Permit Writer / Unit Lead (Environmental Specialist 3)(In-Training)

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.  

The Nuclear Waste Program (NWP) is looking to fill a Permit Writer / Unit Lead (Environmental Specialist 3) (In-Training) position. This position is located at our Richland Field Office (RFO) in Richland, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

In this position, you will contribute to the Nuclear Waste Program's mission leading the effective and efficient cleanup of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Hanford Site located at Richland, WA. As the permit writer/unit lead, you will oversee and validate the permit applications for the safe management of low-level radioactive/dangerous waste (mixed wastes) in Washington from our and DOE’s contractors. You will interact with numerous professionals and stakeholders from multi-disciplinary background working to protect the state's air, water, and land. Oversight of the facilities that are actively managing dangerous waste and mixed waste will include site visits to accomplish permit application process fulfilling the Washington’s Dangerous Waste requirements. You will gain experience and receive extensive professional trainings from Ecology, DOE, EPA, and other sources as required on both the state and federal hazardous waste regulations, stakeholder agreement. You will also learn the process to manage mixed waste safely, and work on one of the largest and most complex cleanup sites in the nation at the Hanford Facility. 

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 Nuclear Waste Program's (NWP) mission is to lead the effective and efficient cleanup of the United States Department of Energy’s Hanford Site; to ensure sound management of mixed hazardous/dangerous wastes in Washington; and to protect the state’s air, water, and land at and adjacent to the Hanford site.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 80% tele-work schedule, which is at least one work-day at the office (8:00 to 5:00). Applicants will need to complete a tele-work agreement with the NWP management after starting in the position. 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 December 13, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before of December 12, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

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:

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

In this role, you will perform independent environmental review of plans and specifications, site plans, Dangerous Waste/Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permits, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) remedial documents, and the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (Tri-Party Agreement). You will provide regulatory and permit writing support to the review process, and evaluation of the existing and proposed dangerous waste permits and their modifications from contractors. You will also be responsible to review the recommendations for enforcement actions if the approved regulations were not met. You will interpret state Dangerous Waste Requirements, RCRA, Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and CERCLA regulations, agency/program policies, technical guidelines and procedures for environmental control and management of Hanford waste sites and facilities, and other facilities regulated by the Nuclear Waste Program.

Qualifications

This is an In-Training opportunity: The goal class for this position is an Environmental Specialist 3 (ES3). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements at the ES2 and ES3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements at the ES2 level, they will be hired at that level and will be placed in a training program to become an ES3 within a specified period of time.

Five (5) years of combined experience and / or education:

Experience: In environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.

Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning, or other allied field.

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

Possible CombinationsCollege credit hours or degree - as listed above.Years of required experience – as listed above.Combination 1No college credit hours or degree.5 years of experience.Combination 230-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.4 years of experience.Combination 360-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).3 years of experience.Combination 490-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.2 years of experience.Combination 5 A Bachelor's Degree.1 year of experience.Combination 6 A Master's Degree or higher.No experience. 

One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 1, at the Department of Ecology.

Six (6) years of combined experience and / or education:

Experience: In environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.

Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning, or other allied field.

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

Possible CombinationsCollege credit hours or degree - as listed above.Years of required experience – as listed above.Combination 1No college credit hours or degree.6 years of experience.Combination 230-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.5 years of experience.Combination 360-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).4 years of experience.Combination 490-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.3 years of experience.Combination 5 A Bachelor's Degree.2 years of experience.Combination 6 A Master's Degree.1 year of experience.Combination 7A Ph.D.No experience.

One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2, at the Department of Ecology.

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

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?

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

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.):

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.

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. 

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Mohiuddin Khan at Mohiuddin.Khan@ecy.wa.gov.  Please do not contact Mohiuddin to inquire about the status of your application. 

To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

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:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

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.