Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Air Quality Program (AQP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Clean Transportation Grants and Cultural Resources Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
 
Do you possess a background in grant administration and working to educate and engage potential grantees?  Do you have a passion for improving air quality, exploring electrifying the transportation sector, and advance environmental justice throughout Washington State? Not yet an expert in all of these areas? No problem! We’re seeking smart, eager candidates and will provide on-the-job training as needed.
 
As the Clean Transportation Grants and Cultural Resources Specialist, you will provide oversight of funds from state and federal Volkswagen settlements to fund programs to reduce harmful emissions and greenhouse gases from transportation. You will also be the team lead in providing technical assistance to grantees to comply with requirements for cultural resources protection.
 
In this role you will:

• Administer settlement funds through the development of grant guidelines and evaluation criteria.
• Support grantees with interpreting the guidelines and providing technical assistance.
• Apply your expert transportation sector knowledge to ensure investments achieve maximum beneficial impact.
• Conduct Cultural Resources Reviews to ensure projects adhere to state requirements.

You will work collaboratively with other members of the VW Settlement Team and the Clean Diesel Team to develop funding opportunities, and negotiate, implement, and track grants. This is an ideal position for someone interested in clean transportation, cultural resources preservation, and environmental justice.
 
Note: This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Environmental Specialist (ES) field and achieve the goal class of an ES4. Candidates will be considered at the ES3 and ES4 levels, depending on qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.
 
The mission of the Air Quality Program (AQP) is to protect, preserve, and enhance the air quality of Washington to safeguard public health and the environment and support high quality of life for current and future generations.

Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until December 31, 2032. 
Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to an 80% 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 September 14, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before September 13, 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. 
Please Note: We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.

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 makes this job unique:
In this position, you will have broad responsibilities that include managing Volkswagen settlement grants, ensuring that funded projects follow state requirements for cultural resources protection, and incorporating environmental justice into funding programs. This work requires a diverse range of skills including literature and policy research, grant management, stakeholder support, project management, and giving public presentations.
 
What you will do:

• Develop grant guidelines, scoring criteria and application processes. Conduct grant application solicitation, review, and award process.
• Recommend grant awards and actions to resolve stakeholder issues.
• Respond to grantee inquiries; interpret and explain Ecology grants guidance.
• Help coordinate efficient and effective management of grants and contracts. 
• Follow Ecology grant guidelines and operating procedures to administer VW settlement grants. 
• Advise management on emerging issues in VW Settlement fund management.
• Ensure cultural resource compliance with Executive Order 21-02 (Download PDF reader) and other guidance. 
• Lead Pollution Reduction Grants Section implementation of Executive Order 21-02 (Download PDF reader) and maintain expert working knowledge of cultural resource review principles.

Qualifications

This is an In-Training Position. The goal class for this position is Environmental Specialist 4 (ES4). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the Environmental Specialist 3 and Environmental Specialist 4 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the ES3 level, they will be hired in at that level and placed into a training program to become an ES4 within a specified period of time.

Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

At the Environmental Specialist 3 level: Salary Range 53 ($4,602-$6,198 monthly) (In-training)

A total of six years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience: Involving environmental analysis or control, policy, planning, or similar field of work. 
• Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, climate, clean energy, transportation, environmental planning or other allied field.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:
Possible CombinationsCollege credit hours or degree - as listed aboveYears of professional level experience - as listed aboveCombination 1No college credit hours or degree6 years of experienceCombination 230-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits5 years of experienceCombination 360-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree)4 years of experienceCombination 490-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits3 years of experienceCombination 5A Bachelor's Degree 2 years of experienceCombination 6A Master’s Degree1 year of experienceCombination 7A Ph.D.No experience required 
OR
One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2, at the Department of Ecology.
 
At the Environmental Specialist 4 level: Salary Range 59 ($5,341-$7,184 monthly) Goal class
A total of nine years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience: Involving environmental analysis or control, policy, planning, or similar field of work. 
• Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, climate, clean energy, transportation, environmental planning or other allied field.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:
Possible CombinationsCollege credit hours or degree - as listed aboveYears of professional level experience - as listed aboveCombination 1No college credit hours or degree9 years of experienceCombination 230-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits8 years of experienceCombination 360-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree)7 years of experienceCombination 490-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits6 years of experienceCombination 5A Bachelor's Degree 5 years of experienceCombination 6A Master’s Degree3 years of experienceCombination 7A Ph.D.2 years of experience 
OR
Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology.

Desired Qualifications:

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

• Demonstrated experience in working with Tribal Governments
• Demonstrated experience in grant management.
• Demonstrated experience in air quality and transportation infrastructure and planning. 

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 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.
• A list of 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 Molly Spiller at: Molly.Spiller@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Molly 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.