Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Water Quality Permit Administrator (Environmental Specialist 1) within the Water Quality Program.

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.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by January 21, 2026
• 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

You will work with our General Permits Unit within the Southwest Region to manage and maintain permit data in our water quality databases while also providing technical assistance to our customers. You will be engaging regularly with team members who oversee the following stormwater permits for water quality protection: construction, sand and gravel, industrial, boatyards, upland hatcheries, and wineries.

What you will do:

• Administer documents by tracking, entering data, ensuring proper records retention, and organizing files.
• Review and comment on draft documents for consistency with other permit documents.
• Notify and coordinate with permit managers when project tasks are complete to keep projects on schedule.
• Prepare routine correspondence, draft documents, and reports.
• Provide administrative technical assistance to our customers.
• Review compliance and enforcement documentation for completeness and consistency, when applicable.
• Edit documents for accessibility and work with subject matter experts to analyze and summarize Environmental Justice information on our facilities.
• Enter information into the permit and enforcement tracking tools to keep them accurate and updated. Help improve the tracking tools over time.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Four (4) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience performing environmental-based work, OR work related to the essential functions and key activities of the position, that includes two or more of the following:
  • Data and System Administration - Ability to manage and maintain program databases, tracking systems, and SharePoint sites to ensure accurate data entry, reliable information access, and smooth daily operations.
  • Document Processing and Quality Assurance - Ability to review, prepare, and process documents, fact sheets, and reports to ensure they are complete, accurate, and aligned with organizational standards, environmental rules, and regulations.
  • Reporting and Tracking - Ability to compile, review, and produce routine tracking reports to monitor program activities, identify missing or late submissions, and support timely follow-up.
  • Technical Assistance and Customer Support - Ability to explain procedures, system requirements, and reporting tools clearly and provide technical assistance to permittees to ensure they can meet reporting obligations and successfully use required systems.
• Experience 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.
• Education involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; environmental planning, or an academic discipline related to the duties of the position.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 4 years of experience.
• 3 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 2 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 1 year of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• No experience AND a Bachelor’s degree or above.

Desired Qualifications:

• Effective communication, both written and verbal.
• Basic computer skills, including database management.
• Working with customers, internally and externally.

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 Sheila Spaulding at Sheila.Spaulding@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 Water Quality Program

The mission of the Water Quality Program is to ensure that all aquatic life, and communities in the watershed, experience cool, clean water to refresh and sustain us in a changing climate. Our work ensures that state waters can support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and 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, 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.