The Water Resources (WR) program is currently looking to fill the Water Right Permit Writer- Southwest Region (Environmental Specialist 3) (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.

In this role, you will manage and protect Washington’s ground water and surface water supplies, protecting senior water rights (including yet to be quantified Tribal water rights), protecting streamflows and providing technical assistance to a wide range of state residents, local and Tribal government agency staff, hydrogeological, engineering and environmental consultants, real estate agents, attorneys and sister state agencies such as the Department of Health and Department of Fish and Wildlife is extremely rewarding and challenging work.
Ecology’s Southwest Region has an overall population of over two million people. The Region is comprised of 12 Counties (ranging in population from ~4,000 to over ~900,000 people), 14 sovereign Tribal Nations, 20 different watersheds (12 of which have separate and specific instream flow regulations), and a wide variety of water uses ranging from municipal, multiple domestic, irrigation, fish propagation, power generation to single domestic uses. If you like doing field visits to the different reaches of this Region, this position may be especially rewarding to you. In addition, Ecology’s Southwest Region has two National Parks, one National Volcanic Monument, the mouth and lower portion of the fourth largest river discharge in North America and several thousand miles of ocean and inland sea coastline.

This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Environmental Specialist field and achieve the goal class of an Environmental Specialist 3. Candidates will be considered at the Environmental Specialist 2 and the Environmental Specialist 3 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 Washington's environment and to promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations.

Program Mission: The mission of the Water Resources (WR) program is to manage water resources to meet the current and future needs of the natural environment and Washington's communities.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work schedule after the initial 6 month training period during which there will be up to 40% 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 May 18, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before May 17, 2023. 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

What is unique about this position?

Ecology’s Southwest Region in particular has a wide variety of water availability challenges with annual precipitation rates ranging from 15 inches to over 100 inches and geological conditions that create sustainable groundwater supplies in some part of the Southwest Region and limited supplies in other parts of the region. In this role, you will be working with a wide variety of dedicated and passionate hydrogeologists, environmental scientist, attorneys, policy and management professionals. Daily outreach to the public we serve (who have a variety of educational, economic, cultural and social backgrounds) also makes this job professionally challenging and rewarding. Writing Reports of Examination (ROEs), comment letters and water system plan review letters is an added challenge that will greatly enhance one’s writing and communication skills.

What you will do:

Analyze water rights permit applications – research, acquire, assemble, extract, document and analyze water right records from Ecology and other relevant sources.
Write Reports of Examination (ROEs) - prepare written reports of examinations that result in agency decisions on water right applications.
Conduct field investigations of water right applications and give public presentations on water right and water resources related issues when necessary/needed.
Daily outreach to the public we serve (who have a variety of educational, economic, cultural and social backgrounds) also makes this job professionally challenging and rewarding.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

This is an In Training opportunity: The goal class for this position is an Environmental Specialist 3 (ES3). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements at the ES2 and ES3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements at the ES2 level, they will be hired at that level and will be placed in a training program to become an ES3 within a specified period of time.

At the Environmental Specialist 2 level: Range 45 ($3,796 - $5,088 per month) (In-Training)

Five (5) years of combined experience and/ or education:

Experience: In environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.

Education: Involving a 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 – as listed above.
Combination 1	No college credit hours or degree	5 years of experience
Combination 2	30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits	4 years of experience
Combination 3	60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree)	3 years of experience
Combination 4	90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits	2 years of experience
Combination 5	A Bachelor's Degree	1 year of experience
Combination 6	A Master's Degree or higher	No experience

OR

One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 1, at the Department of Ecology.

At the Environmental Specialist 3 level: Range 49 ($4,602 - $6,198 per month)

Six (6) years of combined experience and / or education:

Experience: In environmental analysis or control or environmental planning.

Education: Involving a 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 – as listed above.
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 Ph.D.	No experience

OR

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

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Must obtain and maintain a valid driver license.

Desired Qualifications:

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

Some knowledge of Washington State Water Code and experience with field assessment.

Ability to accept responsibility for project activities, work effectively with governmental officials and local interest groups, and communicate effectively

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?

If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or .
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:

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 . Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or .

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.

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