Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Clean Energy Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3) position.
This position can be located in any one of the following offices:
Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.
Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.
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 $4,977 - $6,703 per month.
Washington State recently passed legislation expanding Ecology’s role in siting clean energy in our state. This work is required as part of Governor-requested House Bill 1216 which is an integral component of Washington State’s transition to a fully decarbonized energy sector. In this position, you will work with the Clean Energy Coordination Section in support of several activities. These include supporting the new coordinated permit process for clean energy projects and assisting in the development of three programmatic environmental impact statements for solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen facilities. You will also conduct research on clean energy projects, planning efforts, and emerging technologies and use this to develop technical reports.
You will independently coordinate outreach and communications to support the Clean Energy Coordination Section work on improving siting and permitting of clean energy projects. You will implement strategies to reach all communities around the state, including overburdened communities, vulnerable populations, and Tribes. You will lead section efforts in accessibility and environmental justice to ensure equitable communication and access.
The Washington Legislature has entrusted us to address the challenging and complex environmental issues affecting Washington. As the state's lead agency on climate change, we carry out policies that help slow the causes of climate change and support communities already impacted by its effects.
Agency Mission: The mission of the Department of Ecology's is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations.
Program Mission: The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.
Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until June 30, 2025. The Funding for this position has a high probability of being renewed for the next bi-annual budget.
Tele-work options for this position: The positions will be eligible for up to a 80% 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 July 17, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before July 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.
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
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.
What makes this role unique?
You will be part of the Ecology team leading work to improve clean energy siting, environmental review, permitting, and planning across the state. This work involves current and emerging technologies and it's a rapidly developing area. Our team works with state, local, and federal agencies on multiple levels to ensure coordination and effectiveness. Early engagement with communities, Tribes, clean energy developers, and interested parties are critical and you will play a key role in this work. We are looking for someone interested in helping us improve the state’s clean energy transition while ensuring protection for the people and environment.
What you will do:
-
Support Ecology’s new coordinated permit process for clean energy projects.
-
Support the development of programmatic environmental impact statements for utility-scale solar, onshore wind and green hydrogen facilities.
-
Conduct research on clean energy projects, plans, and emerging technologies, compile data, and develop technical reports.
-
Independently plan outreach on clean energy coordination activities and implement in coordination with Ecology teams.
-
Assist the public, SEA and other Ecology programs, Tribes, and local, state, and federal government agencies to understand the work of the Clean Energy Coordination Section.
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:
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.
-
A total of six years of experience and/or education as described below:
-
Professional experience in: environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
-
Education involving: major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.
Desired Qualifications: We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.
-
Approve or develop State Environmental Policy Act environmental reviews.
-
Manage or develop state or local permits, especially for clean energy projects.
-
Develop and implement communications plans for complex and controversial topics and affecting communities with environmental justice concerns.
-
Speak languages other than English.
-
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.
Other Information:
If you have specific questions about the position, please email Diane Butorac at: diane.butorac@ecy.wa.gov Please do not contact Diane to inquire about the status of your application.
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov
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.
Please apply here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4551747/clean-energy-specialist-environmental-specialist-3
