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Engineering Section Manager


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 Air Quality Program (AQP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Engineering Section Manager (WMS Band 2) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

As Engineering Section Manager, you will lead a diverse group of engineers and permit coordination staff to develop regulatory policy and permit air pollution at major facilities. In this role, you will also evaluate complex regulatory, permitting, and compliance issues, and provide strategic input for the program. Often this position will require the use of your advanced negotiation skills, as well as strategic and multi-disciplinary project planning.
 
We are looking for applicants who can manage a complex portfolio of air quality permitting and regulations and have strong leadership skills, with the ability to build and nurture highly functioning collaborative teams. If you possess great organizational skills, strategic thinking abilities, experience leading diverse groups, and comfort moving in a fast-paced environment, we would love to hear from you!
 
 Program Mission: The mission of the Air Quality Program (AQP) is to protect and improve air quality in Washington and to protect our State’s environment for current and future generations. In 2021, Washington State’s Legislature passed the landmark Climate Commitment Act (CCA) – a sweeping piece of legislation that directs Ecology to develop and implement the state’s first Cap-and-Invest Program and commits our state to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible to tele-work up to 60%. 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 17, 2023. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before January 16, 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 position unique?
The Air Quality Program is invested in a strong workplace culture that is collaborative and open. As Engineering Section Manager, you are integral in fostering and ensuring a supportive and positive workplace culture.
 
In this role, you will have the opportunity to be a state and national leader in an area that protects Washington’s public health, environment, and way of life. Additionally, you will be at the forefront of how environmental justice intersects with air quality permitting and regulation – providing guidance and coordination on major air quality regulatory policy issues.
 
What you will do:
In this role, you will manage air quality engineering analysis and coordination of permitting industrial and commercial facilities processes including:
 
  • Evaluate and issue Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permits for the State of Washington.
  • Lead the coordination of the Air Operating Permit (Title V) program. 
  • Oversee Reasonably Available Control Technologies/Measures (RACT/RACM) analyses.
  • Establish and participate on cross-program, cross-agency, and multi-agency engineering and permitting workgroups, and as needed, enhance coordination and consistency.
  • Ensure that environmental justice considerations and best practices are incorporated into permitting issuance, compliance and enforcement activities and guidance.

 
Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s Degree or higher in environmental engineering, or closely related field such as environmental science or law/regulation, AND five years of environmental permitting, compliance, or similar regulatory experience.
 
Additional requirements include:
  • Knowledge of advanced principles of management, budget planning, strategic planning, air quality permitting, and personnel administration.
  • Ability to decipher multiple local, state, and federal laws and regulations regarding air quality management and administrative procedures requirements.

Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.
 
  • Experience supervising professional-level staff.
  • Registration as a professional engineer in the State of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington.
  • At least two years of air quality-related project management or regulatory experience.
  • Experience developing regulatory policies, guidance, and/or procedures.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Note on Professional Engineer Licensure: Individuals who are interested in applying to this position, and believe they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington based on reciprocity, are responsible for ensuring they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington prior to submitting their application materials. These requirements can be found at the following website: WA State: Board of Registration for Professional Engineers: How to get your license: Professional engineer by comity

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.
  • Your college transcript.
  • 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 Rob Dengel at: Robert.Dengel@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Rob 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.

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.