watersheds. To do this, this position:
- Independently plans, prioritizes, and conducts inspections of businesses that generate dangerous waste to determine compliance with regulations, state statutes and facility permits to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
- Provides compliance assistance and informal enforcement to achieve compliance.
- Leads investigations including interviewing, sampling, and coordination with affected public agencies and attorneys.
- Investigates complaints alleging non-compliance with state and federal Hazardous Waste regulations.
Please note: This is being re-posted as an In-Training position in order to increase the size of the applicant pool. If you previously applied for this position and would like to be considered for this position, you must reapply.
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be April 22, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before April 21, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Qualifications
The goal class for this position is an Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4) . We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the ES4 and ES3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level they will be hired in at that level and will be placed into a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.
Required Qualifications:
At the Environmental Specialist 3 level: Range 49, Monthly Salary $3,664 - $4,809
A Bachelor's degree in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field AND two years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.
Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education.
A Master's degree in one of the above fields will substitute for one year of the required experience.
OR
A Ph.D. in one of the above fields.
At the Environmental Specialist 4 level: Range 55, Monthly Salary $4,250 - $5,574
A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field AND five years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.
Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education.
OR
A Master's degree in one of the above fields AND three years of professional - level experience as required above which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.
Experience as an Environmental Specialist 2 can include assisting in any of the following areas: 1) performing field surveys or studies, 2) responding to complaints involving scientific or technical content, 3) preparing public meetings and hearings, 4) assistance with routine inspections or investigations requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 5) responding to routine inquires or requests for technical assistance involving scientific content, 6) special projects that are scientific in nature, 7) conducting routine sampling and testing analyses, interprets data, writing reports 8) performing basic sampling data review, 9) maintaining an environmental data base to support technical projects, 10) providing routine environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.
Experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 can include a combination of the following: 1) investigating and / or resolving complaints involving science or technology content, 2) performing inspections, 3) drafting technical evaluations and reports, 4) develops plans for researching information used for technical projects, regulatory or policy development, 5) plan and facilitate public meetings and hearings, 6) project work requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 7) providing technical assistance for complex scientific content and/ or support for implementing scientific content programs, 8) conducting tests, analyzing and evaluating data, 9) using environmental databases to support technical projects, 10) developing scientific studies and resource management plans, 11) providing environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.
Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license
- Certified 40 Hour HazWoper Training within the first 6 months of employment.
Supplemental Information
Application Instructions:
In order to be considered, please attach the following documents as attachments to your application:
- A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required qualifications of this position.
- A resume.
Please complete the applicant profile when applying for this position. Or you may paste the text of your resume within the profile's resume text field.
Please read the supplemental questions carefully and answer completely. Incomplete responses, including "please see resume" may disqualify you from further consideration.
Department of 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.
If you are reading this announcement in print format, please visit the external link to access the online recruitment system. Click on "Look for Jobs" and select Dept. of Ecology under the "Department" search list. Click "Apply Search."
Other Information:
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 the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
If you have specific questions about the position, please email Karen Wood at: KWOO461@ECY.WA.GOV?. Please do not contact Karen to inquire about the status of your application.
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.
This position is included in the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) union bargaining unit for the Department of Ecology.
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 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.