Hazardous Waste Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)

 

The Department of Ecology's Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program is currently looking for a Hazardous Waste Specialist in our Eastern Regional Office in Spokane, WA. This position will serve as the liaison between HWTR and other programs in the region, and will be the section's specialist for wet-sector facilities and for healthcare/pharmaceutical waste. 

This position will conduct inspections at these complex facilities in order to assure compliance with Washington's "Dangerous Waste Regulations", Chapter 173-303 WAC. This position collects physical evidence, evaluates scientific data, reviews plans, and analyzes records to prepare recommendations for formal enforcement actions.

We are looking for applicants who want to combine their strong communication skills with technical knowledge in order to work collaboratively and partner with large and small business, other government agencies, and the public on reducing toxic threats in communities east of the cascade crest.

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 Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Duties

The HWTR Program enforces many of Washington's toxics laws, including the Dangerous Waste regulations that most businesses, both large and small, need to comply with. We also offer technical assistance to businesses to reduce or eliminate their use of hazardous chemicals, work to identify safer chemical alternatives, support the development of green chemistry, and test consumer products for toxic chemicals. 

This position plans and leads dangerous waste compliance inspections and investigations, anticipated to exhibit a high level of complexity, at priority regulated businesses and industries in the Eastern region. This position makes regulatory determinations which significantly influence the environmental management of a variety of chemicals exhibiting a variety of hazards. This is imperative to minimize impacts of these chemicals to the human health and the environment. 

As a dangerous waste inspector, this position:

As the compliance section specialist for wet-sector (metal finishing) facilities and facilities with complex processes:  

 

As the Section Specialist for Healthcare/ Pharmaceutical Waste:

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.

 

 

Qualifications

The goal class for this position is an Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the ES4 and ES3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level they will be hired in at that level and will be placed into a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.

 

 

A Bachelor's degree in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field AND two years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.

Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education.

A Master's degree in one of the above fields will substitute for one year of the required experience.

A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field AND five years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education.

A Master's degree in one of the above fields AND three years of professional - level experience as required above which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

NOTE: One year of the required experience must involve implementing Washington's "Dangerous Waste Regulations", Chapter 173-303 WAC.

Experience as an Environmental Specialist 2 can include assisting in any of the following areas: 1) performing field surveys or studies, 2) responding to complaints involving scientific or technical content, 3) preparing public meetings and hearings, 4) assistance with routine inspections or investigations requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 5) responding to routine inquires or requests for technical assistance involving scientific content, 6) special projects that are scientific in nature, 7) conducting routine sampling and testing analyses, interprets data, writing reports 8) performing basic sampling data review, 9) maintaining an environmental data base to support technical projects, 10) providing routine environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.

Experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 can include a combination of the following: 1) investigating and / or resolving complaints involving science or technology content, 2) performing inspections, 3) drafting technical evaluations and reports, 4) develops plans for researching information used for technical projects, regulatory or policy development, 5) plan and facilitate public meetings and hearings, 6) project work requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 7) providing technical assistance for complex scientific content and/ or support for implementing scientific content programs, 8) conducting tests, analyzing and evaluating data, 9) using environmental databases to support technical projects, 10) developing scientific studies and resource management plans, 11) providing environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.

 

 

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

 

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.

 

Supplemental Information

 

In order to be considered, please attach the following documents as attachments to your application:

 

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.

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."

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 Karen Wood at: KAREN.WOOD@ECY.WA.GOV. Please do not contact Karen 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.