Senior EPA Authorization Analyst (Regulatory Analyst 3) (In-Training)
The salary listed above includes the 3% pay increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2024.
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Senior EPA Authorization Analyst (Regulatory Analyst 3) (In Training) position. This position can be located in any of the following locations:
This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
This position is located in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.
This position is located in our Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.
This position is located in our Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA.
Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
Please Note: If the final location of this position is determined to be in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA. there will be an additional 5% pay increase due to its location in King County. In this instance the salary range will be $5,925 - $9,013 per month.
Note: This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. If you are hired at the Regulatory Analyst 2 level, a training plan allows you to learn and grow to achieve the goal class of a Regulatory Analyst 3. Candidates will be considered at the RA2 and RA3 levels, depending on their qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.
Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations.
The HWTR program strives to protect Washington’s residents and environment by:
- Reducing the use of toxic chemicals.
- Regulating the generation and management of dangerous waste.
- Preventing new contaminated sites.
- Cleaning up contamination.
In this role, you will strive to:
- Ensure the Dangerous Waste Regulations are developed, maintained, and supported across Washington state in an equivalent, consistent, enforceable, and implementable manner.
- Provide consistent internal and external technical assistance to help ensure dangerous waste is managed properly.
- Maintain the EPA Authorized State Dangerous Waste Program.
- More fully integrate EPA authorization with program strategic and business planning.
The EPA authorization process provides foundational conditions for the State Dangerous Waste Program (SDWP) to operate in place of the federal EPA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) program in Washington. The SDWP includes Ecology’s HWTR, the Nuclear Waste Program (NWP), and parts of the Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP). In this role, you will play a central role in ensuring the Washington SDWP remains authorized by EPA and that the program’s activities are consistent with our EPA authorization.
Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work schedule. 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 are subject to change.
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on June 17, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before June 16, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date.
Please Note: We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.
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 *Click here for more information
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.
- 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?
The Senior EPA Authorization Analyst serves as the HWTR program authorization expert, working internally and externally to ensure the SDWP remains authorized by EPA, and program implementation is consistent with our current EPA authorization. This position offers the opportunity to affect statewide dangerous waste regulations and policy. The successful candidate in this position has skillsets enabling them to:
- Develop and maintain relationships with US EPA staff to facilitate successful coordination between the agencies.
- Maintain SDWP and Ecology policy positions during negotiation with EPA.
- Coordinate within RAU and across the SDWP or Ecology to gather information and develop EPA Authorization related deliverables.
- Build and maintain an overall picture of EPA Authorization to determine how the SDWP could be affected by regulatory changes.
- Prioritize authorization related work; pivot to new work as priorities change.
- Research historical decisions, compare many detailed documents, and summarize complex information.
- Focus on details, but also look at the larger SWDP picture to recommend policy direction to program management.
The Senior EPA Authorization Analyst has many duties, which generally include:
- Conducting highly specialized and in-depth analysis of technical issues related to the development, interpretation, technical assistance, history, and implementation of the EPA authorized SDWP in Washington.
- Developing EPA authorization applications after each Dangerous Waste Regulations rulemaking to update our EPA authorization.
- Leading the HWTR EPA authorization team.
- Developing work plans and reports to satisfy EPA authorization agreement and grant requirements.
- Coordinating across Ecology programs and with EPA on authorization-related projects and planning.
- Negotiating with EPA on authorization-related matters on behalf of the SDWP in conjunction with program management.
- Participating in HWTR program planning to ensure consistency with our current EPA authorization.
- Participating on the chapter 173-303 WAC: State Dangerous Waste Regulations rulemaking team to develop updates to these regulations based on EPA regulatory changes, state legislative mandates, and Ecology-suggested changes.
- Recommending decisions to HWTR management regarding complex and politically sensitive policy issues that may have significant impact on the regulated community.
- Responding to technical assistance requests from Ecology staff (for example, permit writers and inspectors), businesses, the public, and other regulated entities asking for regulatory interpretation of the Dangerous Waste Regulations, policies, or guidance.
- Providing expertise on State Dangerous Waste Regulations and federal RCRA regulations to other Ecology programs, such as working with the Solid Waste Management Program and participating in the Product Stewardship and JAG teams.
- Attending EPA, ASTWMMO, and professional conferences to represent HWTR.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:
- 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
- 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent
Required Qualifications:
RA2 In-Training salary range 60: ($5,643-$7,589 monthly)
A total of Seven (7) years of experience and/or education in:
Education: Economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, engineering, law or related field.
Experience: Professional research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters;
OR
Two years as a Regulatory Analyst 1 at the Department of Ecology.
RA3 Level: Salary range 65 ($6,384-$8,584 monthly)
A total of Eight (8) years of experience and/or education in:
Education: Economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, engineering, law or related field.
Experience: Professional research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters;
OR
One year as a Regulatory Analyst 2 at the Department of Ecology
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- Must have or be able to obtain and maintain a valid Driver’s License.
- Be available to represent Ecology at public hearings (both in-person and remote) related to chapter 173-303 WAC rulemaking.
Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.
- Knowledge of, and experience with, the State Dangerous Waste Regulations, chapter 173-303 WAC and the Federal Hazardous Waste Regulations.
- Experience with environmental legislation, regulations and policies at the federal, state, or local level.
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.
- A list of three professional references.
Note: References will only be contacted during the final steps of the recruitment process for candidates selected as finalists. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s formal authorization.
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 Jon Jennings at: Jonathan.Jennings@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Jon 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.
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.