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Senior Permit Writer/Conservancy Board Coordinator (Environmental Specialist 4)

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 are a culture that is invested in making a difference. If you want to join a team that is highly effective, collaborative, and has leadership that embraces the value of people, Ecology is a good fit.

The Water Resources (WR) program is currently looking to fill a Senior Permit Writer/Conservancy Board Coordinator (Environmental Specialist 4) position. This position will be located in our Central Regional Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA. 

The Senior Permit Writer/Conservancy Board Coordinator position is responsible for administration of all Water Conservancy Board (WCB) efforts throughout the Central Region, ensuring that Boards have been established and are conducting business in a manner consistent with the state's Water Conservancy Board Rule (Chapter 173-153 WAC) and with all other applicable water resource statutes, regulations, case law, and Ecology policies and guidance. As a senior permit writer, this position works with multiple stakeholders, including water purveyors, watershed groups, other programs and agencies and the general public on water right and water supply issues, which have significant environmental, economic and political consequences.

We are looking for applicants who are professional, organized, are able to perform in a fast paced, ever changing environment; strong leadership skills, time management and calendaring skills. Someone who is a team player, possesses excellent written and verbal communication skills along with the ability to review and edit other peoples work.

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.

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.
 
Local efforts... Diverse people... Statewide impacts
 
Duties

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment and to promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations. 
 
Program Mission: The mission of the Water Resources Program is to manage water resources to meet the needs of people and the natural environment, in partnership with Washington's communities.
 
Some of the key work activities of the Senior Permit Writer/Conservancy Board Coordinator  position include:

Develops permit decisions:
  • Works on highly complex permitting decisions with multiple stakeholders, including water purveyors, watershed groups, other programs and agencies and the general public on water right and water supply issues which have significant environmental, economic and political consequences.  
  • Responsible for more complex and difficult projects and permits. 
  • Independently plans, researches, collects, analyzes and interprets technical field and water right data pertinent to applications for new water rights and applications for changes to existing water rights. 
  • Uses sound independent judgment in making decisions.  
  • Prepares Reports of Examination to document investigation and findings using program accepted processes and procedures.  
  • Makes recommendations for permit approval, partial approval or denial. 
  • Provides testimony in cases involving the approval, denial, or conditioning of permits; or in cases which form the basis for precedent-setting interpretations of agency jurisdiction and regulatory authority.
Water Conservancy Boards (WCB) - Conduct the following duties: 
  • Review WCB decisions and recommend to management whether that decision should be affirmed, modified or denied. 
  • Represents the Water Resources Program for WCB procedure questions.
  • Reviews and evaluates petitions to establish local water Conservancy Boards and assist with establishment of Boards when necessary.
  • Revises training materials as necessary to provide training consistent with current state laws and regulations and Ecology policy/guidance, as well as case law.
  • Informs WCB members of any changes in water resources statutes, regulations, case law, and Ecology policy/guidance that may affect Board activities.
  • Reviews, analyzes, develops and recommends policies, guidelines and regulations governing the Water Conservancy Boards Rule (Chapter 173-153 WAC).
  • Coordinates efforts to amend the rule when required to maintain conformance with changing water resources statutes, regulations, and case law.
  • Provides technical assistance to WCB members as necessary.
  • Shares information regarding statewide WCB activities with regional staff responsible for providing technical assistance to WCBs and for reviewing and approving/modifying/denying water right decisions made by the Boards.
  • Collects and maintains data pertinent to WCB activities, and utilize databases to track activities of the Boards.
  • Responds to inquiries regarding WCB activities.
  • Communicates with the program's webmaster, to ensure that WCB information on Ecology's web site remains current.
  • Assigns work to CB support staff as needed. 
  • Assignments to CB staff include but are not limited to, updating CB databases, organize trainings, and to draft and mail eligibility letters.
 
 
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be June 4, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before June 3, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Qualifications
 
Required Qualifications:
 
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. Two of the five years of professional-level experience must be in water rights administration.
 
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, two of which must be in water rights administration, which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above. Two of the three years of professional-level experience must be in water rights administration.
 
OR

A Ph.D. in one of the above fields and two years of professional-level experience in water rights administration 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.

Desired Qualifications: 
  • Experience in water right permitting.  
  • Knowledge of water resources laws, regulations, and policies is preferred.

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:
 
In order to be considered, applicants MUST attach the following documents as an attachment to their application:
  • A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required/desired qualifications of this position.
  • A resume outlining your professional experience.

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 email Scott Turner at scott.turner@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Scott 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.