What are the responsibilities and job description for the SWRO Receptionist (Office Assistant 3) position at State of Washington Dept. of Ecology?
Description
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is hiring a SWRO Receptionist (Office Assistant 3) within the Southwest Region Office (SWRO).
Location:
- Southwest Region Office in Lacey, WA.
- Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
Schedule:
- This position is required to work in the Lacey office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Upon satisfactory completion of the probationary period and with supervisor approval, you may be eligible to telework one to two days per week.
- Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Application Timeline:
- Apply by April 23, 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
In this role, you will serve as the primary point of contact for the Southwest Region Office (SWRO), providing customer service to the public as the first point of contact within the region. You will also provide essential administrative support to the SWRO staff and administrative team. This role requires excellent communication skills, the ability to prioritize duties, and adaptability to new tasks and challenges.
You will gain broad knowledge of Ecology’s programs and the staff that carry out our work. You will also collect the initial phone intake of environmental concerns being reported to the region before referral to the Environmental Reports Coordinator for follow up. This can be exciting and time-sensitive work at times and contributes to the coordinated response and success of the region.
What you will do:
- Operate the SWRO reception line and provide information and referrals according to the needs of the caller.
- Assist customers by providing direction and explanation about agency forms and materials.
- Record initial reports of environmental concerns to the region before referral to the Environmental Reports Coordinator.
- Perform various administrative tasks throughout the day such as processing mail for the Southwest Region and items for the Fiscal Office.
- Maintain the SWRO staff expertise lists in coordination with the program administrative staff.
- Manage the Southwest Region Office SharePoint site.
Qualifications
For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.
Required Qualifications:
Two and a half (2.5) years of clerical experience and/or education.
Examples of how to qualify:
- 2.5 years of clerical experience.
- 2 years of clerical experience AND a high school diploma or equivalent.
- 1 year of clerical experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
- Some clerical experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree) or higher.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience with gathering detailed information accurately over the phone and synthesizing information to be transferred to the correct staff person or to be entered into a database.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft 365 applications. Most used applications include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, MS Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint.
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 Robin Fleskes at Robin.Fleskes@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 Southwest Region Office (SWRO)
The Department of Ecology's SWRO provides core environmental and natural resources services to the 12 counties of the Olympic Peninsula and Southwest Washington. The office is one of four regional offices and serves as the base of operations for 160 staff from multiple environmental programs. The SWRO also includes a field office in Vancouver which is base for 15 employees. From these locations, Ecology delivers a full spectrum of environmental services including water quality protection, water rights administration, toxic site cleanup, hazardous chemicals oversight, shorelines and wetlands protection, spill response, waste management, and environmental monitoring.
The Southwest Region Office Administrative Team is a supportive, growth-oriented, and enthusiastic group of individuals committed to the success of one another and the region. The team includes the Region Director, Region Director Assistant, Region Business Administrator, Receptionist, Fleet Coordinator, Environmental Reports Tracking System (ERTS)/State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Coordinator, Public Disclosure and Records Information Management Lead, and three Forms and Records Analysts.
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.
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