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Senior Wastewater Permit Specialist

Washington State Department of Ecology
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Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen


 

 

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Senior Wastewater Permit Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) within the Nuclear Waste Program.

 

Location:

  • Richland Field Office in Richland, 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.
  • You may telework most of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
  • Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

 

Application Timeline:

  • Apply by August 4, 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 August 4, 2025 may not be considered.

 

Duties

 

As the Senior Wastewater Permit Specialist, you will lead the review of water permitting applications and the development of permits for the Facility Transition Project at the Hanford Site’s wastewater treatment facilities. Your work will play a critical role in protecting groundwater and surface water, and in supporting the site’s cleanup in accordance with state and federal regulations and the Hanford Federal Facilities Agreement and Consent Order (the Tri-Party Agreement or TPA). 

 

In this role, you will be responsible for decision-making related to permit development, issuance, and oversight. Key challenges include resolving disagreements between the Department of Ecology and permittees of the assigned facilities, as well as navigating the complicated permitting history of these facilities and understanding how they fit into the broader Hanford Site cleanup mission. 

 

Your work will be essential to protecting the quality of Washington State’s groundwater and supporting permitting for the Direct Feed Low Activity Waste project at the Hanford Site, which aims to treat legacy Hanford tank waste. This position offers valuable experience in project management, environmental regulation and policy, interagency coordination, and environmental negotiation.


What you will do:

  • Lead the review and development of water permitting applications for the Hanford Site State Waste Discharge Permits.
  • Serve as the section expert on the application of state and federal water quality regulations.
  • Represent the Nuclear Waste Program at meetings with the U.S. Department of Energy, its contractors and/or consultants, external interest groups, and technical oversight groups.
  • Conduct independent review of water quality permit applications and permits.
  • Negotiate permit conditions and develop final decision documents for permit issuance.
  • Collaborate with the multi-media compliance inspector to support water quality permit compliance.
  • Support dangerous waste permitting application review and development for facilities within the Facility Transition project as needed.

 


 

 

Qualifications

 

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

 

Required Qualifications:

 

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

 

  • Experience performing environmental-based work, OR work related to the duties of the position that includes two or more the following:
    • Evaluating technical environmental data.
    • Training and mentoring others.
    • Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with regulated facilities, public officials, and community groups.
    • Writing permits and environmental compliance reports.
    • Demonstrated knowledge of principles and practices of environmental regulation and guidance related to the permitting and oversight of solid and liquid waste management facilities and cleanup sites.

Experience must include demonstrated competence in the following skill sets:

  • Using critical / analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to perform work tasks.
  • Reviewing and understanding information to apply it to the work.
  • Assisting in research or data analysis.
  • Negotiating complex issues.


 

  • Education involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental planning; or closely related field.

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.

 

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license. 

Must meet U.S. Department of Energy requirements to acquire and maintain a badge for access to the Hanford Site. 

Must complete initial 40-hour HAZWOPER training within six months of appointment and annual 8-hour HAZWOPER Refresher training. 

 

Desired Qualifications:

  • Experience in wastewater and dangerous/RCRA/mixed waste permitting or compliance.

 

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 Joseph Lippold at Joseph.Lippold@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 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 

For this position, personal protective equipment and footwear will be provided by the program as necessary.


 

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.