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Watershed Health and Effectiveness Monitoring Unit Supervisor


Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18th, 2021. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 Vaccination as part of the hire process. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 Vaccination” in the subject line.

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Environmental Assessment Program (EAP) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Watershed Health and Effectiveness Monitoring Unit Supervisor (WMS Band 1) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Building (HQ) in Lacey, WA. EAP provides a range of scientific, monitoring, laboratory, and quality assurance services. Its mission is to measure, assess, and communicate environmental conditions in Washington State.

This is an excellent opportunity for a first-time supervisor/manager to apply their existing expertise in biology, while developing leadership skills. We are looking for someone with deep knowledge and passion for biological, habitat, and effectiveness monitoring. You are dedicated to creating a high-functioning and supportive team environment, while simultaneously prioritizing quality assurance and efficiency. You should have a strong vision for how to lead a diverse team of scientists to achieve Ecology's mission. 

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embrace the value of people.

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

  • A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
  • An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
  • Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
  • A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
  • Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.


Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.
 
Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.
 
Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.
 
Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.
 
Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.
 
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding building occupancy, mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 
 
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of September 24, 2021 . In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before September 23, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Duties


 
The Watershed Health and Effectiveness Monitoring Unit Supervisor position manages a highly technical staff of research scientists, environmental specialists, and biologists. The position directs work activities in Stream Biological and Habitat Assessment and Effectiveness Monitoring studies as well as participates in policy and program development of applied environmental monitoring design activities. This position is critical to the agency's understanding of our freshwater resources and is responsible for ensuring that staff findings are scientifically defensible. This position represents Ecology's water quality interests when meeting with local government, state and federal agencies, business, industry, conservation districts and tribes regarding Stream Biological and Habitat Assessment and Effectiveness Monitoring studies.


What you'll do:

  • Maintain the highest standards of personal/professional and ethical conduct and support the state's goals for a diverse workforce.
  • Plan, lead, organize, and oversee the work performed by the unit. Ensure optimal use of the unit's resources; manage unit budget and monitor expenditures; approve leave, timesheets, training requests, travel expense vouchers, and purchasing requests.
  • Evaluate unit staffing needs, initiate personnel actions, prepare position descriptions and essential functions analyses, recommend staff hires, arrange training and professional development opportunities, evaluate staff performance, and initiate or recommend corrective actions.
  • Assure the timely completion of required or appropriate scientific reports, technical publications, Environmental Indicators, and other required products. Provide a detailed review of Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), memoranda, and technical reports to ensure the scientific validity of research methods, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), findings, and recommendations. Ensure that staff findings and recommendations are consistent with state and federal laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines.
  • Assure the long-term storage, archival, maintenance, and public access of quality assured Stream Biological and Habitat Assessment and Effectiveness Monitoring data.
  • Prepare unit goals and objectives; communicate section, program, and agency activities to unit staff; communicate staff recommendations to management; coordinate monitoring activities with other unit supervisors; and prepare the unit's monthly report.
  • Serve as lead contact for policy and program development for the Watershed Health and Effectiveness Monitoring Unit (WHEMU) and serve as a program liaison on inter-program and inter-agency work groups; and coordinate with relevant governmental, professional, and industry officials.
  • Serve as the agency representative on the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership (PNAMP) Steering Committee.
  • Participate in the NW Chapter, Society for Freshwater Science. Annual fall meetings rotate between WA, ID, OR and provide communication among federal, state, local, and private biological assessment organizations.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational, volunteer and lived-experience. See below for how you may qualify.

Option 1:
A Bachelor of Science degree in natural or environmental sciences, or related field and five (5) years of professional level work experience in environmental analysis and knowledge of management principles as applied in a scientific work environment. 

Option 2:
A Master's degree in natural or environmental sciences, or related field and four (4) years of professional level work experience in environmental analysis and knowledge of management principles as applied in a scientific work environment. 

Option 3:
A PhD in natural or environmental sciences, or related field and three (3) years of professional level work experience in environmental analysis and knowledge of management principles as applied in a scientific work environment. 

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:


Desired Qualifications:

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

  • Education or experience in management and supervision.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

  • Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
  • If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
  • 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 are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology 

Application Instructions:

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

  • A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position
  • A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable. 
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

  • Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
  • Do not attach documents that are password protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current 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.

Application Attestation: 

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. 

Other Information:
If you have specific questions about the position, please email Jessica Archer at: jessica.archer@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Jessica to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

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.

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 your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagram or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 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, military spouses 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.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency.