Air Quality Registration and Compliance Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training)

Description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Air Quality programwithin the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Air Quality Registration and Compliance Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In-Training) position.

This position is located in our Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA . Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

This is the perfect position for anyone who enjoys working outdoors and wants to apply their scientific expertise to help the Air Quality Program understand and reduce air pollution.

You will serve as the Air Quality Registration and Compliance Specialist who provides expert and comprehensive state and federal regulatory oversight for all air pollutant source registration activities in the Central Region. You will respond to highly complex inquiries for technical assistance requiring an advanced scientific knowledge and mastery of Washington’s Air Quality laws and regulations such as RCW 70A.15 and WAC 173-400 . Your responsibilities will include identification and notification of regulated sources, inspections, data collection and management, preparation and distribution of annual emissions reports, and collecting annual fees for over 120 air pollution sources. Additionally, you will independently develop work plans and establish schedules for routine inspections of regulated facilities, and document legally defensible evidence to be used in formal and informal enforcement actions. You will also be the senior technical specialist for all Registration Program database management and development activities. These activities provide the agency with current and accessible information regarding air emissions by air pollution sources and provides information needed to prioritize workload.

Being a reliable self-starter, an excellent problem-solver, and a natural collaborator is a must as you will function both independently and as an integral member of our regional and statewide teams of dedicated air quality compliance professionals.

Note: This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Environmental Specialist field and achieve the goal class of an Environmental Specialist 4. Candidates will be considered at the Environmental Specialist 3 and the Environmental Specialist 4 levels, depending on their qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Air Quality Program Mission: To equitably protect and improve air quality for all of Washington.

Tele-work options for this position:This field-oriented 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.

• Apply by December 3, 2024
• 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 December 3, 2024 may not be reviewed for consideration.
  
  

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 DEIRDiversity, 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 role unique?

As the Registration and Compliance Specialist, you will solicit and collect emissions data from registered industrial air pollution sources in the Central Region to help them achieve compliance with state regulations. You will also critically review facility permits and records to assess compliance with air quality requirements and permit conditions. In this role, you will also be required to perform technical mathematical calculations to determine compliance.

What You Will Do

• Plan, prepare for, and conduct scheduled and unannounced on-site compliance inspections.
• Determine compliance with permits and air quality regulations.
• Manage the registration database and conduct emissions inventories.
• Prepare and distribute annual emissions reports and bills.
• Collect annual fees for over 120 air pollution sources.
• Prepare written documentation of inspections, observations, and recommendations.
• Compile data and draft recommendations for enforcement actions.
  
  

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Required

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: $4,740-$6,384 Monthly) (In-Training)

A total of Six (6) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Professional-level experience in: Environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
• Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.
  
  

See chart below for a list of ways to qualify for this position:

Possible Combinations. College credit hours or degree - as described above. Years of professional level experience - as described above.

Combination 1 No college credit hours or degree 6 years of experience

Combination 2 I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. 5 years of experience

Combination 3 I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). 4 years of experience

Combination 4 I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. 3 years of experience

Combination 5 A Bachelor's Degree 2 years of experience

Combination 6 A Master's Degree 1 year of experience

Combination 7 A Ph.D. 0 years of experience

OR

One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 2, at the Department of Ecology.

At the Environmental Specialist 4 (Salary Range 59: $5501-$7400 Monthly) (Goal Class)

A total of Nine (9) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Professional-level experience in: Environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
• Education: Involving major a study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.
  
  

See chart below for a list of ways to qualify for this position:

Possible Combinations. College credit hours or degree - as described above. Years of professional level experience - as described above.

Combination 1 No college credit hours or degree 9 years of experience

Combination 2 I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. 8 years of experience

Combination 3 I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). 7 years of experience

Combination 4 I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. 6 years of experience

Combination 5 A Bachelor's Degree 5 years of experience

Combination 6 A Master's Degree 3 years of experience

Combination 7 A Ph.D. 2 years of experience

OR

Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements/Conditions Of Employment

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
  
  

Desired Qualifications

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

• Demonstrated ability to review and understand environmental regulations and complex technical documents.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain complete and accurate data and records within timelines and using required procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask in an ever changing fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of mechanical processes.
  
  

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

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

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 Accommodationin 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.
  
  

Note: References will only be contacted during the final steps of the recruitment process for candidates selected as finalists. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s formal authorization.

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 Will Strand at: Will.Strand@ecy.wa.gov . Please do not contact Will 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.