Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring an Executive Assistant (Administrative Assistant 5) within the Government Relations Office and the Office of Equity & Environmental Justice.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A minimum of three days per week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Salary

• The high end of the salary range listed above ($80,820 per year) is Step M, typically a longevity step. Employees cannot get to Step M upon initial hire. 

• All employees will progress to Step M six years after being assigned to Step L in their permanent salary range. For this position, Step A is $60,132 per year and Step L is $78,912 per year.

Application Timeline:

• Submit your application no later than 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on November 11, 2025. The job posting will automatically close and no longer accept applications after this time.

Duties

As the Executive Assistant, you will play a pivotal role in supporting two high-profile areas of Ecology - the Office of Equity & Environmental Justice (OEEJ) and Governmental Relations (GR). You will provide confidential, high-level administrative and executive support to both the OEEJ Program Manager and the GR Director.

The work is dynamic, fast-paced, and at the center of agency leadership, requiring exceptional judgment, communication, and organizational skills. This is an ideal position for someone who enjoys variety, thrives in a collaborative and mission-driven environment, and takes pride in ensuring smooth operations at the executive level. 

What you will do:

• Provide confidential executive administrative support to the OEEJ Program Manager and GR Director, including managing a high volume of communication and scheduling that is often time sensitive, subject to rapid changes, and often requires discretion.
• Coordinate and communicate with internal leadership, legislators, and external partners, demonstrating sound judgment, responsiveness, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Serve as the HR liaison for both OEEJ and GR, coordinating personnel actions, onboarding, and performance management documentation.
• Prepare, route, and track correspondence, contracts, and HR documents, exercising delegated signature authority.
• Coordinate travel, timesheets, purchasing, and expense approvals for both OEEJ and GR leadership.
• Track and report Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) lobbying activities for both programs, ensuring compliance and accuracy.
• Support program-wide administrative systems and records management, ensuring processes are efficient and compliant with agency standards.
• Represent both programs on Ecology’s Senior Administrative Leadership Team, helping align administrative practices across the agency.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Education and Experience
Applicants may qualify based on a combination of education and experience. Formal education is not required for this position; however, education may be substituted for some or all of the required experience when it provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the role.

Six years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in clerical, secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting, or administrative office work.
  Experience must include:
  • Knowledge of government organization, operations, and administrative processes.
  • Experience using Microsoft Teams, One Drive, Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Education involving a major study in business administration, public administration, management, communications, English, office administration, human resources, or other fields closely related to the work of this position.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 6 years of experience.
• 5 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 4 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 3 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 2 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 2 years of experience as an Administrative Assistant 3, at the Department of Ecology.
• 1 year of experience as an Administrative Assistant 4, at the Department of Ecology.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects at once, tracking progress, and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Experience working collaboratively with a group to identify clear goals and achieve them.
• Understanding and practice of written, verbal, and listening communication skills that are respectful, accessible, and inclusive to engage and reach a diversity of audiences and situations.

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Supplemental Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Application Process

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 job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter that explains why you are interested in this position and how your skills and experience directly relate to the key duties and responsibilities of this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Millie Piazza at Millie.Piazza@ecy.wa.gov or Carrie Sessions at Carrie.Sessions@ecy.wa.gov 
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov

About the Programs

Office of Equity and Environmental Justice (OEEJ) Mission: To eliminate environmental and health disparities for communities most at risk from pollution and other environmental impacts through fair and just practices that support the well-being and resilience of Ecology’s workforce and the people of Washington.

Governmental Relations (GR) Program Mission: To support Ecology’s mission by leading the agency’s legislative, rulemaking, and policy coordination, ensuring clear communication and alignment between Ecology, state leadership, and the public.

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology 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. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

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.

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, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

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.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency.