Stormwater Facility Project Financial Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is recruiting for a Stormwater Facility Project Financial Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) in the Water Quality Program. This position provides both project and financial management oversight for grants and loans in Western Washington. This position is located in our Headquarters building in Lacey, WA.
We are looking for applicants who want to combine effective communication skills with project and stormwater management technical skills to work with our grant and loan partners to protect and restore waterbodies.
By working with local governments to implement the agency's stormwater financial assistance programs, evaluate projects for funding, and actively manage funded stormwater projects, this position plays an instrumental role in preventing stormwater pollution and protecting ground and surface waters. Work in this role actively intersects with state water quality regulations and permits, engineering specifications, and the application of the latest science on pollution prevention, providing a dynamic, team-oriented work environment.
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 check us out on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.
Local efforts... Diverse people... Statewide impacts
Duties
The mission of the Water Quality Program is to protect and restore Washington's waters to sustain healthy watersheds and communities. Our work ensures that state waters support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public health.
The Stormwater Facility Project Financial Specialist provides financial assistance management for complicated, highly complex, and sometimes controversial stormwater projects in Western Washington. This includes:
- Developing, negotiating, implementing, and monitoring terms of agreement for complex stormwater improvement projects.
- Reviewing environmental stormwater grant applications for accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Coordinating with grant recipients at key stages of the projects.
- Gaining consensus with internal and external stakeholders and grantees.
- Tracking project performance against contract obligations, which includes visiting sites at critical stages to make sure they are following the grant agreements.
This position will also serve as the section specialist on the stormwater grant intersection with stormwater capital improvement projects in watershed basin planning and urban stormwater best management practices. This includes:
- Responding to highly complex inquiries for technical assistance related to watershed plans.
- Serving as a team member on the Stormwater Financial Assistance Program (SFAP) workgroup. The SFAP workgroup is a multidisciplinary team of stormwater project managers that share specialized stormwater-related regulatory and technical skills critical for the identification and execution of cost effective stormwater improvement projects.
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be January 15, 2020. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before January 14, 2020. 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 Bachelor's degree involving a 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.
OR
A Master's degree in one of the above fields AND three 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.
OR
A Ph.D. in one of the above fields AND two 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.
OR
Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 at the Department of Ecology.
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.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience in urban stormwater management and municipal stormwater NPDES program requirements.
- Experience working with local governments and developing water quality improvement project scopes of work, project schedules, and budgets.
- Experience with reviewing, installing, or inspecting stormwater best management practices.
- Experience with developing data tracking systems.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
Must possess a valid driver's license.
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.
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 Pat Brommer at: patricia.brommer@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Pat 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.