Remedial Action Grant Officer (Environmental Planner 3)
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.
The Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) is looking to fill a Remedial Action Grant Officer (Environmental Planner 3) position. This position will be located in our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA.
The Remedial Action Grant Officer position works cooperatively to consistently administer a statewide program which facilitates the cleanup of contaminated sites and prevents future contamination. This position independently oversees assigned remedial action grant management activities.
We are looking for applicants who possess excellent customer service skills, value attention to detail, use independent judgment, and communicate comfortably with colleagues, managers, grant recipients, and local government officials.
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
Accidental spills of dangerous materials and past business practices have contaminated land and water throughout the state. The Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) works to remedy these situations, which range from cleaning up contamination from leaking underground storage tanks, to large, complex projects requiring engineering solutions. Our mission is to get and keep contaminants out of the environment.
The position is located within the Financial Services Unit (FSU) of the Toxics Cleanup Program. The goal of TCP's FSU is to provide financial, contract, grant, financial policy, and other support to TCP staff statewide enabling the program to successfully execute its mission to clean up contaminated sites and protect human health and the environment.
Some of the key work activities are:
- Remedial Action Grant Management: Acts as a remedial action grant officer writing grants, monitoring recipient work progress and spending, and ensuring grant payments are accurate and timely.
- Grant Policy Development and Implementation Standards: Participates in the Ecology-wide team focused on agency grant management (issue identification, solution development, new initiatives). This position will also work with TCP Policy staff to refine program specific policies and processes related to the Remedial Action Grant program.
- Grant Solicitation and Budget Development: Works as a TCP team member on grant solicitation, legislative reporting and budget development projects.
The position is responsible for...
The financial management of and making eligibility determinations for about 30 Remedial Action Grants. We expect the position to offer prudent oversight and careful financial management of state funds. Additionally, this position will work closely with the TCP Policy Unit to develop policy related to Remedial Action Grants and other areas as assigned.
Interesting aspects of the position...
- Environmental cleanups can be costly but are always worth the effort. They protect and restore natural resources, remove blight, invigorate communities, and make way for new economic opportunities.
- This position will manage remedial action grants and loans to help local governments revitalize polluted sites and return them to beneficial uses. These grants also lessen the trickle-down costs of cleanup to taxpayers and rate payers and help provide safe drinking water to people living in contaminated areas.
Culture of the team...
- There is a culture of collaboration and respect in the Toxics Cleanup Program's Financial Services Unit. Each staff member should expect support from other team members, and the applicant should expect to support everyone in the unit.
Our Toxics Cleanup Program manages toxic cleanup sites under the state's cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA). Sites range widely in size and complexity. Often, toxic cleanup sites result from past industrial practices such as aluminum smelting or chemical manufacturing.
We often use the terms site, hazardous site, hazardous waste site, cleanup site, toxic cleanup site, and contaminated site interchangeably. A "site" is where we cannot rule out one or more releases (or threatened releases) of a hazardous or dangerous substance that needs to be cleaned up. There are more than 13,000 known or suspected contaminated sites in Washington, although we have cleaned about 7,000 of these sites.
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be August 26, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before August 25, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Please do NOT include your salary history.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
A Master's degree or above with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, environmental studies, environmental science, political science, engineering, geography or environmental information management systems, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.
AND
Two years professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resources planning, policy development, financial management, budget management, and/or program development.
OR
One year of experience as an Environmental Planner 2 at the Department of Ecology.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- A valid driver's license.
Desired Qualifications:
Professional experience in the following areas is desired.
- Negotiation, development and administration of government contracts and/or grants.
- Work with program budgets, contracts, or grant budgets.
- Work with local governments.
- Experience with the application of government accounting rules and principles.
- Demonstrated success working in a team environment.
- Demonstrated success with project management.
- Experience resolving complex issues of conflicting interests using negotiations.
- Experience and proficiency with Microsoft WORD, EXCEL, ACCESS, SharePoint and Outlook.
- Experience providing training.
- Knowledge of and experience with toxic cleanup laws and regulations.
- Experience with policy development.
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), 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:
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.
- At least three professional references.
- Please do NOT include your salary history.
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 Angie Wirkkala at awir461@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Angie 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.