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Ocean Planning Assistant

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 Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Ocean Planning Assistant (Environmental Planner 2) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.


In this exciting opportunity, you will get to work with a broad range of scientists, resource managers, planners, and policy leaders to help guide Washington’s marine spatial planning effort. In 2018, Washington State finalized a Marine Spatial Plan for Washington’s Pacific Coast that was developed to protect ocean resources and minimize conflicts with potential new ocean uses. A large amount of data and information was collected as part of the Marine Spatial Plan development process, however, there is a need to update and collect new data that will help with emerging needs and implementation. You will work with Ecology and other state agencies in their effort to identify, acquire, and make available high priority data that help protect and preserve Washington’s valuable ocean and coastal resources. In addition, you will support ocean planning efforts more broadly as part of Washington’s Coastal Zone Management Program.
 
You will gain experience with:
 
  • Carrying out Ecology’s mission through collaborative multi-agency or multi-stakeholder workgroups convened to address marine and ocean management issues.
  • Research and analysis to develop policy options, and writing policy briefing documents.
  • Translating scientific information into pragmatic policy options.
  • Internal and external program communications on marine and ocean policy issues.
  • Technical assistance, training, and resource development for effective implementation of the Marine Spatial Plan for Washington’s Pacific Coast. 
 
This position will be housed within Ecology’s Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program. The mission of the SEA Program is to support community conservation efforts for our state’s shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.

Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until June 30, 2024, with the possibility of extension and future opportunities.

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 not currently required to work in the office on a regular basis. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. Looking ahead, Ecology has recently updated the agency policies on telework and flexible and compressed work schedules. Applicants with questions about position location options, telework, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” 
 
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of August 11, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before August 10, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.


About the Department of Ecology
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 embraces 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.

Our commitment to DEIR

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. 

 
Duties


What makes this role unique? 
With the emergence of new ocean uses across the nation, there is a growing and urgent need to inform decision making with the latest data and information in order to protect ocean resources and minimize conflicts between competing ocean uses. Having finalized a Marine Spatial Plan in 2018, Washington State is well positioned to achieve this goal but more work is needed to fully implement the plan and achieve the best outcomes. In this role, you will have the opportunity to participate in that process by collaborating with a wide range of governments, organizations, researchers and stakeholders that share similar goals.

What you will do: 

  • Inventory and analyze existing ocean data, and identify high priority data and information needs for ocean resource planning and management.
  • Work with researchers and scientists to acquire new and updated data, and explore partnerships and funding opportunities for additional research and data collection.
  • Coordinate the preparation of an ocean research agenda, identify data gaps, and complete a collaborative prioritization process for addressing data gaps.
  • Collaborate with a small team of ocean and coastal planning staff to develop policy and procedural documents related to Washington’s Marine Spatial Plan and the establishment of a Geographic Location Description for Washington’s Pacific Ocean waters.
  • Assist with coordination between tribal, local, state, and federal agencies on various Marine Spatial Planning tasks, including data sharing and efforts to address data gaps and research needs.
  • Attend meetings with state agencies, stakeholders, and federal, state, and tribal governments as needed and provide briefings on data prioritization, needs, and funding opportunities.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree with major emphasis 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
 
Three (3) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.
 
OR 
 
A Master's degree or above with major emphasis 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 
 
One (1) year of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development. 
 
OR 
 
One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 1 at Ecology.
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 on 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 (such as 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 Bobbak Talebi at: Bobbak.Talebi@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Bobbak 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.