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Senior Environmental Planner (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 Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) is looking to fill a Senior Environmental Planner (Environmental Planner 4) position. The position will be located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
The Senior Environmental Planner position is responsible for planning engagement, involvement, and collaboration with stakeholders, environmental groups, local governments, and tribal governments specifically on the Puget Sound Initiative Cleanup Sites and Bays, which is a major new and/or existing environmental cleanup initiative, and cleanup sites going through the cleanup process under the Puget Sound Initiative. They will identify, anticipate, plan, and develop solutions to any issues involving cleanups so that the cleanup process may proceed as efficiently and effectively as possible.
We are looking for applicants who have the ability to collaboratively work with a wide variety of people in the section, program, agency, and local governments. The successful candidate will be organized, 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 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 Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) is to prevent and remove contamination and support sustainable communities.
Some of the key work activities of the Senior Environmental Planner position include:
Stakeholder and Tribal Engagement:
  • The Headquarters Cleanup Section's senior level environmental planner is responsible for planning engagement, involvement, and collaboration with stakeholders, environmental groups, local governments, and tribal governments specifically on the Puget Sound Initiative Cleanup Sites and Bays, a major environmental cleanup initiative, and other sites going through the cleanup process under the Puget Sound Initiative. They will identify, anticipate, plan, and develop solutions to any issues involving cleanups so that the cleanup process may proceed as efficiently and effectively as possible. These cleanups occur under the authority of the Model Toxics Control Act, which is undergoing significant modifications and revisions in 2019, 2020, and 2021. 
  • Interprets, plans, and communicates with local governments regarding the new Remedial Action Grant law, rules and Guidance for Local governments. (2018-2021 guidance).
  • Serves as senior planner responsible for coordination and stakeholder engagement on politically sensitive and complicated cleanups that have state-wide or regional significance or are related to the section implementation of the Puget Sound Initiative. Responsible for developing and implementing strategic and operational approaches to conducting stakeholder and tribal engagement for bay wide cleanup and restoration. This includes inter-and intra-agency coordination, planning and managing facets of large scale environmental cleanup projects.
  • This position provides strategic consultation on major new initiatives to management regarding complex issues relative to significant cleanup and restoration issues or policy related issues. This includes working with individuals and groups outside Ecology regarding major new or existing initiatives or major modification to existing laws, regulations, policies, or program planning needs. Conducts presentation development and assists with technical writing of documents as necessary to support these efforts.
  • The position plans and coordinates with the section to assure that appropriate section staff are able to carry out public involvement and public notice responsibilities for our Puget Sound Initiative projects. Integral to this responsibility is management of the public involvement contract with the Puget Sound Initiative consultant. This position focuses on providing stakeholder and tribal engagement and liaison for high priority bay wide actions or for sites such as Port Gamble, Camp Bonneville, Kimberly Clark Everett, East waterway, and Anacortes public involvement and outreach. On a macro-level, plan and coordinate the sections' SEPA requirements to ensure that SEPA processes are followed for the projects we work on.
Participates and supports the Toxics Cleanup Program Planners Team Charter activities: 
  • The workgroup is chartered to update, modify, coordinate and help implement the TCPs strategic plan, performance management, and continuous improvement. This team in comprised of section planners from all of the regional offices and HQ. The program planner working under the program manager is leading this team. 
Contracts:
  • Contracts with environmental consultants for public outreach on complex cleanup sites on the Everett and Anacortes Waterfront under the Puget Sound Initiative. Specifically, some of these complex sites are the former Kimberly Clark Mill site, Weyerhaeuser Mill A, and the former Chevron Bulk Plant in Anacortes.
  • Inter-agency Agreements and Contracts: Plans and manages section Inter-Agency Agreements and acts as a clearinghouse for section Inter-Agency Agreements for consistency and implementation. This position also manages several contracts, such as the PSI Public Involvement Contract and other contracts for stakeholder engagement. This position takes lead responsibility in strategic planning and project managing for certain contractual agreements including the Western Washington University, Huxley College, and Puget Sound Initiative public/stakeholder/tribal involvement efforts.
Budget:
  • Plans and supports section manager with the section budget work and information needs for the Program Financial Services Manager. This position provides strategic consultation on major new initiatives and reviews the budget to ensure that the projects it administers are properly funded, and the funding will be adequately planned for in advance through the normal budgetary cycle.
Is the Lead Program Environmental Justice Committee Representative for TCP:
  • This position serves as a facilitator of conversation between staff, management, and the EJ committee. This planner identifies EJ activities and vulnerabilities for the program and attends three committee meetings annually. Position actively participates in the group's mission regarding the agency's Environmental Justice responsibilities.
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be December 24, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before December 23, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Please 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 environmental 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

One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3 as long as the degree above has been obtained.

OR

A Bachelor's degree or above with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, pubic administration with an environmental emphasis, environmental science, supply change management, or closely allied field.
 
AND
 
Five (5) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, environmental regulation, and/or program development.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Knowledge of: planning principles, techniques, current trends, environmental laws, policies and programs concerning all phases of state resource development; governmental administrative structure at local and state levels; environmental, social and other problems affecting development of local and state environmental resource programs; methods and objectives of urban and natural resources planning; principles of staff supervision.  
  • Ability to: accept responsibility for major program activities; interpret and apply agency policy; develop long-range work plans, think conceptually, observe and interpret trends, analyze data, identify key relationships, draw logical conclusions, and maintain effective working relationships with governmental officials; address large groups and write effectively; supervise staff and manage major program activities.
 
 
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
 
A valid driver's license is required for this position.
 
 
 
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.
Please 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 Barry Rogowski at: barry.rogowski@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Barry 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. All employees covered by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the WFSE will, as a condition of employment, either become members of the WFSE and pay membership dues or, as non-members, pay a representation fee as described in the CBA, no later than the 30th day following the effective date of this CBA or the beginning of their employment.

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.