Please Note: This recruitment is open to current Department of Ecology employees and Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps members only.
This includes employees working on temporary and project assignments at the Department of Ecology.
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen The Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a State Waters Rulemaking Lead (Environmental Planner 3)(Internal Only) position.
This position can be located in any one of the following offices: Headquarters/Southwest Region Office (SWRO) in Lacey, WA.
Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.
Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA.
Bellingham Field Office (BFO) in Bellingham, WA.
Vancouver Field Office (VFO) in Vancouver, WA.
Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
In this role, you will help design a permitting program to protect waters and streams and write a rule to outline the permit process and sideboards.
You'll learn about the rulemaking process and have an opportunity to work with a range of interested parties as we develop the rule.
You'll enhance your public speaking skills through presentations to management, interested parties, and the public.
Agency Mission : The mission of the Department of Ecology is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's land air and water for current and future generations.
Program Mission : The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) program is to work in partnership with communities to support healthy watersheds and promote statewide environmental interests.
Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until February 28, 2026.
The Funding for this position has a high probability of being renewed for the next bi-annual budget.
Telework options for this position : At the present time, this position is eligible to telework up to 90% of the time.
Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in "other information." Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled.
We will review applications on September 6, 2024.
In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before September 5, 2024.
If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered.
The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date.
What makes this role unique? In May 2023, the Supreme Court issued a decision which resulted in half of Washington's wetlands and a quarter of its streams no longer having federal protection under the Clean Water Act.
In this position, you will head the rulemaking process and write rule language for a new state waters permitting program.
You'll manage the rulemaking process that includes: conducting an environmental justice assessment; interested parties outreach; writing the draft rule; soliciting public comment; and, responding to those comments.
You'll lead an internal team of wetland staff and attorneys to frame the permit program and develop rule language.
You'll make presentations on the rule process and content to tribes, agencies, interested parties, local governments and the general public.
What you will do: Effectively plan and manage permit rulemaking project from start to finish.
This includes clarifying priorities, anticipating obstacles, identifying alternatives, and managing change over a long period.
Lead multi-disciplinary rulemaking teams, including policy leads, wetland specialists, mitigation and compliance staff, 401 staff, environmental justice experts, attorneys, and consultants.
Apply excellent written and verbal communication skills, including: Communicating complex and controversial issues to a variety of audiences and situations.
Communicating effectively and timely with coworkers, stakeholders, interested parties, and the public.
Work independently and participate in group processes and on teams.
Presenting to various audiences, negotiating, and using conflict resolution strategies.
Writing regulatory language, reports, and outreach material (notices, webpages, blogs, social media posts, media releases, articles).
Developing products that adhere to agency standards and Plain Talk standards; and meet Title VI and agency language, accessibility, and nondiscrimination standards.
Establish and maintain cooperative professional relationships with a variety of groups and individuals.
Examples include members of the public, regulated community, government agencies, Tribes, advocacy groups (community, environmental, and public health), communities, and affected and interested businesses (large and small).
Attend virtual and in-person scheduled agency, program, and section meetings.
Organize and prioritize daily and long-term workload, meet deadlines, and respond to requests (emails, calls, Teams chats) in a timely manner.
Required Qualifications: A total of eleven (8) years of experience and/or education as described below: Experience in: project management, program development, or planning related to environmental, land use, urban, regional, natural resource, landscape architecture, geography, environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.
Education involving a major study in: humanities, business, health and medicine, interdisciplinary studies, public and social services, science-technology-engineering-math, social sciences, land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis.
All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position: Possible Combinations College credits or degree – as listed above Years of required experience – as listed above Combination 1 No college credits or degree 8 years of experience Combination 2 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits 7 years of experience Combination 3 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (AA degree) 6 years of experience Combination 4 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits 5 years of experience Combination 5 A Bachelor's Degree 4 years of experience Combination 6 A Master's Degree 2 years of experience OR One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 2, at the Department of Ecology.
Desired Qualifications: We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.
Experience of knowledge of regulatory programs and interpreting rules.
Ability to think critically and analyze research regarding regulatory programs.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Application Instructions: 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.
If you have specific questions about this position, please email Lauren Driscoll at .
For more information about the Department of Ecology, please visit our website at .
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.
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