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Legislative/Strategic Policy Analyst (Environmental Planner 5)

Washington State Department of Ecology
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Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We have a culture that is invested in making a difference. If you want to join a team that is highly effective, collaborative, has leadership that embraces the value of people, Ecology is a good fit.

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. Maybe you've seen some of our recent stories on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

To learn more about our agency, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov.

Ecology is looking to fill a Legislative/Strategic Policy Analyst (Environmental Planner 5). This position will be located at our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA.

The mission of the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response program is to protect Washington's environment, public health, and safety through a comprehensive spill prevention, preparedness and response program. The Spills Program's vision is to prevent, prepare for, and respond aggressively to oil spills; to be seen as the best. Our Spills goal is "zero spills."

Why join the team?

In Washington, oil handling facilities, ships, pipelines, and rail move 20 million gallons of oil in and out of the state each year. The Spills Program is known as a forward leaning leader in the world of prevention, preparedness, and response. Ecology's work is a fast-paced, timeline-driven environment where they enjoy seeing the direct results of their work. We are looking for an engaged and organized individual interested in being a part of a dynamic team. If you are interested in joining a regulatory agency that helps bridge industry perspective with public and environmental interests – this job is for you!
 
Local efforts... Diverse people... Statewide impacts
 
 
Duties

What is the job?  

As the Program's Legislative/Strategic Policy Analyst, you will be the planning consultant to the Spills Program Manager and responsible for providing expert advice on complex policy issues as it relates to marine spill prevention, preparedness, and response legislation, regulatory development, and legal and policy analysis. This position is critical in providing advice to the Program Leadership Team, Agency Senior Management, Legislature, federal and tribal governments, environmental organizations and other stakeholders. This position is the Liaison to the Puget Sound Partnership and Tribes. Additionally, it participates in oil spill response drills, serving as liaison staff and eventually liaison officer, utilizing the federal Incident Command System structure. The work is statewide and travel is expected as part of the job.

We are looking for applicants who are organized, have strong project management skills, have excellent written and verbal communications skills, are diplomatic, have strong leadership skills that motivate others, and work well with others in a team environment.

The Spills Program values a culture of openness and engagement. We want our staff to feel that they are part of the solution and innovation that occurs in the work we do. If you are a positive force and want to be part of an organization that solves problems – join our team.

As the Legislative/Strategic Policy Analyst (Environmental Planner 5) for the program, you will be the key resource in the following activities:

Program Legislative Policy:  
  • Work directly with the Spills Program Manager and Program Leadership Team to develop and track state and federal legislation.
Actions include developing concepts, drafting bill language, tracking legislation, working with the program communications manager to develop communication strategies, identifying key stakeholders and tribes, working with program staff to ensure their input on bill and fiscal analyses, coordinating with the budget manager, and ensuring good coordination with state legislators and staff, congressional staff, Governor's senior policy staff, senior agency management, tribes, and stakeholders representing diverse maritime interests as well as those representing environmental interests.
 
  Strategic Planning:  
  • Develop and lead Spills Program Strategic Plan effort, as delegated by the Spills Program Manager.
  • Research, formulate, analyze, and recommend policy and strategic planning positions to the Program Manager on issues relating to safe marine transportation, marine oil spill prevention, and oil spill preparedness and response to ensure environmental protection of the waters of the state and their natural, economic, and cultural resources.
  • Identify, develop and track strategic issues. Work with the program's managers to develop and look for strategic opportunities to help implement and track the progress of the plan. Coordinate closely with communications manager.
 
Liaison officer and Staff:
  • Represent the Program in Unified Command in large or smaller spill incidents, drills and exercises either as liaison staff and eventually Liaison Officer. 
  • Participate in Liaison trainings and incident management team trainings. 
  
Tribal Liaison:
  • Represent the Program in maintaining communication and coordination with tribal governments.
 
Puget Sound Partnership Liaison:
  • Represent the Program in maintaining communication and coordination with the Puget Sound Partnership. 
  • Coordination on legislative and policy issues common to our organizations and.
  • Coordination Near Term Action agenda items that affect the spill program.
 
External Communication: 
  • Represent the Program in intra-agency cross-program coordination.
  • Coordinate agency actions and initiatives with the U.S. Coast Guard and other federal agencies; Canadian federal, provincial, and industry officials; tribal and local governments; state agencies; and industry organizations and special interest groups.
  Special Projects:
  • Lead and coordinate special projects related to program priorities.
 
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be May 13, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before May 12, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
 
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

Five years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development conducting research and analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations.

OR

One year of experience as an Environmental Planner 4, provided a master's degree in one of the above fields has been attained.
 
This position requires a unique blend of experience and training in legislative and policy development, strategic and legislative analysis, strategic planning, and stakeholder communications, as well as excellent public speaking, presentation, and writing skills.


Desirable Qualifications:
 
  • Computer skills: Must be proficient in MS Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint.
  • Working knowledge of, or experience with Northwest Area Contingency plan policies and experience with the Incident Command System.
  • Independent analysis capabilities and 4 years of experience and training in legislative and policy development at the local, state, national and international level, strategic and program planning.
  • Three (3) years managing complex projects using project management tools to track progress such as MS Excel, or MS Project.
  • Ability to work independently with little supervision.
  • Ability to build relationships and work with diverse personalities.
 
Special Requirements:
 
  • This position is part of the Spills Program Incident Management Team (IMT) and Crisis Management Team and is required to complete Incident Command System (ICS) training at the level of 100, 200, 300, 700 and 800. Maintain HAZWOPER certification annually and continual training as required by the Program as they come available to maintain IMT position qualifications.
  • Be able to obtain the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) which entails a detailed background check.
  • Hold and maintain eligibility and certification to permit travel to and from Canada, including passport or Enhanced Driver's License.
  • Hold and maintain a valid Washington driver's license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.
Why work for Ecology?
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 the health and financial security of you and your family a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to work/life balance.
Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
 
Student debt and how working for Ecology can help
Employees may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, which forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.
 
*See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information
Supplemental Information
 
Application Instructions:
Please include the following documents as an attachment to your application:
  • A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required qualifications of this position.
  • A resume outlining your professional experience.
  • An unofficial copy of your college transcripts.
 
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 at (360) 407-6186.

If you are reading this announcement in print format, please visit www.careers.wa.gov 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 call Human Resources at (360) 407-6186 or e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not call this number or 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 e-mail Dale Jensen at: dale.jensen@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Dale 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.