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Environmental Planner 5

Washington State Department of Ecology
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Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. 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 Water Resources (WR) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Environmental Planner 5 position. This position can be located in any of the Department of Ecology offices throughout the state of Washington.
 
In this role, you will work to support the mission of the Water Resources Program (WRP) and the Office of Columbia River (OCR), which is sustainable water resources management to meet the present and future water needs of people and the natural environment, in partnership with Washington communities.

Please Note: This is a project position that is funded through the end of the biennium (June 2023), and this funding is anticipated to be ongoing beyond the biennium as the position supports the RCW 90.94 Water Resources Capital Grant Program.

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. This position is expected to work in the office up to 1 day every two weeks. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding building occupancy, mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 

Please Note: The salary posted above does not include the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive if the position's final location is in King County.  

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of February 07, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before February 06, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date. 
 
Duties

What makes this role unique? 
The Water Resource Program (WRP) and Office of Columbia River (OCR) are involved in a wide array of water resource issues in Washington, with a number of long-term goals and mandates to manage the state's water supply to meet the needs of people and the natural environment, in partnership with Washington communities, when water availability is increasingly limited.

What you will do: 

You will proactively contribute to Ecology’s WRP and the OCR missions by ensuring compliance with local, state, federal and/or tribal law, agency policies and industry best practices, by providing accurate and useful information regarding agreement performance, and ensuring deliverables from agreements that ensure positive environmental outcomes.

  • Assist Grants & Contracts Unit Manager in development and implementation of best management practices and procedures for contracts, grants, and receivables in the Water Resources Program and OCR/YPBIP.
  • Implement RCW 90.94 Water Resources Capital Grant Program and OCR/YBIP Program grant and contract efforts.
  • Provide consultation to management, interstate, interagency and intra-agency stakeholder and work partners.
  • Prepare and maintain capital budget documents for RCW 90.94 and OCR priorities and activities.
  • Collaborate with Program Management Team and others to develop capital budget proposals for RCW 90.94 and OCR priorities and activities.
  • Negotiate and monitor capital project grants.
  • Negotiate Water Resources contracts for personal services, purchase services, and interagency agreements.
  • Read, analyze, interpret, and monitor internal and external policies, procedures, and regulations. 
  • Compose documents and correspondence, grant agreements, and capital budget proposals for RCW 90.94 and OCR priorities and activities.
  • Develop capital budget applications process for RCW 90.94 and OCR priorities and activities.
  • Attend program, section, and unit meetings.
  • Provide training and succession expertise to Contract and Grant Planners and Leadership. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Option 1:
A Bachelor's degree involving major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field,
AND 
Seven (7) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development. 

Option 2:
A Master's degree or above involving major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field,
AND 
Five (5) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.
 
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 
Must have Valid Driver's License.
 
Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

  • Two years of professional experience in full-time budget analysis and planning. 
  • Technical Knowledge -Familiarity with water resources and water rights issues. 
  • Knowledge of: planning principles, techniques, current trends, environmental laws, policies and programs concerning all phases of state resource development; governmental administrative structure at local and state levels; environmental, social and other problems affecting development of local and state environmental resource programs; methods and objectives of urban and natural resources planning.

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.
  • Three professional references.

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 Mike Noone at: mnoo461@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Mike 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 LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram 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.