Environmental Inspector (Environmental Specialist 3) (Two Positions)

Please Note: The salary posted above includes the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive due to this position's location in Shoreline, WA (King County).       

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work schedule, with up to 50% field work. 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.
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

• 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.

  
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. 
 

What makes this role unique?
Because underground storage tanks (USTs) are out of sight, people do not realize the threat they pose. Petroleum contamination represents the largest percentage of polluted sites in the state of Washington. The Environmental Inspector's role of preventing leaks from tanks is critical. This job is also the public face of Ecology, so excellent communication skills are required. 
 
What you will do:

• Complete Underground Storage Tank (UST) inspections.
• Conduct initial investigations in response to petroleum product spills.
• Help owners and operators understand how to achieve compliance.
• Work to help decommission outdated or non-functioning USTs.
• Provide oversight on UST installations and retrofitting.
• Respond to any UST complaints.
• Take enforcement action(s) as necessary.

Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational 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, including enforcement, or environmental planning. Work experience should demonstrate experience in the following: 

• Conducting inspections, and assisting in achieving compliance.
• Complaint response and/or resolution.
• Conducting investigations.
• Enforcement action(s).
• Providing expertise and education regarding pertinent regulations.
• Working in coordination with other government agencies.

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 credit hours or degree	Years of required experience
Combination 1	No college credit hours or degree	6 years of experience
Combination 2	30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.	5 years of experience
Combination 3	60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).	4 years of experience
Combination 4	90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter 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 PhD	0 years of experience

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

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must possess 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.

• Knowledge of UST systems.
• Compliance and enforcement experience.
• Strong capacity for scientific data assimilation and analysis.
• Experience in regulation interpretation and reporting.
• Routine work with database and spreadsheet software for data management and interpretation.
• Completion of the 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operator Certificate training.

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


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.
• Three professional references.

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 Steven Jarrett at: Steven.Jarrett@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Steven 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.