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Air Quality Senior Policy Analyst (Environmental Planner 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 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 Air Quality Program (AQP) is looking to fill an Air Quality Senior Policy Analyst (Environmental Planner 4) position. The position will be located in our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA.

The Air Quality Senior Policy Analyst position supports the agency and AQP mission by identifying and researching complex new policy initiatives. This includes tracking emerging federal and state policies, as well as identifying significant new directions for existing policies or statutes to improve air quality and protect public health and the environment. This position coordinates and serves as a liaison between Ecology and local, state, and federal agencies, tribes, regulated community and environmental groups, and the general public to further policies to improve and protect air quality.

We are looking for applicants with excellent organizational and project management skills, enthusiasm for complex assignments, and who enjoy working as part of a high achieving team. The successful candidate will be self-directed, detail oriented, with good communication skills and the ability to read and comprehend complex documents and explain them to others.
 
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 mission of the Air Quality Program is to enhance and protect air quality in Washington State. Our vision is clean, healthy air for all; Our goal is to minimize, prevent, and reduce air pollution. This position supports the objective of ensuring all communities have healthy air quality.

This position serves as the Air Quality Program Policy and Planning Sections' Senior Policy Analyst. The position is responsible for developing major new air quality initiatives, policies, and proposed legislation, and for investigating and developing policy implementation options. 

Some of the key work activities of the Air Quality Senior Policy Analyst include:
 
Policy Development and Implementation
  • Researches and analyzes emerging state and federal legislation and regulations.
  • Builds relationships and works closely with staff and stakeholders to identify and analyze policy initiatives and inform decisions for protecting and improving air quality.
  • Provides expert advice to the Air Quality Program Management Team.
  • Identifies policy options, including significant new policy directions and legal, policy, and social issues related to protecting and improving air quality.
  • Collaborates with technical experts to help inform options, proposals and decisions.
  • Evaluates proposals (for example, considering pollution prevention, climate change, energy, transportation, and pollution transfer implications).
  • Develops new air quality initiatives, projects, policies and legislative proposals to improve air quality and protect public health and the environment. 
  • Presents recommendations to the Air Quality Program Management Team.
  • Coordinates with EPA regarding interpretation of federal air quality regulations and policies.
  • Works with other states to learn how they implement specific air quality laws and policies.
  • Coordinates with stakeholders and partners to improve and protect air quality.
 
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be September 16, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before September 15, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Please to do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.
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 emphasis, or closely related field

AND

Three (3) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development, or public policy, planning and/or program development.

OR

One (1) year experience as an Environmental Planner 3, provided a degree as describe above has been obtained.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of state and federal air quality issues, laws, and regulations.
  • Demonstrated skills in researching and analyzing implications of environmental strategies, policies, and plans.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse group of people and opinions to achieve desired outcomes.
  • Strong writing skills to convey information in writing according to the needs of the audience.
  • Strong oral communication and presentation skills to convey information according to the needs of the audience; and to receive and understand spoken information.
 
 
Desired Qualifications:
  • Planning: Be able to expertly identify tasks, activities, work plans and timelines needed to achieve key results and to organize and prioritize work accordingly to meet critical strategic goals and established timelines. Experience working with people on complex or controversial environmental issues. 
  • Policy Development: Have a strong working knowledge of policy development processes, including the ability to identify issues, positions, and interests of multiple stakeholders and craft strategies accordingly. Knowledge and understanding of general and/or program-related state and federal laws, policies, rules, regulations, and guidance. Advanced research skills to collect, synthesize, and evaluate information, including documentation of sources.           
  • Project Management: Effectively initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close projects. Direct and integrate all aspects of a project, including communication and managing risks, to ensure that work progresses toward achieving goals and objectives and meeting deadlines. 
  • Communication: Be able to present and explain technical information. Facilitate productive and collaborative stakeholder and project team meetings that meet objectives, allow for decision making, and keep projects moving forward.
 

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 include the following documents as an attachment to their application:
  • A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required qualifications of this position.
  • A resume outlining your professional experience.
  • A copy of your college transcript(s). (This may be an unofficial online transcript. It does NOT need to be a sealed, certified copy. HTML or PDF formats, or a screen print into Word are acceptable. Please do not paste text from the internet into Word).
Please to do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.
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 Martha Hankins at: Martha.hankins@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Martha 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.