Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Air Quality program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Program Contracts and Grants Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) position.

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 one day per week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by September 3, 2025
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

Duties

As the Program Contracts and Grants Specialist, you will interface with Air Quality Program and Ecology staff in a multitude of disciplines. You will also directly consult with and support local government and not-for-profit grant recipients, Tribes, local clean air agencies, the Attorney General’s office and other agencies and universities. Your grant portfolio includes landfill methane grants, improving air quality in overburdened communities, diesel and soot reduction, and other federal environmental grants. You will receive support and be involved with the Agency-wide grant group (including other agency-wide grant administrators) and develop expertise in competitive procurement processes.

What you will do: 

• Manage and coordinate grant application process and pre-application announcement, including resolving issues, for assigned grant programs so that potential applicants are well informed, final awards are as equitable and as widespread as possible, and grant spending can begin in a minimal amount of time. Provide administrative assistance to regional offices and recipients on budgetary design/planning and contractual requirements, including but not limited to: grant agreements, payment request / progress reports, amendments, and close-out process.
• Provide applicants, recipients, and project managers with administrative assistance and direction in the interpretation of grant agreement and guidelines, state and federal statutes and rules, AQP and Agency policies and procedures, as well as audit requirements and grantee relationships.
• Participate in the pre-award, grant application, and loan agreement review process.   Develop recommendations to management for final proposed applicant award list/rankings and grant award amounts so that grant funds can be awarded to recipients most likely to provide the most effective clean air programs in the most vulnerable communities.
• Communicate award decisions to applicants, management, and program staff.
• Develop and negotiate grant agreement amendments with Ecology program management, Ecology project managers, and grant recipients so that recipients can implement effective programs that reduce health and environmental threats from smoke and motor vehicle emissions or achieve overall cleaner air in Washington communities. Independently review and approve requests for grant payments by determining eligibility of recipient costs for consistency with the grant regulations, program guidelines, and agency requirements outlined in Ecology’s Administrative Requirements for Ecology Grants and Loans (Yellow Book), Ecology Publication No. 91-18 and that costs are billed to the correct task and fund source.
• Verify recipient has correctly and completely updated required information in Ecology’s Administration of Grants and Loans (EAGL) system and provide technical assistance and direction regarding EAGL.
• Monitor grant activities and accomplishments and ensure compliance and fulfillment of grant and contract timeline and deliverables prior to reimbursement or closing the grant to ensure that grant funds have produced the most productive and credible clean air initiatives.
• Conduct tracking and analysis of grant activities, including generating and reviewing active grant status reports to ensure compliance with grant agreement, regulations, policies and procedures.

Qualifications

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.

Nine years of experience and education performing environmental-based work, OR work which includes two or more of the following: 

• Experience developing or managing grants, contracts, or loans
• Experience interpreting policy and providing technical assistance
• Experience overseeing contractor or consultant services for compliance and performance
• Experience negotiating agreements and/or drafting and editing contract language
• Experience interpreting and explaining environmental regulations and requirements
• Experience with Electric Vehicles (EV) and EV charging technology, charging infrastructure installation projects, utility infrastructure planning or implementation, land use planning or land use permitting, or other related fields.
• Project management experience
• Experience in analyzing and synthesizing complex information, including environmental regulations, program guidance, and technical documents, and applying findings to decision-making and program implementation
• Familiarity with environmental justice concepts and practice

Experience also must include demonstrated competence in the following skill sets:

• Using critical / analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to make decisions or determine a course of action.
• Reviewing / assessing information and data to draw conclusions and recommending decisions or actions.
• Conducting research and performing data analysis on both qualitative and quantitative data. 

Examples of how to qualify:

• 9 years of experience.
• 8 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 7 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 6 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 5 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 3 years of experience AND a Master’s degree.
• 2 years of experience AND a Ph.D.

Desired Qualifications:

• Expert-level knowledge of the following policy areas: air quality, transportation decarbonization and emissions reduction, fleet charging infrastructure planning, climate, and energy.
• Experience incorporating environmental justice considerations into environmental or government work
• Experience working with people on complex or controversial environmental issues.
• Advanced research skills to collect, synthesize, and evaluate information, including documentation of sources.
• Government to Government consultation and/or experience working with Tribes

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.

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.

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, describing your interest in and qualifications for 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 Andrew Contreras at: Andrew.Contreras@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 Air Quality Program (AQP)

The Air Quality Program’s mission is to protect and improve air quality in Washington. AQP, the Environmental Protection Agency, Tribes, and local clean air agencies maintain a network of air monitoring stations to measure air pollution in Washington. Using continuous monitoring data, we let you know when air pollution reaches unhealthy levels. Based on this near-real-time air quality information, you can change your daily activities to reduce the amount of air pollution you're exposed to. The ambient air monitoring data this position collects and analyzes are essential to the Air Quality Program’s efforts to:

• Determine if air quality is meeting federal standards
• Forecast air quality
• Make daily burn decisions and curtailment calls
• Assist with permitting activities
• Evaluate the effectiveness of air pollution control programs
• Evaluate the effects of air pollution on public health

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.

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 

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.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

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.