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Wetland Mitigation Compliance Specialist - NWR




Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.1 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18th, 2021. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 Vaccination as part of the hire process. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 Vaccination” in the subject line.


Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen


The Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Wetland Mitigation Compliance Specialist - NWR (Environmental Specialist 4) in the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program. This position will be located in either our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA or our Northwest Regional office in Shoreline, WAThe location of the position depends on where the finalist resides.

In this role, you will visit wetland mitigation sites and evaluate their condition and compliance with permit requirements. You will gain proficiency in wetland delineation, plant identification, reading grading and planting plan sheets, assessing reasons for failures, and identifying necessary corrective actions for wetland mitigation sites. You will serve as the wetland section’s technical lead for wetland mitigation plans assisting regional wetland staff in review of mitigation plans and performance standards. This work involves field and office work for evaluating mitigation sites.

The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program is to support community conservation efforts for our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.

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 embrace the value of people.

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. 
  • A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
  • Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.


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. 

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding building occupancy, mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of October 18, 2021. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before October 17, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Duties

What makes this role unique?

You will enhance your skills of persuasion while working with permittees to gain voluntary compliance in resolving issues on their mitigation sites. You will plan, research, collaborate and write an update to the agency’s mitigation plan guidance. For the mitigation plan guidance, you will lead and facilitate a workgroup with counterparts at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency.  
 
What you'll do:
  • Review monitoring reports for compensatory wetland mitigation sites assessing adequacy of the reports for determining whether performance standards have been met.
  • Conduct field inspections of mitigation sites to determine if the monitoring report adequately represents site conditions and whether the site is developing as planned.
  • Identify deficiencies at mitigation sites and make recommendations for contingency actions to improve the success of the sites.
  • Effectively gain voluntary compliance for mitigation sites that are not meeting standards or where contingency actions have not been implemented.
  • Research and write an update to the joint agency mitigation on guidance plans through coordinating and facilitating a workgroup with agency staff and wetland practitioners.
  • Represent Ecology’s compliance program in interagency meetings with the purpose of developing joint guidance supported by Ecology, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Compliance Team in the Wetlands Section is a small but effective team providing oversight on the large number of wetland compensations sites in the state that are currently undergoing monitoring. We like to brainstorm solutions to problem sites and share our expertise. The Compliance Team is a cohesive group that relies on each other to help figure out a tough site. The Wetland Section includes our Policy Lead, Lead Wetland Ecologist, Compliance Team, Wetland Acquisition Specialist, and Mitigation Banking Team. 

The Department of Ecology:
  • Values diversity and seeks to create an inclusive environment that results in decision-making informed by breadth of perspective.
  • Works with respect for tribes and tribal sovereignty, and engages in meaningful tribal consultation.
  • Strives to eliminate environmental and health disparities by prioritizing communities with environmental justice considerations.
  • Values diversity and seeks to create an inclusive and respectful workspace.
 
Qualifications

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 Nine (9) years of experience and/or education as described below:
  • 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. See definition of Environmental Specialist 2 and 3 listed below.
  • Education: involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.
 
See chart below for a list of ways to qualify for this position: 

 
 
The 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.

The 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.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 
Must maintain 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. 
  • Ability to negotiate agreements that resolve differences in a timely manner. 
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills. 
  • Strong analytical skills: the ability to assess and understand issues, evaluate options, form accurate conclusions, and make decisions.
  • Ability to foster strong professional relationships with colleagues, resource professionals, and other stakeholders.
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 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.

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 (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 Lauren Driscol at: Lauren.Driscol@ecy.wa.govPlease do not contact Lauren 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.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagram 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.