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Safety Officer / Spill Response (Environmental Specialist 4)

Washington State Department of Ecology
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Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1, state employees must be fully vaccinated effective November 4, 2022. Providing proof of being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment and your vaccine status will be verified prior to starting work. Being fully vaccinated means two weeks after you have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed or otherwise authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or listed for emergency use or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Safety Officer/Spill Response (Environmental Specialist 4) position. This position is located in our Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance of the duty station.

In this position, you will respond to spills of oil and hazardous materials, and as a result of our clean-up efforts, you will see immediate benefit to Washington’s residents and environment. You will also manage complex human health and environmental emergencies through coordination with other federal, state, local, and Tribal response partners.

You will also serve as the Safety Officer for the Eastern Region and help to maintain a safe and healthful work environment for our employees. You will lead our regional safety committee and consult with employees to investigate safety concerns. You will also provide safety training, perform ergonomic assessments, and investigate workplace accidents and near misses.

The compelling motivation for this work is public service and the ability to use science to solve environmental and public health challenges. We are looking for applicants who possess a strong public service ethic, are comfortable working in a leadership role, who excel working in a team environment, and thrive working in a dynamic ever-changing work environment with shifting priorities and schedule changes. If you enjoy a mix of field work and office work and are motivated by making a difference protecting human health and the environment, then this position is for you.

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment and to promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations.  

Program Mission: The Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (SPPR) Program’s mission is to protect preserve, and restore Washington’s environment. The Spill Program’s vision is to create a zero spills world.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will include a combination of remote work from home, field work, and work in the office. 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 is subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of January 20, 2023. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before of January 19, 2023. 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. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan. 

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?
In this position, you will work with a multi-disciplinary team and use science to solve complex environmental, public health, and employee safety challenges. Working with other federal, state, local and Tribal response partners, you will serve as Ecology’s State On-Scene Coordinator leading the response and cleanup of complex environmental spills.

What you will do: 

  • Act as a unit expert, training and mentoring others in responding to and cleaning-up oil and hazardous material spills and drug labs.
  • Perform hands-on clean-up work, including opening unknown drums/containers, sampling, over pack chemicals, and transporting waste.
  • Complete case documentation in support of enforcement and cost recovery actions.
  • Provide regional leadership to Ecology’s Eastern Region Safety Committee.
  • Ensure compliance with federal and state workplace safety requirements.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.
Nine (9) years of combined experience and / or education:
Experience: In any combination of activities such as responding to spills or other emergencies, conducting sampling and analysis studies, working with monitoring instrumentation, managing hazardous waste disposal, performing cleanup or restoration actions, writing scientific or analytical reports, hazardous materials emergency response, or responding to natural disasters.
 
Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, engineering or other allied field.

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

Possible CombinationsCollege credit hours or degree - as listed aboveYears of professional level experience - as listed aboveCombination 1No college credit hours or degree.9 years of experience.Combination 230-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.8 years of experience.Combination 360-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).7 years of experience.Combination 490-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.6 years of experience.Combination 5 A Bachelor's Degree.5 years of experience.Combination 6 A Master's Degree.3 years of experience.Combination 7A Ph.D.2 years of experience.
OR

Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology.

For all education/experience levels:
Hazardous Materials Technician Certification per WAC 296-824 and 296-843 is required. Must have prior hazardous materials emergency response experience.

ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 certification is required. 

Free on-line ICS training and certification is available at:

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
  • Must hold and maintain a valid driver’s license.
  • Must pass employment medical surveillance physical and demonstrate the ability to wear respiratory protection and chemical protective clothing. Must successfully pass physical agility test. 
  • Must be able to pass a detailed background check required to obtain and maintain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
  • Must successfully complete initial SAFETRAC requirements and other required training outlined in Spills Program Policy and Procedures within 6 months of entering the position.
  • Must be prepared for a minimum 3-day field deployment within 1 hour of notification.
  • Must hold and maintain eligibility and certification (valid passport or enhanced driver’s license) to permit travel to Canada in the event of a transboundary spill.
  • This position is required to maintain a personal level of fitness necessary to pass a periodic medical surveillance exam, which may include a stress test.
  • This position is identified as an Essential Agency Employee and is expected to work during facility closures and natural disasters.
  • This position is required to perform after-hours on-call duty on a rotation. 
  • This position manages sensitive health and safety information and must maintain this information with absolute confidentiality. 
  • Must notify supervisor immediately if the employee is unable to obtain any of the above required licenses or certifications, or if any of the above are revoked, expired or suspended for any reason.
  • Must live within a 60-minute commuting distance of the Eastern Region Office.

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

  • Team leadership experience.
  • Experience with workplace safety committees and regulations.
  • Working Knowledge of the NW Area Contingency Plan.
  • Familiarity with Washington Labor and Industry HAZWOPER safety regulations and experience developing site-specific health and safety plans.
  • Experience working in Unified Command with the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Coast Guard, and tribes.
  • Worker safety and community air monitoring experience. 
  • Experience collecting waste and environmental samples.
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 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 Sam Hunn at Sam.Hunn@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Sam 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.