Ecosystem Specialist

Important information pertaining to our COVID-19 protocols, including our hybrid workforce options, can be found here.

Salary range is $60k to $130k, with a midpoint of $95k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under general direction, the Ecosystem Specialist performs a supporting role for environmental permitting, planning, and natural resource site evaluations (wetlands, streams, and wildlife), and on-site construction compliance. This is a full-time position and would be part of the Sound Transit Ecosystem Team. This Team ensures environmental regulatory compliance of Sound Transit’s capital projects through all stages; assists with ensuring compliance with environmental permits and regulations during construction, assists with inspections during construction and restoration of critical areas, supports the development of scopes of work, schedule, and budgets; works closely with a variety staff members and consultants to complete projects, tasks, presentations, and database entry.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Supports Senior Ecosystem Specialists and Ecosystem Manager to ensure the Agency is meeting its environmental commitments and permit conditions.
• Reviews and tracks permit conditions and requirements, flags issues to be addressed, and documents compliance activities.
• Supports environmental permitting team in obtaining environmental permits and permit modifications.
• Conducts site visits to verify quality of construction contractor work related to ecosystem impacts and restoration during construction activities and conformance with contract design drawings and specifications.
• Conducts site visits to verify consultant work during long-term natural resource monitoring and maintenance activities for permit compliance.
• Attends meetings with contractors, consultants, and jurisdictional partners to review environmental compliance throughout construction.
• Assists with field investigations to verify wetland and stream delineations conducted by others for accuracy.
• Supports Ecosystem Team in reviewing technical related to ecosystem impacts and mitigation documents such as wetland and stream delineation reports, critical area reports, biological assessments, and ecosystem mitigation reports.
• Assists in uploading information and data to Sound Transit’s permit compliance database and prepare materials for environmental permit applications.
• Provides support to the Division/Department on matters as directed; supports the preparation of presentations, staff reports and other necessary correspondence; participates in professional group meetings.
• Assists in facilitating meetings, including scheduling, writing meeting notes, and coordinating follow up activities.
• Maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to natural resources and environmental permitting; supports processes, policies, and practices to ensure they are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; participates to understand and maintain accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Agency policies and procedures, rules and regulations.
• Researches new trends in natural resource mitigation, monitoring, or evaluation.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in environmental studies, environmental science, land use, ecology, biology, wildlife, or closely related field and four years of experience with environmental permitting, natural resource identification, report writing and review, and some project management a plus, preferably in the transit industry and/or in public sector agencies; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Valid state driver’s license.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Pacific Northwest wetland, riparian, and upland natural resources including native and invasive plant species identification.
• General familiarity with environmental and land use laws and regulations and practices related to environmental compliance, specifically related to environmental permitting, wetland delineation, stream habitat assessment, ordinary high water mark delineation, wildlife habitat assessment.
• Current trends and professional literature in environmental permitting and compliance, primarily related to natural resources (wetlands, streams, buffers, wildlife and fisheries habitat, natural resource permitting, and mitigation implementation).
• Working knowledge of local, state, and federal environmental laws, regulations, and industry practices, policies, and procedures as they relate to environmental ecosystem issues.
• Understanding of Project management techniques and principles.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Utilizing computer applications including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook software.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to apply project management techniques and principles.
• Identification of native and invasive plant species of the Pacific Northwest.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other Agency department staff, management team, vendors, outside agencies, Tribes, community groups, and the public.
• Analyzing and synthesizing complex information and data in a concise manner and ability to make recommendations on strategies to assist in resolving environmental issues.
• Multi-tasking competing priorities.
• General understanding of reading and interpreting civil engineering drawings and specifications.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of various wildlife habitat types and bird identification.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a standard office environment, construction sites, and field sites that have heavy brush and uneven footing.
• Subject to standing, walking, bending, reaching, stooping, and lifting of objects up to 25 pounds; may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery when working in the field and visiting construction sites.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)