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Please Note: The salary posted above does not include the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive due to this position's location in King County.

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program within the Department of Ecology is looking for a Hydrogeologist in our Northwest Regional Office in Bellevue, WA.

This position will be the hydrogeologist joining a team of established Environmental Engineering professionals dedicated to cleaning up contamination in Washington, and is an excellent opportunity to use hydrogeological expertise to make a difference for our state's environment and to influence regulations that will affect how contaminated groundwater is regulated in Washington State.

We are looking for applicants with a high level of attention to detail, and the ability to maintain organization and dedication over long project timelines.

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 and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.
 
Local efforts... Diverse people... Statewide impacts
 
Duties



 
Agency Mission: Protect, preserve, and enhance Washington's environment and promote the wise management of our air, land, and water for the benefit of current and future generations.

Program Mission: The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program is made up of people dedicated to fostering sustainability, preventing pollution, and promoting safe waste management. We do many different things in a coordinated approach to protect the people and environment of Washington from hazardous products and waste.

What do this position do?

This position supports the agency and program missions by serving as the program's authority for complex contaminated groundwater site characterization, groundwater modeling, and interpreting groundwater-to-surface water transfer impacts under the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) in the Northwest Region. As a licensed hydrogeologist, this position:
  • Applies hydrogeology expertise and project management skills to corrective action activities for the largest, most complex, and most controversial contaminated sites where contaminated groundwater is discharging to surface water. 
  • Serves as a senior hydrogeologist and hydrogeological technical expert for the HWTR program, specializing in determining points of compliance and cleanup levels when contaminated groundwater is discharging to surface water. This includes conducting, directing and overseeing independent hydrogeological projects and investigations.
  • Provides technical assistance with the planning, design, construction, and/ or startup of assigned environmental projects.
  • Has the lead responsibility in HWTR for the development of new statutes, regulations, policy or technical guidance relating to setting cleanup standards when contaminated groundwater discharges to surface water.
  • Evaluates and enforces compliance with MTCA and other relevant regulations. Makes evaluations of completeness of cleanup activities.
  • As a site manager for Boeing Auburn and other assigned sites, determines the professional completeness and accuracy of reports, well placement and installation, and sampling and computer modeling practices that establish the hydrogeological characterization of the site.
  • Develops, prepares and presents expert testimony to defend the agency's policy on setting cleanup levels in groundwater that ensure compliance with surface water quality criteria.

Why join the team?
  • We are a multi-generational group of skilled professionals, coming from diverse backgrounds. We are tasked with obtaining lasting compliance with the dangerous waste regulations in the largest Ecology region where half of our regulated generators of dangerous waste reside.
  • Our team possess the shared values of desiring meaningful work, making a contribution to the citizens of Washington State, and continuing on the path of personal and team development.

Please Note: The salary posted above does not include the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive due to this position's location in King County.

This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be August 12, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before August 11, 2019 .The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

A bachelor's degree involving major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely-allied field AND five years of professional experience as a hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geologist, or closely-allied profession at the Hydrogeologist 2 level, higher, or equivalent.
 
A master's degree with major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely-allied field will substitute for two years of experience.
 
A PhD degree will substitute for three years of experience if major research was in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely-allied field.
 
NOTE: This position also requires possession of a valid Washington State Hydrogeologist license.

The experience at the Hydrogeologist 2 level can include a combination of the following: (1) Provides professional hydrogeologic review and analysis of water quality and water quantity problems. (2) Provides technical hydrogeologic assistance to other sections or programs in the department. (3) Measures streamflow. (4) Estimates low streamflow, flood magnitude and frequency analysis. (5) Conducts drought and watershed yield analysis. (6) Locates and maps contaminant migration in ground water, unsaturated zone and surface water. (7) Determines hydrogeologic characteristics of drainage basins, aquifers, and waste sites. (8) Performs field duties on pump tests, slug tests, aquifer tests, and tracer studies to determine hydrogeologic characteristics such as potentiometric surface, seasonal water level variability, hydraulic conductivity, storage coefficient, dispersivity, velocity and direction of ground water flow, and well interference. (9) Analyzes project data, interprets results and reports conclusions. (10) Oversees and approves various phases of project development and implementation. (11) Provides project leadership of technicians and hydrogeologic staff on field projects. (12) Provides professional implementation and enforcement of state laws and regulations. (13) Responds to inquiries from public officials and private interests. (14) Assists in drafting and administering contracts for detailed hydrogeologic investigations and well construction. (15) Assists in drilling and administering contracts for detailed hydrogeologic investigations and well construction (16) Prepares technical reports and memoranda.

Desired Qualifications:
 
  • At least four years of Model Toxics Control Act cleanup site manager experience at the Hydrogeologist 3 or Hydrogeologist 4 level. Has a successful history of navigating complex sites through cleanups with technical, political, or administrative challenges.
  • Is a recognized authority for complex contaminated groundwater characterizations, numerical and analytical modeling, and interpreting MTCA groundwater-to-surface water interactions.
  • Experienced facilitator of politically sensitive cleanup projects.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment:
  • Must obtain and maintain a valid driver's license.
  • Possession of a valid Washington State Hydrogeologist license.

NOTE: Individuals who are interested in applying to this position, and believe they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington based on reciprocity, are responsible for ensuring they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington prior to submitting their application materials. These requirements can be found at the following website: WA State Licensing (DOL) Official Site: How to get your license: Geologists, engineering geologists, or hydrogeologists by reciprocity.

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/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.

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 Christa Colouzis at: Christa.Colouzis@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Christa 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 is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

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.