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Climate Change Outreach Specialist


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 Air Quality Program (AQP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Climate Change Outreach Specialist (Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist - 3) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

Interested in helping us get the word out on how the state is addressing climate change? Interested in engaging with a diverse group of people ranging from food producers to manufacturers of air conditioners to biofuel companies? Interested in helping us reach out to a wide range of communities across Washington to make sure they have a voice? Do you have skills in developing presentations with a team of technical experts to help them engage others? Are you skilled at hosting public meetings? Want to help us develop and implement community outreach and education campaigns? If you answered yes to some or all of these questions, then the Climate Change Outreach Specialist position may be for you! In this role, you will:

  • Identify and track stakeholders for the Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) teams,
  • Develop partnerships in high-priority communities and with key stakeholders and tribes, 
  • Coordinate and implement stakeholder engagement, workshops, seminars, and public meetings,
  • Identify environmental justice needs and outreach opportunities in the HFC and CFS programs, and
  • Develop outreach materials like PowerPoint presentations, brochures, mailers, socials media, etc. 

In short, you will ensure the public has a voice in the development of two new significant climate change actions. The mission of the Air Quality Program (AQP) is to protect, preserve, and enhance the air quality of Washington to safeguard public health and the environment and support high quality of life for current and future generations. The Air Quality Program’s vision is clean, healthy air for all of Washington. Our goal is to identify, prevent, and minimize air pollution.
 
Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until June 30, 2028.
 
We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. We’re team-oriented, inclusive, and pride ourselves on open, respectful communication. 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 29, 2021. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before September 28, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Duties

What makes this role unique? 

If you enjoy working with a wide range of people (i.e. urban to rural, east and west of the Cascades), from industry and trade groups to environmental NGOs and overburdened communities, then you may be a great fit for this position. Working to identify common ground and build workable solutions will be challenging but also exceedingly rewarding.

In establishing two significant regulatory teams, HFC and CFS, that have their own stakeholder communities to identify and engage, we need someone who can make sure we are communicating with everyone we need to.

You will be critical in helping us meet our environmental justice goals. Working with overburdened communities across Washington, you will ensure our outreach is accessible to everyone. The ability to help us translate technical language into engaging communication material for the general public will be highly appreciated by our teams.

What you'll do:
  • Identify, track, and engage stakeholders and the public for the Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and Clean Fuels Standard (CFS) teams,
  • Plan, develop materials for, and carry out community outreach and environmental education events,
  • Identify environmental justice needs and outreach opportunities in the HFC and CFS programs,
  • Develop, or helps to edit, outreach materials like PowerPoint presentations, brochures, mailers, socials media, etc., 
  • Promote HFC and CFS team goals and regulations as they are completed,
  • Oversee and administer outreach grants for the HFC and CFS teams, and, 
  • Facilitate or moderate public meetings and hearings. 

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:

Seven years of professional experience involving environmental analysis or control, environmental planning, environmental education, community outreach, or communications activities.

Option 2: 

A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, education, communications or closely related field

AND
 
Three years of professional experience involving environmental analysis or control, environmental planning, environmental education, community outreach, or communications activities
 
OR
 
Equivalent education and experience to total 7 years.

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.

  • Experience working for a regulatory agency
  • Knowledge of climate policy
  • Understanding of tools and principles of environmental justice

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 Leonard Machut at: leonard.machut@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Len 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.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

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. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.