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Environmental Incident Investigator (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training)

Washington State Department of Ecology
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Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

 


The Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) within the Department of Ecology (Ecology) is looking to fill an Environmental Incident Investigator (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training) position. This position is located in our Southwest Region Office (SWRO) in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
 
As the Environmental Incident Investigator, you’ll be on the frontline in a field-focused and public-facing role, responding to reports of contamination. Through physical inspections, sampling, and data analysis, you’ll be able to identify and address soil or water contamination impacts, implement Washington State’s cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act. If you enjoy being in the field, completing environmental inspections, collecting samples and analyzing data, while protecting human health and the environment, we hope you will apply!
 
Note: This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Environmental Specialist (ES) field and achieve the goal class of an Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). Candidates will be considered at the ES2, ES3 and ES4 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.  

Program Mission: The mission of the Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) is to protect Washington’s human health and the environment by preventing and cleaning up pollution and supporting sustainable communities and natural resources for the benefit of future and current generations.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint. 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 October 21, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before October 20, 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. 


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

 

 

As the initial investigator of environmental complaints, you’ll respond by planning, conducting or overseeing inspections to assess the presence of soil or water contamination – inspections might include physical observation, photography, maps, historical assessments and samples of wastes, soils, and water. You’ll prepare reports summarizing these details to ensure that these environmental complaints are promptly addressed and processed in accordance with the Model Toxics Control Act. You’ll also be responsible for conducting Site Hazard Assessments (SHAs) of contaminated sites where you will use site data and information to evaluate the potential risk to human health and the environment through TCP’s Site Hazard Assessment and Rating Process (SHARP) tool. You will routinely work with internal and external stakeholders to complete these initial investigations.
 
Duties of the Environmental Incident Investigator will include:
 

  • Independently and safely perform Initial Investigation of Environmental Reports Tracking System (ERTS) complaints: gather additional information with the complainant; coordinate with the property owner to obtain access and explain why Ecology will be on the property; travel to the site and investigate, take notes, photos, and collect environmental samples; evaluate site conditions - potentially including analytical result; and generate an initial investigation report summarizing Ecology’s findings with a recommendation.
  • Collect information from external and internal parties relevant to the ERTS and initial investigation.
  • Perform SHAs of sites: using applicable site data and information, evaluate the potential risk to human health and the environment, recommend a hazard ranking score, and add the site to Ecology Contaminated Sites List or No Further Action Sites List.
  • Update, interpret, review, impute, and evaluate site information in the Integrated Sites Information System (ISIS), Environmental Information Management System (EIM), ERTS, and other applicable agency databases as directed by the Unit Supervisor and/or Section Manger.
  • Take part in required training, planning, policy review/comment, and associated administrative activities.
  • Accept or decline new ERTS referrals and recommend assignment to appropriate staff.
  • Write and review reports. Draft and update field documents, including Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAPs) and Health and Safety Plans (HASPs).
  • Use internal Toxics Cleanup Program release and cleanup evaluation and rating tools, such as the SHARP tool.

 

 

Qualifications

This is an In-Training Position. The goal class for this position is Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the ES2, ES3 and ES4 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES2 or ES3 levels, they will be hired at that level and will be placed into a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.

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

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

At the Environmental Specialist 2 level: Salary Range 45 ($3,910-$5,241 monthly) (In-training)
A total of five years of experience and/or education as described below:

  • Experience in: environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.   Examples of experience may include:
    • Spill response
    • Environmental sampling
    • Environmental consulting
  • Education: involving 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 Combinations: College credits or degree - as listed above: Years of required experience - as listed above.

Combination 1; No college credits or degree; 5 years of experience

Combination 2; 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits; 4 years of experience

Combination 3; 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (AA degree); 3 years of experience

Combination 4; 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits; 2 years of experience

Combination 5; A Bachelor's Degree; 1 year of experience

Combination 6; A Master’s Degree or above; No experience required

 
 
At the Environmental Specialist 3 level: Salary Range 53 ($4,740-$6,384 monthly) (In-training)
A total of six years of experience and/or education as described below:

  • Experience in: environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.   Examples of experience may include:
    • Spill response
    • Environmental sampling
    • Environmental consulting
  • Education: involving 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 Combinations: College credits or degree - as listed above: Years of required experience - as listed above.

Combination 1; No college credits or degree; 6 years of experience

Combination 2; 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits; 5 years of experience

Combination 3; 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (AA degree); 4 years of experience

Combination 4; 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college 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 7; A Ph.D.; No experience required

 
OR
One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2, at the Department of Ecology.
 
 
At the Environmental Specialist 4 level: Salary Range 59 ($5,501-$7,400 monthly) Goal class
A total of nine years of experience and/or education as described below:

  • Experience in: environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.   Examples of experience may include:
    • Spill response
    • Environmental sampling
    • Environmental consulting
  • Education: involving 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 Combinations: College credits or degree - as listed above: Years of required experience - as listed above.

Combination 1; No college credits or degree; 9 years of experience

Combination 2; 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits; 8 years of experience

Combination 3; 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (AA degree); 7 years of experience

Combination 4; 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits; 6 years of experience

Combination 5; A Bachelor's Degree; 5 years of experience

Combination 6; A Master’s Degree; 4 years of experience

Combination 7; A Ph.D.; 3 years of experience

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


Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

  • Must possess or maintain a valid driver's license.


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

 

  • Experience in cleanup site management.
  • Familiarity with the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) cleanup regulation, or similar regulation.
  • OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training with current 8-hour refresher.

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

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

 


 

 

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 1-800-833-6384.
  • 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.

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 Tim Mullin at: Tim.Mullin@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Tim 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 1-800-833-6384.


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.