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Hazardous Waste Compliance Inspector (Environmental Specialist 4) (In Training)

Washington State Department of Ecology
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Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
 
 
The Department of Ecology's Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program is currently looking for a Hazardous Waste Compliance Inspector in our Southwest Regional Office in Lacey, WA.

This position conducts compliance inspections at complex dangerous waste generators, and works with internal and external stakeholders focusing on the interface between the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and Dangerous Waste Regulations.  

We are looking for applicants who want to combine their strong communication skills with technical knowledge in order to work collaboratively and partner with large and small business, other government agencies, and the public on reducing toxic threats.

As an agency, we invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability. 

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

 
Local efforts... Diverse people... Statewide impacts



 
Duties


 
The HWTR Program enforces many of Washington's toxics laws, including the Dangerous Waste regulations that most businesses, both large and small, need to comply with. We also offer technical assistance to businesses to reduce or eliminate their use of hazardous chemicals, work to identify safer chemical alternatives, support the development of green chemistry, and test consumer products for toxic chemicals. 

This position is a member of a dynamic and collaborative team of inspectors overseeing facilities throughout a twelve county region, including the metropolitan areas of Vancouver and Tacoma. This position plans and leads dangerous waste compliance inspections and investigations, anticipated to exhibit a high level of complexity, at priority regulated businesses and industries in the Southwest region. This position makes regulatory determinations which significantly influence the environmental management of a variety of chemicals exhibiting a variety of hazards. This is imperative to minimize impacts of these chemicals to the human health and the environment. 

As a dangerous waste inspector, this position:
  • Prepares and conducts dangerous waste compliance and compliance assistance visits at a wide variety of businesses to ensure compliance with state statutes and regulations. 
  • Develops regulatory relationships with businesses and other regulatory agencies in order to identify and respond to environmental issues that affect the common interest.
  • Prepares written documentation of inspections issued to businesses and external stakeholders' with observations, and recommendations to support compliance with the Dangerous Waste Regulations, WAC 173-303, consistent with agency and program policies. 
  • Evaluates the compliance history of a regulated business and provides technical recommendations and documentation during the formal enforcement process. 

As the compliance section specialist for the interface between the Clean Water Act and the Dangerous Waste Regulations, this potions' goal is to ensure consistency in the application of the regulations to sectors regulated by Water Quality and HWTR. This position:
  • Leads the section in establishing working relationships internally with Water Quality staff and externally with local water quality programs to coordinate our respective work with facilities regulated by both the Clean Water Act and the Dangerous Waste Regulations. 
  • Is primary lead for conducting inspections at facilities within the region that are regulated by HWTR and that possess WQ discharge permits/authorizations or are otherwise regulated by RCW 90.48. This position will communicate with other regions on HWTR/WQ issues to ensure consistent application of the laws and regulations at those facilities. Such work will include problem identification; goal definition; fieldwork planning and completion including the collection of physical evidence; analysis of results; development of improvements and solutions, including rule amendments, policy guidance, and training.
  • Informs HWTR Statewide Compliance Trainer and HWTR Compliance Policy Specialist on issues of significance regarding the interface between the Clean Water Act and the Dangerous Waste Regulations to identify needed policies, educational materials and training. 
  • Assists in the development of such policies, educational materials and training.
  • Coordinates with HWTR Local Source Control (aka Pollution Prevention Assistance) and Urban Waters staff on identifying areas of focus, emerging issues and opportunities to collaborate about proper dangerous waste management and protection of the waters of the state. Works with the section Urban Waters Inspector to identify fieldwork opportunities, including identifying specific sectors and specific regions to focus on based on type of business and/or location within a watershed.

 
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be December 24, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before December 23, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.


 
Qualifications

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

 
Required Qualifications:
 
At the Environmental Specialist 3 level: Range 49, Monthly Salary $3,774 - $4,953

A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field AND two years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
 
Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education.
 
OR
 
A Master's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field AND one year of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
 
OR
 
A Ph.D. in one of the above fields

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



At the Environmental Specialist 4 level: Range 55, Monthly Salary $4,378 - $5,741

A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field AND five years of professional level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education.

OR

A Master's degree in one of the above fields AND three years of professional level experience as required above which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

OR

A Ph.D. in one of the above fields AND two years of professional level experience as required above which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

OR

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



Experience as an Environmental Specialist 2 can include assisting in any of the following areas: 1) performing field surveys or studies, 2) responding to complaints involving scientific or technical content, 3) preparing public meetings and hearings, 4) assistance with routine inspections or investigations requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 5) responding to routine inquires or requests for technical assistance involving scientific content, 6) special projects that are scientific in nature, 7) conducting routine sampling and testing analyses, interprets data, writing reports 8) performing basic sampling data review, 9) maintaining an environmental data base to support technical projects, 10) providing routine environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.

Experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 can include a combination of the following: 1) investigating and / or resolving complaints involving science or technology content, 2) performing inspections, 3) drafting technical evaluations and reports, 4) develops plans for researching information used for technical projects, regulatory or policy development, 5) plan and facilitate public meetings and hearings, 6) project work requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 7) providing technical assistance for complex scientific content and/ or support for implementing scientific content programs, 8) conducting tests, analyzing and evaluating data, 9) using environmental databases to support technical projects, 10) developing scientific studies and resource management plans, 11) providing environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.
 


Desired Qualifications
 
  • Demonstrated ability to understand environmental legislation and regulations at the federal, state, and local level.
  • Demonstrated advanced ability to communicate complex regulatory and technical issues, through writing and speaking.
  • Demonstrated advanced ability to review and understand technical documents.
  • Demonstrated advanced ability to apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to appropriately prioritize and concurrently service multiple, long-term case assignments, integrating many factors into case decisions and ensuring accurate, high quality service delivery.
  • Demonstrate and ability to critically observe and inspect environmental conditions to collect information and detect problematic situations.



Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license


Why work for Ecology?

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 the health and financial security of you and your family a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to work/life balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
 

Student debt and how working for Ecology can help
Employees may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, which forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.
 
*See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information
Supplemental Information
 
Application Instructions:

In order to be considered, please attach the following documents as attachments to your application:
  • A cover letter describing how your experience, skills and abilities meet the required qualifications of this position.
  • A resume.
 
Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.

Please complete the applicant profile when applying for this position. Or you may paste the text of your resume within the profile's resume text field.

Please read the supplemental questions carefully and answer completely. Incomplete responses, including "please see resume" may disqualify you from further consideration.

Department of 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.

If you are reading this announcement in print format, please visit www.careers.wa.gov to access the online recruitment system. Click on "Look for Jobs" and select Dept. of Ecology under the "Department" search list. Click "Apply Search."



Other Information:

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 the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Leslie Morris at: LESLIE.MORRIS@ECY.WA.GOV. Please do not contact Leslie to inquire about the status of your application.

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.

This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.

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 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.