Toxics Reduction Engineer (Environmental Engineer 5)
Description
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
Are you passionate about reducing or removing toxic chemicals in products? Would you like to help businesses make products that are safer for people and the environment? Would you like to find and explore ways to reduce the amount of hazardous waste that is generated?
The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program is currently looking to fill a Toxics Reduction Engineer position that will specialize in these activities. We work with companies on pollution prevention plans and chemical alternative assessments to select and promote safer chemicals in industrial and manufacturing processes. This position serves as one of four members of the Eastern Washington toxics reduction team focused on providing technical assistance to businesses and industry, communicating the assessment of safer chemical alternatives, and working on pollution prevention evaluations.
We are looking for applicants who possess excellent people skills, good written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to listen and respect differing viewpoints.
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
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 pollution from hazardous products and waste.
What does this position do?
This position provides senior environmental engineering consulting services to help facilities evaluate industrial processes, substitute hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives, and manage end-of-life activities to reduce and minimize the generation of hazardous waste.
This includes:
- Evaluating the technical feasibility of safer chemical alternatives.
- Identifying methods and technologies to cost effectively eliminate, reduce or avoid hazardous substance use, and eliminate, reduce, reuse or recycle wastes.
- Educating facilities and recommending less toxic chemicals, products and processes whenever possible and appropriate.
- Performing engineering analyses and auditing of industrial processes involving hazardous substances, generating hazardous or solid wastes, air emissions or wastewater discharges. Providing technical expertise in manufacturing engineering (particularly fabricators, plastics, and coatings sectors) to hazardous substance users and waste generators related to pollution prevention.
- Supporting Toxics Reduction efforts to help facilities adopt industry technologies and processes to reduce hazardous substances used and waste generate.
- Preparing and conducting technical presentations for industry decision makers, peers, and agency leadership.
- Assisting agency staff responding to inquiries regarding manufacturing technologies and Pollution Prevention planning regulations.
- Serving the HWTR program and agency as a go-to engineer and assists lower level agency staff in responding to inquiries regarding engineering principles, engineering techniques, complex industrial technologies and environmental regulations.
- Leading and participating as an engineering subject matter expert on project teams focused on manufacturing (particularly metal and plastic fabricators, finishers, and coatings sectors) that conserve and protect the environment.
- Leading an integrated team of toxics reduction staff of technical writers and environmental specialists from the Central and Eastern Regional Offices.
- Providing engineering technical expertise to hazardous substance users and waste generators related to pollution prevention.
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be August 8, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before August 7, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Master's degree with major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, environmental, chemical, or related field AND four year of experience in environmental engineering AND Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington.
OR
Bachelor's degree with major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, environmental, chemical, or related field AND five years of environmental engineering experience AND Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington
Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license
- Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington
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: Professional engineer by comity
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:
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) (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth
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, 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.
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 Greg Caron at: greg.caron@ECY.WA.GOV. Please do not contact Greg 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.